Paddle

Specifications

Head size

80 × 120 mm to 150 × 200 mm

Thickness

15 – 25 mm

Material

Cherry, pear or beech

Handle

400 – 700 mm

Weight

0.3 – 0.8 kg

Soak

At least 20 minutes before use

Life

Months; the face chars and is re-dressed

Technical parameters

Wood choice

Close grain holds water; open grain chars through

Face

Flat and true. A dished face makes a dished base

Water

The steam cushion is what stops it sticking

Pairing

Used after the block, before the piece stiffens

Cost band

Low

Overview

A paddle is a flat plate of cherry or another close-grained hardwood on a long handle. It is used to square a base, flatten a side, and push a piece into a non-round form. Like a block, it is soaked before use so the water in the wood provides a steam cushion — which is why it can touch hot glass without sticking. It is the tool that takes a vessel away from the round.

Where it fits in the process

Paddle is used in shape. The stage decides how hot the glass has to be when the tool touches it, which in turn decides how much of the work it can do in one pass.

Safe use

• Steam off a wet paddle is scalding. Keep your face out of the plume.
• A dry paddle will stick and tear the surface off a piece. Soak it.
• The paddle head gets hot. Use the handle, and use a glove.
• Never force a paddle against a stiff piece. Reheat instead — forcing cracks the wall.

How it is used

1. Soak the paddle thoroughly and shake off the excess before it touches glass.
2. Press lightly and repeatedly rather than hard once. Repeated light passes give a flat face without a chill crack.
3. Square a base while the piece is still hot and the base is thick.
4. Turn the pipe a quarter turn between presses for an even square.
5. Re-flame after paddling to close the chill marks.

Compatible glass types

Matching the tool to the glass family matters less than matching the glass to itself — see the COE compatibility calculator before combining two glasses.