C-Forum

I have two glass Bandits. One is 58" and one is 60". I would like to shorten the 60 to 57 or 56. Anybody ever done this? I am going to contact werner to see if they can do it but I'm sure they want more than I am willing to pay. As it is now the paddle is useless to me so if it can't be shortened, I would love to trade for something else.

do they have the new plastic Tgrip or the old wood one? I'm sure you could just cut it down with a hacksaw. If you have the plastic Tgrip you could probably get it out of the shaft somehow. Not sure about the wood one. It wouldn't be to hard to make a new Tgrip though if you have access to any shop tools.

Older wood grip. Not sure how to get it out.

It's been done. The wood of the grip extends ~2" into the shaft. Mark where you want to cut with masking tape to ensure the cut is level, and hacksaw away. Then, all you need to do is get the remnants of the shaft off the T-grip (creative use of the hacksaw and some pliers should do it), mix some epoxy, and cement the grip in its new place.

It is possible to break the bond of the adhesive that is holding the existing grip with heat. If you have a heat gun you can heat the shaft around the area where the grip extends into the shaft. It is a touchy process as you don't want the shaft to get too hot and melt. I have done this before. Very important to constantly move the heat as to not over heat a small patch. Depending on how good the bond is a heating some strong twisting may break the bond. Other option- chop it and buy a new grip. You can grind out leftover wood with a Dremel if you have one.
My 2 cents, good luck
Thanks
B

I've shortened paddles by cutting the shaft with a pipe cutter.

Then to get the remaining shaft off the grip, I've used the pipe cutter to cut it into strips, and then heat plus a hammer and chisel to pop off the "rings".

PY.

exactly as previous post stated; Pipe cutter to cut to the disired lingth, Pipe cutter to cut narrow strips of handle from grip. Not too tuough to do. I put mine back together with aquaseal, they're pretty much permenant after that.

Success! Pipe cutter method and epoxy did the trick. Haven't had it on the water yet but it seems solid.