![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuoHCTxKRJyAwjOTvzJnOW_zEof7l1_R3ic1apB8guTP-MksKdn-ZNzZNCDbaPLrxSKSOIbE8W8j3-xiLPvcNp7GSjCHh-9SxfUehlnhoM1OUrV-aMJYzKt1-UhpTejBWLUehaZMJ6ic/s320/Pole+Project+011.jpg)
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"Semi-Old Fashioned" way of making a pole
With some spare time during late August, I finished off the carving with the crooked knife. Of course, the pole isn't perfect like a machined rod, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Following the advice of some online plans, I left the bottom 4 feet in an octagonal shape for looks and rigidity and then did my best to round out and gradually taper the remaining length.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7MSOjiqp59PowZtSfc3Wfy5JiD8pc7gO7lIgEqzy26pVtjDiQeq8ijXtFW6q8FijsUyLuPJUFxiqn85dnjrPD79lR6XQrN0WhPswP_kJfzoAJdGtuLYFyXhR5utRzuFS0GRXO0Jc0P0/s400/Canoe+Pole25.jpg)
Carving out by the fire pit
While I could've made a hardware store style copper pipe shoe, I ended up "splurging" for a specific accessory (and support the fledging canoe poling shoe industry) by ordering a cast bronze shoe from Bruce Hooke. A beautiful looking tip arrived promptly in the mail.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yq0WVbL6Gcbk44EZvvb5DaIfy4cAb604bNa7Md4U5KqotjZaQo-XjQF5KlXfxYYVw07CqmtPCAoaIIRw70_Kh9osMhrDjZxqE8ESrJiTn-Y2V-X8H60Ef74oJZoHQQ0u56x_EomqfZc/s400/Canoe+Pole15.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_LpreyI-yoKO7kvaFsWLToX1cQ6Fo2i7S0ydK22qJ1a4-IC64Bo5k6EIh3CZeimzVJkwOw5O_qx9GAU1n5ci5mZ2w7-w3Xmzz71zPZyKOOjVhu76xkldhdEHbrnWvsGGW1pE1-uYM2o/s400/Canoe+Pole16.jpg)
Bruce's Bronze Poling Shoe; Dimensions on rear
With a basic saw cut and then back cuts with a knife, the tip was worked down to fit to shape. This took some trial and error, but eventually, I got a nice tight fit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUB8-xTeVOeg77Lv9lafSRm8bnpXNuE9jX6CPQWdZeHpPwbMAa9SgFOD97RZiiT_hpq4hGSPNvukIyxE_8vF9yXc6tUzHCK40L5DQiaijZmfTPd6o89ZdQr7P6MZH3KfK4tqK6Z6y-UQ/s200/Canoe+Pole22.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi55F8vve8gCgm_1uun88KpeKmERqYaa15iw2ZPPSTSu-z7zkG7AjBGJbRSMicTKLln2f-HvAsB_XRuDxK8B-QZxaMDcFQkZUCIfeVXucINzRKhwrbEvkEITatgnqQ-_m7Sy0v0FiVYNc/s200/Canoe+Pole26.jpg)
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Shaping the tip for the poling shoe
The left-over edges were then worked down to meet the edges of the shoe for a relatively seamless transition. Before mounting the shoe with the included screws, the pole was given thorough soaking in oil which really brought out the grain. Here is the result.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPZsilubGf3Pq27LTh2GOxgRPWAjyItO1yxrQXS4MFB_evgoPDgZgsMSEXLlSFJLuX5jQlheIaDvDfJbXVKU16W2z7B4qiQRHAXC6WHLnplmEgK7QXDKykdAHBSBLNsJXhRLb_h_TAKI/s400/Canoe+Pole33.jpg)
Mounted Brass Shoe
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuUp7GFANSvdEu7m00nDJumweNxziOlrgBdzz7JeQaSfFRxsWPtAzAc_H4jhFfH-GTc-sHtNLcXUvRllmKOp-HfpesCXM6rTxc4sAlChwWYvxpQ26LvREkFQsw1IW6bzp3Lkyw8M-3iM/s400/Canoe+Pole34.jpg)
The finished product
There's a bit of warping at the other end of the pole, but there's a chance that I might shorten the length once I get a feel for its use and cut a portion of this upper part off. It seems many folks use a pole around 12 feet or so, but I've read some other sources that mention a length of 10 1/2 feet might suffice depending on technique and water depth. Now I just have to paddle to the nearby shallow creek and give it a try before the end of the paddling season creeps up.
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