How to Make a Brass Tip for a Canoe Paddle

Covering the tip of your canoe paddle will prevent it from getting beaten up and possibly broken as it is thrown about. Forming a piece of brass for the tip of the canoe paddle will require bending the metal. Brass is a common metal that will be easy for you to shape and form. You can bend brass by first softening the metal using heat.

Things You'll Need

• Felt tip marker
• Piece of sheet metal
• Tape measure
• Band saw
• Brass pipe
• Propane torch
• Wood or rubber mallet
• Epoxy

Instructions

1. Place the end of the paddle on a piece of sheet metal. Trace the shape of the tip on the metal using a felt tip marker. Cut the shape of the paddle from the sheet metal by using a band saw. This will be used as a form for the brass tip.

2. Measure the width of the paddle tip with a tape measure. Make a note of the measurement.

3. Cut a 4-inch section of brass pipe that has a diameter matching the width measurement in Step 2 using the band saw. Cut the 4-inch piece of tubing down its length to create two pieces.

4. Heat a 4-inch piece of the cut tubing with a propane torch. Continue heating until the brass turns red in color. Allow the brass tubing to cool.

5. Place the piece of brass tubing on the form you made in Step 1. Strike the tubing with a wood or rubber mallet to bend the tubing. Repeat this step until the tubing matches the shape of the metal form.

6. Remove the bent tubing from the form and test fit it on the tip of the paddle. Attach the new brass tip to the end of the paddle using an epoxy.

References

• Chest of Books: Restoration of Brass Articles