MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Have managed to somehow kink the one of the bends on a steel tent pole. Pole is about 15-20mm diameter. Was hoping that LSR would be able to fabricate a replacement section of pole but apparently they can't for some reason.
Anyone got any suggestions for places which maybe able to help (preferably near Birmingham)? Wondering if a local steel fabricator maybe the way to go?
Failing that, am having thoughts about squeezing the linked section in a vice to get the pole closer to its usual bend and then fashion some kind of brace. Maybe a slightly wider pipe bent to the correct angle, cut in half length-ways then jubilee clipped extensively round the original pole?
Apparently it isn't possible to buy a single replacement pole and a new pole set costs the same as a new tent. Ebay etc only appear to have older versions of the poles I need.
Cheers,
Just bend itback and carry on?
Isn't it going to be forever weak? If it wasn't actually kinked and was just at a bit of a jaunty angle I would agree. Not that I know anything about working with metal...
cut out the damaged section and bond a new sleeve section over to splice it with epoxy?
can normally pick up lengths of tube from ebay pretty cheaply.
edit: just saw it's a bend. hmm, bit screwed then unless you get someone to bend a bit of sleeve tubing to suit. You could do it by filling the donor tube with sand before bending it, or go to an exhaust fabricator.
Its steel. Just bend it back and see what happens. Steel poles hardly sounds like you'll be depending on it to keep you alive in the middle of the andes
Once bend itit ba smack any kinky bits with a hammer to de stress themif it makes you feel better
I was recommending LSR before I noticed you'd already asked. TBH, if they can't repair it then I doubt a DIY job is going to succeed where they wouldn't.
How old is the tent? Worth an email to the manufacturers maybe? I managed to snap a fibreglass pole in a big tent, emailed (IIRC) Coleman and they sent me an entire replacement pole set FOC.
It's a couple of year old outwell. There doesn't appear to be anyway of getting things directly from them.
My concern with just bending it back and hoping is that there is the potential for a family holiday with two quite young kids to be quite severely disrupted if it fails. <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Seems a bit shit that an entire tent could essentially be written off because of a single pole bend. </span>
I think I saw replacement poles in Decathlon today, you might get lucky and find some the same size. Or try Scottish Mountain Gear, we got our Outwell poles replacements from them.
Cheers. Will Check them both out.
Millets have loads of generic poles and massive sale atm.
If it’s steel, it’s repairable. Might not be pretty, might not be as light afterwards, but could definitely be as strong again. Got any mates who can weld?
The two most memorable camping trips of my youth.
1. My dad setting light to his jacket in a bloidy massive tent.
2. Sleeping in the back of volvo estate because a different tent had be flattened in skye.
I say make sure it breaks. Live on the edge.
Is the bend a seperate piece? Like a short section that acts a socket to two longer straight pieces? I can't see how it could be bodged unless i'm imagining it very wrongly.
Got any mates who can weld?
Nope. But I have asked for a welding course for my birthday. Not till October though...
I say make sure it breaks. Live on the edge.
That is a good outlook. I do however have plenty of stupid shit that I do with the kids without having to resort to trying to sleep a family of 4 in the boot of the car. Perhaps I should take a small hacksaw with me next time in case I change my mind?
Or one like that?
And there is the problem. My tent is a montana 6 but uses a different pole set to all those on ebay. They all have a square end or something else different that mine doesn't.
The bend is however exactly like the one in your link. Just more bent. And kinky.
Just incase anyone else sees this thread looking for help, Scottish Mountain Gear were able to get me a new pole. Thanks stevenmenmuir!