Can anybody tell me what is the best way to get a slight bend out of our frame tent pole. We have been on to Royal but they cannot help with a replacement as they no longer make frame tents. We would be grateful for your help
------------- Marianne
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Hi
If the pole has a kink/full bend then there's not a lot you can do. If on the other hand its more of a gentle curve then it is possible to get it straight ish. You need a solid surface like a kitchen work surface and then hold the pole in a bit from each end but not much and slowly bounce it up and down. You can if you have a vice wrap the vice in a towel and hold the pole in the vice and slowly bend the pole back.
If you have the size of the pole then look for retailers who sell metal framed tents and email them or ring to see if they have any odds and sods knocking about.
Gary Cross
It's in the cupboard under the stairs at the moment under a lot of camping stuff. We are not going away until July so on my next day off we shall fish it out and do just that thanks again
Tube is much stronger than a solid steel bar so when a defect occurs in a tube it is extremely difficult to remove. What happens is the inside kinks and the outside expands so it is virtually impossible to re-work it back to it's original condition. The only way you can re-work it to get a steel bar or tube slightly smaller than the inside of the pole that is long enough to go right through. When you have found the ideal size bar or tube you need to heat the pole gently without too much heat and move the flame up and down the pole covering about 2 inches and spin the pole round so that the heat generates all round the part to be rectified. Put the steel bar in an engineers vice and tighten it well then when the pole is really hot (not melting), slide it over the steel bar and tap the end of the pole and if it won't go then just apply a bit more heat till it slides over and straightens. Once it goes over you need to remove the pole straight away otherwise if the pole cools whilst it is located over the bar it will shrink and you not be able to remove it at all. Once the pole is removed leave it to cool down on it's own, do not dip in water otherwise the pole will harden and become brittle. I have been an engineer for well over 30 years and this is the process I would do if I could not obtain a replacement. If you don't have the equipment to undertake the job I advise that you approach an engineering factory that deals with steel fabrictions or similar. They will probably make a small charge but remember that the pole won't be as strong as it was when it was manufactured from new.
If it's only a bend, then either a section of wooden dowel or metal tube pushed inside should do the job. It would also help to reinforce the tube to stop it bending again. If it's a kink, then flatten out the kink with a hammer then over sleeve it with another piece of tube. Put some tape over the ends of the new piece so it does not fray the tent fabric.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
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The pole in question does not come in contact with the canvas. It's the pole that stands alone just behind a bedroom pod. So push comes to shove perhaps something else will do. Thanks for your help the OH will sort it out soon .Happy camping
depending on the length and diameter of the pole, aluminium poles are easy to get hold of, places like B&Q sell smaller tube, but there is other places to get aluminium tube from, one of my local places, i get 25mm box tube and anything upto 2" diameter pole, in various wall thickness
------------- If it wont move, try a bigger hammer.
I used aluminium adjustable clothes line props to replace missing middle leg poles. It turned out that four man frame tents don't always have middle leg poles, so it was not actually missing.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
Quote: Originally posted by raf48 on 16/3/2011
I used aluminium adjustable clothes line props to replace missing middle leg poles. It turned out that four man frame tents don't always have middle leg poles, so it was not actually missing.
I did this to rig up a large tarp last year, worked really well and cheaper too.
------------- ....gone wild camping....
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