There are many types of tents and many tent poles. There are tent poles made of aluminum. There is also what is made of fiberglass. If you own tents with fiberglass poles, you will suffer from a broken tent pole.
If you are used to camping regularly, there is a high possibility of damage and breakage of some of your equipment, especially fiberglass tent poles. We will give you many practical tips on repairing the fiberglass tent pole.
Fix A Broken Fiberglass Tent Pole Like An Expert
Many believe that when one of his tent poles breaks that this is the end of his camp and that they will have to buy a new shelter because they do not know how to deal with and repair such broken poles. They start thinking about getting rid of their tents and buying new ones, all for the sake of having a simple break in one of the columns.
With a little training and the right equipment, we’ll guide you through your tent repair, and learn how to repair a fiberglass tent pole and the parts needed to repair your tent pole.
Fiberglass Tent Pole Kit
All you need to maintain these fiberglass tent poles are the most important equipment:
- Small saw.
- Adhesive tape.
- Mask for the face.
- sandpaper.
Fiberglass Tent Pole Repair Process
The fiberglass poles used to support tents are usually made of loose poles, and then held together by a flexible cord known as a shock cord, which runs through the length of the poles and is tied at both ends.
When your column breaks, most likely the fracture is in only one section, and it can be replaced to restore the tent erection well, and to do this like the repair experts, all you have to do is follow the following steps:
- Measure the broken section of the fiberglass tent pole you are going to replace, and then cut the new section a little longer to get enough material to work with.
- Use a saw to cut your fiberglass pole, and for safety, you must wear a face mask to keep your eyes from getting these fibres into the eyes.
- In order to make sure you cut the right length for your replacement shaft, the tape must be used to hold the shaft in place when cutting, this will prevent splinters and you can cut regularly.
- Remove the tape from the shaft and sand the edges of the shaft to obtain a smooth surface.
- Put the entire shaft on the ground and then loosen the knot at the end closest to the part to be replaced, and for this, you must use pliers with a very thin tip in order to reach the end of the knot from the shaft because it is difficult to reach using your finger, and it is possible to You find the knot tied very tightly and you need to cut it with pliers.
- Hold the shock wire and then remove the shaft clips gently and very carefully until you reach the broken part to be replaced.
- Remove the damaged part of the shaft and then replace it with the section that you prepared for the replacement process.
- Keep holding the shock cord and then re-extend it through the sections of the pole that you removed, make sure you return the poles exactly as you found them due to the reason for the different lengths and diameters of the pole and if you mix them the tent may not stand correctly.
- Tie a knot at the end of the rope. The rope holds both poles in place and gives the tent a very strong structure.
And if this solution is not suitable for you, you can get the shock wire end and adjust the knot when setting up the tent when camping, and you can do this through either end of the poles.
Use A Tent Pole Repair Sleeve
Do not worry, there are many quick solutions that you can use while breaking the tent pole made of fiberglass, and the method of using the column repair wrap is one of the best of these solutions and is the fastest repair method that you can use when the pole used is short, it is called a splint and is available This item usually comes with the tents you buy, and if it is not included in the tent package you can buy it so that you are prepared for the worst when you go out camping in the wilderness.
We know that you are going to ask about how to use the splint to repair the tent pole, line up each of the two sections of the broken column and then put the splint so that it covers the entire fracture. You can use pliers to straighten the curved fracture area, and then wrap each end of the column with adhesive tape several times.
Use A Tent Stake
There is another option to repair the tent pole made of fibreglass, if you do not have a repair kit or a repair sleeve. You can use this effective method for that. It is a great solution, especially in camping times, by using a dowel to tie Broken parts together.
In order to repair all you have to do is do these simple steps, line up the broken column sections, bend each one straight using pliers, and then use the wedge to align it next to the broken part. And the wedge should pivot around the broken parts, and finally, use Adhesive tape in order to fix all pieces together.
Read More: The Perfect Guide To Camping For Beginners
How Do You Replace A Shock Cord?
If the shock cord at the poles is broken or no longer stretchable, it’s time to replace it. Here’s how to replace the shock cord.
- The First Step:
You have to learn how to connect the shock wire first. All you have to do is open the end of the shaft to see the rope, and the shaft contains a tongue made of plastic or metal that you can pull out to repair the wire with ease.
- The Second Step:
Put numbers on the column sections to identify the pieces in sequence so, it is easier to connect them, remove the old shock wires and then pull them and then lower a new wire of the same length as the previous one.
- The Third Step:
Grab the new wire and attach a tab to the end of it. You are now ready to pass the rope through the shaft. When you tie the last part of the shaft, pull the wire tight.
- The Fourth Step:
End the process by attaching the core to the end of the broken shaft.
Conclusion:
Tents often break, especially the columns made of fibreglass, but this does not mean that we get rid of the tent we have and buy a new tent. The damaged column can be repaired easily by using some simple tools. You can repair the column with ease and comfort. You also can save money by buying other things for camping.
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