Reinforcing Gazebo poles.

[Mike]

Hi all

Well after the recent winds most of the poles in my Gazebo are well bent.

If I straighten them is there any thing I can 'put' in them to reinforce them like some kind of expanding foam !

Any ideas

Many thanks

Mike

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Mike

Hi all

Well after the recent winds most of the poles in my Gazebo are well bent.

If I straighten them is there any thing I can 'put' in them to reinforce them like some kind of expanding foam !

Any ideas

Many thanks

Mike

Some sort of thin metal pole like what they use in reinforced concrete?

[Graham M]

Block one end and fill it with runny cement?

What are the poles actually made from?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Graham

What are the poles actually made from?

They are made of hollow metal..............may just replace with wood !

Originally Posted by Mike

They are made of hollow metal..............may just replace with wood !

AIUI once something tubular like that is bent it's almost impossible to straighten it without leaving a major weakness.

You could possibly use a dowel to strengthen them, but, as you say, you could probably just use the wood itself!

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Graham

AIUI once something tubular like that is bent it's almost impossible to straighten it without leaving a major weakness.

You could possibly use a dowel to strengthen them, but, as you say, you could probably just use the wood itself!

if it is bent then it is possible to straighten , if it is kinked then throw them away , i suppose you could use solid bar , it would be as heavy as hell but a lot stronger , i would think dowel would be as likely to snap as the tube was likely to bend , dowel inside the tube would i reckon be a good compromise , it would depend if you could get the right size though

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

if it is bent then it is possible to straighten , if it is kinked then throw them away

Sorry, yes, I was actually thinking of "kinked" when I said bent.

dowel inside the tube would i reckon be a good compromise , it would depend if you could get the right size though

Provided there isn't too much "play" it should be enough to stop kinks forming. It could also be possible to shim the dowel with something to pad it out and give a better fit.

[Kliro]

If you arent bothered about the weight then for little cost you could fill with cement, though that would make it too heavy, especially if you want to transport the whole set, how about sealing one end and temporarily filling with water, which can be poured out when you want to move or whatever?

[Escapee]

What about strengthening by pushing a fibreglass pole inside or remaking them out completely out of fibreglass poles. I'm not sure how easy it will be to find a stockist in your area, but we have a company making aerials in Wales. I bought some fibreglass pipes to make an aerial years ago, they are very strong and difficult to break.

Could be worth considering as long as its not too expensive.

[daxx]

Originally Posted by Kliro

If you arent bothered about the weight then for little cost you could fill with cement, though that would make it too heavy, especially if you want to transport the whole set, how about sealing one end and temporarily filling with water, which can be poured out when you want to move or whatever?

or sand which you then wet, very effective and very heavy

[Kliro]

Originally Posted by daxx

or sand which you then wet, very effective and very heavy

Yeah this would be a better idea, would have less 'give' so stop the pole from being so easily bent.

[zoombini]

However, you have to be very careful making them heavier.

heavy poles that are blown onto someone can cause a lot more harm than lighter ones.
Getting a long pole, shoving that up it & trying to fill it would be very hard & messy.

It may be just as well to just replace them.
Although if you want something stronger, try taking one to your local camping shop & asking for heavy duty replacements.

Scout Niger poles would do the job for many years & only fail when the local troop nick them to repair their tents!