Repair a Damaged Tent Pole in a Pinch (Ideas & Methods)

Did one among your tent poles simply snap proper in the midst of your tenting journey?

Don’t pack to go dwelling simply but!

A tent pole is a type of issues you possibly can simply restore, so long as you might have just a few issues at your disposal.

At this time, I’ll present you many methods you possibly can restore your damaged tent poles. Let’s dive in!

Restore a Damaged Tent Pole

Accidents occur, and once you’re tenting, you should be ready for them.

So in case your tent pole breaks, it is best to a minimum of be capable of give it a fast repair that ought to final during your journey.

Then, once you get dwelling, you’ll have extra time to restore or substitute something that’s nonetheless damaged.

Right here’s the nice half – repairing a damaged tent pole isn’t rocket science.

Relying on the injury, you may not even have to do an excessive amount of to it.

Now, let’s speak about every doable state of affairs and how one can take care of it most successfully.

Patching a Damaged Tent Pole

In case there’s solely a small crack in your tent pole, then Bondic Liquid Welder or the same sort of liquid plastic can do the trick.

The sort of “glue” works on a easy precept: It’s a liquid plastic that requires UV gentle to be cured.

It received’t harden till you do, regardless of how lengthy it’s been utilized for.

I like this “glue” for thus many issues, and patching up a tent pole is not any completely different.

The steps for this technique are fairly easy:

1. Lay the pole down on a flat floor. If it’s barely bent across the crack, strive straightening it up as a lot as you possibly can.
2. Apply a tiny little bit of Bondic Liquid Welding to the crack to cowl it up.
3. Remedy the utilized glue with the UV gentle for 4 seconds.
4. If crucial, you possibly can additional safe the pole by wrapping the cracked space with tape.

Now, though liquid plastic is extraordinarily sturdy, this isn’t a repair that can lengthen your tent pole’s life by a few years. Whereas it ought to do the job for the subsequent journey or two, it is best to substitute it as quickly as doable.

Splinting a Damaged Tent Pole

Now, in case your tent pole is totally damaged, there are two other ways you possibly can repair that:

1. Utilizing a pole restore sleeve
2. Utilizing a tent stake as a splint

Tent pole restore sleeves are superb, as they’re inexpensive and let you make a fast repair whilst you’re out within the wilderness.

However what in the event you don’t have one with you when the “accident” occurs?

Effectively, one factor that you simply certainly have at hand can work for a makeshift splint – a tent stake.

On this part, we’ll cowl every technique.

Provides you’ll want:

• Tent pole restore sleeve
• Gaffer’s tape or duct tape
• Wire cutters or pliers (non-compulsory)
• Tent stake or sturdy stick (in case you don’t have a restore sleeve)

Splinting utilizing a pole restore sleeve

A pole restore sleeve is a brief tube that’s only a tiny bit bigger in diameter than a daily tent pole.

That manner, it may be utilized on high of it with out transferring round an excessive amount of.

Some tents characteristic a restore sleeve within the buy, whereas others don’t.

Nonetheless, you should purchase a pole restore sleeve individually – they’re extensively obtainable in out of doors gear shops and on-line.

Right here’s what you should do:

1. If the tent pole is bent however not fully damaged, lay it flat and check out straightening it to the unique form.
2. If the pole is damaged, line up these sections.
3. Slide the restore sleeve on the pole, all the way in which till it covers the break. In case the half the place the pole is broken has splayed items, that is the place wire cutters or pliers turn out to be useful. You possibly can crimp or bend inwards these items as a way to slide the restore sleeve onto the break.
4. Seize the tape and wrap it round every finish of the sleeve just a few instances. This could assist preserve the restore sleeve in place.

Splinting utilizing a tent stake

Chances are high you may not have a pole restore sleeve with you. I don’t blame you, as I used to do the identical again within the day.

So, when my pole broke, I needed to improvise. Effectively, the nice factor is that you need to use one thing you might have available, like a tent stake.

Alternatively, a sturdy stick will do as properly. However provided that discovering such a powerful stick could be onerous, utilizing a stake is rather more sensible.

Right here’s what to do:

1. Lay the tent pole (or line up its elements if the pole has fully snapped in half) on a flat floor. If doable, strive straightening the bend as a lot as you possibly can.
2. Seize a tent stake and align it in such a manner that it’s centered subsequent to the half the place the pole broke.
3. Whereas holding it tight with one hand, seize a tape with one other and wrap the stake and pole a number of instances. You need to make the wrap as tight as doable in order that it leaves no room for wiggling.

Changing an Total Pole Phase

Whereas the earlier strategies supply fast and simple fixes once you’re out within the wilderness, it is best to finally substitute all the pole phase and make it pretty much as good as new.

For this technique, you’ll want a alternative phase of the identical measurement as the unique pole. Some out of doors manufacturers make alternative elements for his or her tents, together with poles, however that’s not all the time the case.

Alternatively, you may be capable of discover a phase from different producers that’s the correct measurement and materials as your personal.

At this time, many manufacturers supply common alternative pole segments. Simply take into account that these come a bit longer as a way to minimize them to measurement.

Provides you’ll want:

• Felt-tipped marker
• Hacksaw
• Metallic file or medium-grit sandpaper
• Contrasting tape (non-compulsory)

Right here’s what to do:

1. Measure your alternative pole phase in order that it matches the previous one in size.
2. Line the place you should minimize the alternative phase with a pen or tape. I strongly counsel utilizing tape across the half the place you intend on slicing the pole, because it prevents cracking and splitting whilst you’re slicing via it.
3. Seize a hacksaw and begin slicing. Watch out when utilizing this software, as you possibly can damage your self if not cautious. Preserve a average strain when gliding the hacksaw over the slicing line.
4. As soon as executed, seize a metallic file or sandpaper and begin smoothing out the perimeters of the brand new pole phase. You don’t have to be very detailed, simply be certain there are not any sharp edges that might injury the shock twine.

And there you might have it, good as new!

Putting in a New Shock Wire

Lastly, what in case your pole shock twine snaps once you’re tenting?

Effectively, in the event you’re cautious, you may be capable of put the tent pole segments collectively and preserve the tent erect that manner. However that’s no actual repair.

As quickly as you get dwelling, you should substitute the shock twine with a brand new one.

Now, that is one thing you may have to do each few years anyway, provided that shock cords can lose elasticity over time from use.

And by chance for you, the method is fast and simple.

Provides you want:

• Alternative shock twine
• Sharp knife or scissors
• Metal washer (non-compulsory)
• Alternative pole phase (non-compulsory)
• Hacksaw (non-compulsory)
• File or sandpaper (non-compulsory)
• Felt-tipped marker (non-compulsory)

As you see, many of those provides are non-compulsory. You’ll want all of them provided that you’re additionally changing a pole phase whereas putting in a brand new shock twine.

And now, let’s get right down to enterprise. Right here’s what you should do:

1. Right here’s find out how to substitute the shock twine:
2. Lay down a tent pole on a flat floor.
3. Seize a marker and label every part with numbers/letters to keep away from mixing them up.
4. Seize the scissors and snip the previous shock twine on both finish.
5. If any pole phase wants changing, that is once you need to try this. For directions, comply with the strategy above.
6. Lay down the previous shock twine subsequent to the brand new one and minimize it to match the size. If the previous twine misplaced elasticity, minimize the brand new one about 8 inches shorter.
7. Tie one finish of the shock twine to a pole tip, whereas feeding the opposite finish via all pole sections apart from the final one.
8. Stretch the twine to increase the size whereas feeding via the final pole part. Tie the tip to the pole tip.

And there you might have it! Very straightforward and fast to do.

FAQs

What are the elements of a tent pole known as?

Elements of the tent pole are known as segments. Every pole has 4 or extra segments, relying on the scale of the tent.

How do you reconnect tent poles?

The shock twine is what retains the tent pole elements collectively. In case your shock twine snaps or loses elasticity, you’ll have to interchange the shock twine to maintain the poles working as they need to.

How does a tent pole splint work?

You’ll want to use a tent sleeve or one thing sturdy and straight like a stick or an additional tent stake to maintain the pole elements in place whereas in use. If you happen to don’t have a restore sleeve, a sturdy stick or a tent stake will do the job.

How do you straighten a bent tent pole?

You’ll want to watch out when doing this in order that the pole doesn’t break in half.

If it’s solely barely bent, rolling a tent pole onto a flat floor ought to assist with straightening it again.

If it’s extra creased, then you definitely’ll have to make a splint to maintain it from bending again.

How tight ought to the tent pole shock twine be?

Tent pole shock cords have to be actually tight. Usually, the twine be 25% shorter than the full size of the pole in slack

To Sum Issues Up

As you possibly can see, a damaged or bent tent pole just isn’t the tip of the world.

Typically, you possibly can determine a fast repair whilst you’re nonetheless out tenting. Even with simply duct tape and a stick!

And as you get dwelling, you possibly can simply substitute the broken half with just some instruments at your disposal.

Extra Tent Upkeep: