The poles on our tent are connected by elastic and while packing up to come home I had an enthusiastic little helper who yanked too hard. How can I rethread the elastic? I've tried doing it by hand but it's not working very well.
You can get a threading needle which is really just a ling piece of wire with an eye at the end to thread the elastic into. then use this to push the elastic down the poles. You will probably have to buy one as part of a repair kit.
------------- Nigel
March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle
Have you got a camping store nearby? They may do a repair service. I have no patience for it and take any poles that need repairing or rethreading to our local PJ Camping. I am a very lazy person
I use 2.5mm shockcord, rather than the thinner weaker elastic thats normally used. Start with a much longer length than is needed, securely knot one end, and seal the cut with a cigarrette lighter. The other end I seal again, then dip or drip candle wax over the end to form a stiff section. (Oo-er) Then begin threading, making sure the pole sections are the right way round, one will have 2 metal ends, actually assembling the poles as one section at a time is threaded. The fun part comes when all the sections are threaded- the cord needs tensioning, its guesswork as to how tight it needs to be, tight enough is the obvious answer. Its easiest with help, your glamourous assistant needs to hold the tightened cord out whilst you tie the knot, again a bit of guesswork involved as it needs to be overtight so youve got enough cord hanging out for you to be able to tie the knot. Leave the end long until youve tested the tension, then cut and seal the end. Be aware that as the poles are 'taken apart' ie folded up, the cord gets tighter and tighter, a I said - theres a lot of guesswork involved. Confused?? Thats the way!!
I use a length of 1.5mm stainless steel welding rod with a long extension of dental floss. Thread the rod through the pole (if it isnt long enough a quick flick of the wrist sends it through no probs - just don't point it at anyone!).
the dental floss is a sacrificial extension I use the pull the shock cord through the poles.
The dental floss, if you make it long enough will last for ages. Secured with a dab of superglue and a length of heat shrink tubing for added security (but probably isn't needed - I have a tendency to over engineer everything). Store the 'needle you just made in the core of a spare pole - stops it getting bent.
Incidentally Dental Floss is a god send. Strong, long and waterproof - and relatively cheap. I've repaiored wetsuits, bergans, tents and a multitude of other things including an at least one occasion a model aeroplane. Versatile stuff.
Singe the elastic and hold the pole upright . drop the elastic down through the pole . I tried the threader,it was a long piece of thin wire , it said to tape elastic onto the end of it .
No way would it pass through the middle of the pole when taped , it was too thick.
That's why I suggested dental floss. Glue one end of the floss to the wire. Pass the wire and the length of floss through the pole. Tie the loose end of the floss tightly around the very end of the elastic and pull form the 'wire end' of the floss. Your knot will slip or the elastic will snap before the floss does! If the knot slips - do the whole thing again but tie it tighter to the elastic!
I got a kit from Halfords last summer, it was round about a fiver. It had a long section of thin wire in it and that was for threading the elastic through. It was a bit of a faff, but it was an essential job and I got there in the end. There was loads of spare cord in the packet which is useful to hold onto in case you need it again.
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Topic: Rethreading poles
