Camping on a stormy night might sound adventurous. However, those who have faced such situations or scenarios would know that the next day it becomes disastrous. One of the most common and possible reasons is to have your tent aluminum pole broken.
Now, you might have faced such a situation; of course, a beginner could not fix it. Thus, let me be your savior and solve this for you!
How to Fix Bent Aluminum Tent Pole?
If you want to fix your aluminum bent tent pole, you have to soften it first, and the ultimate way to soften aluminum is to heat it. The only way to fix a bent tent pole (permanently) is to replace the broken part. Hence, what you decide to do with your bent pole is up to you!
I am confident you have more queries and confusion, which is completely fine! Do not worry, folks! I am here to serve you and help you find answers to your questions. However, for that, you have to keep reading!
Is It Possible to Straighten a Bent Tent Pole?
You can, of course, straighten your bent tent pole; however, it is going to be very difficult as well as it is not going to be a long-lasting solution.
The best thing would be to use a splint to support your broken tent pole and later replace the broken part with a new one. It will save both your time and money in the long run. Otherwise, if you keep straightening, not only it won’t be easy, but also it will not last.
What Are the Reasons Behind Bending Tent Pole?
Okay, so there is a proverb, “Prevention is better than cure.” If you want to prevent your tent pole from bending, you first have to know what causes your tent pole to bend! Now, my friend, let me tell you what causes your precious tent pole to bend so that you can be aware beforehand and save your tent pole.
Stormy Weather
This one has been discussed briefly at the beginning of this article. See, when you are camping on a very stormy night, it is expected that your tent hole will be damaged because of the strong wind. In such situations, you cannot stop the storm. However, you will likely buy a quality tent that can withstand the storms’ damage to the maximum level.
Packing Damage
Packaging damage mostly happens when packing your tent poles and become inattentive towards them thus, make it overcrowded. That is why you must be very careful when packing your tent poles.
Storing Method
When we store our tent poles, we do not just keep them in a separate place. Instead, we reserve our tent poles with other camping kinds of stuff which is very normal and common. However, mishaps happen when we do not become cautious and keep heavy camping kinds of stuff on top of the tent poles. Thus, do not keep any heavy camping items on the tent poles. Keep them separately.
Should I Rely On Splints Permanently?
Let us say that you have sprained or fractured your ankle or leg. Now, of course, you will be asked to rely on splints. However, will you rely on it forever and do nothing else? No, right? Using splinters on bent tent poles is exactly like that. You cannot rely on splints permanently because splinters are there to help you in an emergency. It is effective in short-term usage but will not back you up in the long run.
Thus, if you are looking for a permanent solution, replace your broken part of the tent pole with a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can You Use Duct Tape to Fix a Tent Pole?
Answer: Yes, you can. If you are looking for an easy and time-effective solution, you can use duct tape to fix your tent pole. Just wrap the broken part of your tent pole with the duct tape, and you are sorted. However, please remember that it is a quick fix and will be effective temporarily only.
Can Bent Aluminum Be Straightened?
Answer: Yes, it can be straightened. Bent Aluminum kneels before the heat, which means if you want to straighten it, you have to use heat first and then straighten it according to will. However, please note that heat reduces the strength of the aluminum tent pole; thus, it will not be as powerful as before.
Does Aluminum Get Harder With Time?
Answer: No, it does not. Aluminum is a kind of metal, and it does not have any expiry date. Having said date, the strength or effectiveness of Aluminum seldom has anything to do with time. It mostly depends on where and how we are using that Aluminum.
Is Aluminum Easier to Bend Than Steel?
Answer: Aluminum is considered weaker than steel. On the other hand, steel is considered strong and does not bend quite easily. Another thing to consider is that there are different types of Aluminum and steel. Therefore, it may vary depending on the type and condition of the metal.
Does Aluminum Go Bad?
Answer: Aluminum cannot possibly go wrong because of time and aging because metals such as Aluminum do not have any expiry date or shelf life. However, heat and excessive pressure could be one of the reasons to weaken Aluminum.
Conclusion:
By now, we all have understood that if we want to have a long-lasting aluminum pole and less hassle, then we need to follow a few steps.
To sum it up, to fix your Aluminum bent tent pole, you have to soften it first, and the ultimate way to soften Aluminum is to heat it. Therefore, there is no way to fix a bent tent pole (permanently) other than replacing the broken part first.
You can straighten your bent tent pole; however, it is going to be very difficult as well as it is not going to be a long-lasting solution. Using splinters will be a quick fix and practical, too. However, not a permanent one.
In general, bending tent poles depends on three things such as:
- Stormy Weather
- Packing Damage
- Storing Method
If you pay attention to the tips and tricks (mentioned above), it can be hoped that your camping life will be much smoother and better with quick fixes to bent aluminum tent poles.
Cheers to a smooth camping life!
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