Fix metal clothes airer

boardtc

Has anyone successfully fixed a clothes airer, where some of the thin metal stays across the top have come undone at one end?


Something like this one, except mine is all metal (no blue bits) :


I have tried gorrila glue and sugru an neither have held. I'd prefer not to bring to metal recycling and have to buy another. Has anyone had any joy?

awec

I would think pretty much everyone just recycles and replaces when it starts to break apart.

If the Gorilla glue didn't work (presumably you bought a type suitable for metal) you can probably rule out gluing it.

disposableFish

There's no really good way of fixing one without welding it back in place and repairing the paintwork - but that's just not worth it.

In terms of glues, neither gorilla glue or sugru are particularly strong - a two-part epoxy would be a much better bet, but still a bad one I would think (edit, definitely a bad bet).

If you're looking for an ugly bodge that'll actually work you could try bending back the rod into a loop shape and cable tie it to the end. Or just pull the loose bar off, file off the sharp bits and use it with with one less rail.

But yeah, it's time to get a new one.

riemann

Could try araldite? Or hot glue gun?

Fair play for trying to fix it instead of just dumping and buying new.

listermint

They're rubbish the design is rubbish hate them . Have gone through 3.

Better go and but the vertical air dryer design they last alot longer

boardtc

riemann wrote: »

Could try araldite? Or hot glue gun?

Fair play for trying to fix it instead of just dumping and buying new.

Trying to fight the throw out and get a new one culture that is so prevalent!


I have a hot glue gun actually, for some reason had not thought of using it! Will give it one more try tonight before looking at those vertical driers - I did not know about them, something like https://www.homestoreandmore.ie/clothes-airers/3-tier-collapsible-clothes-airer/058874.html I guess

disposableFish

boardtc wrote: »

Trying to fight the throw out and get a new one culture that is so prevalent!


I have a hot glue gun actually, for some reason had not thought of using it!

If you want to conserve resources then don't waste the hotglue.

Lumen

Bungie cords?

looksee

I just did the throw away and buy another stunt as I could not see a way of fixing it. I like the idea with the cable ties, not sure that the wires would bend and stay bent but worth a try. Or just take out wires as they break.

Bruthal

Could tie it with thread, multiple criss-cross style wrap arounds to bind the piece in place, then soak the thread with superglue and leave to set.

If there is enough overlap of one metal part on the other, that should hold.

boardtc

Just back on and did not see the ideas since my last post. Cable tie and glue might have been worth a shot. But with it bending up and down, there was too much movement - hot glue did not work. So yeah I just broke of 2 of the stays and I'll crack on with it a bit longer!

keithdub

There is a steel putty you can buy in auto shops or halfrods. Last time I got it, it was in a red tube like a role of 20 cents. It's used to exhausts it's very strong

Payton

Try Unibond repair express putty.

New Home

Or a soldering iron, perhaps?

mobfromcork

If all the stays are broken - cut a thin strip of wood the same length or a bit shorter than the outside bar where the stays are broken. Drill small holes through the wood leaving the same gap between the holes as is on the metal part. Push the stays through the piece of wood so that the stays go about 2 inches through at the other side. Then cable tie the piece of wood to the outer bar in a few places.
If only a few stays are broken - same principle but just use a few shorter pieces of wood.
Sorry for the poor explanation but I can see it in my head....

listermint

keithdub wrote: »

There is a steel putty you can buy in auto shops or halfrods. Last time I got it, it was in a red tube like a role of 20 cents. It's used to exhausts it's very strong

Tension torsion.

Do no use this stuff , entirely wrong application

New Home

The other thing you could try is to remove the broken wire entirely, pierce a hole through both sides of the frame where the wire was, and thread through the holes a length of clothes line, making sure it"s very taut before you secure it.

LenWoods

If your near IKEA there €19;
https://www.ikea.com/ie/en/p/mulig-drying-rack-in-outdoor-white-50228755/

Alternatively if you can get some PVC conduit you may be able to create a lagging splint over the fracture,
Gorilla glue ain't cheap around half the cost of a new unit
I'd be hesitant to do any further repairs as you could exceed the cost of a replacement lol

is_that_so

boardtc wrote: »

Trying to fight the throw out and get a new one culture that is so prevalent!


I have a hot glue gun actually, for some reason had not thought of using it! Will give it one more try tonight before looking at those vertical driers - I did not know about them, something like https://www.homestoreandmore.ie/clothes-airers/3-tier-collapsible-clothes-airer/058874.html I guess

If you've had it for any decent length of time you've done your bit! Also second replacing it if the DIY repair fails.

Nekarsulm

On that horribly light metal, gas brazing is the only real way to repair them
An "old school" garage or body repair place is your only hope.
It'd cost more than a new one, unfortunately.