steveoelliott Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Hi Folks, After taking down a couple of existing long Laura Ashley wooden curtain rails in our house, I've noticed that where the two parts of the pole screw together in the middle, the hole is now too large for the screw and it just turns. Probably a really simple solution but I am thinking wrapping some electric tape around the screw before attempting to tighten of stick a broken matchstick into the hole but the last thing I want to do is split the pole. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Drill and fit a real plug maybe. Or change the decor for the first time since the early 1980s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoelliott Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 3 hours ago, SteamyTea said: Drill and fit a real plug maybe. Or change the decor for the first time since the early 1980s. These poles aren't actually that old and match the rest of the room but I can see from the description why you've said that lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Glue? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Typical rubbish design (don't be fooled by a posh make) A screw self tapping into a hole in a bit of wood that has worn and the screw now falls out. Post a very close up / macro shot of where the 2 bits meet and someone might suggest an alternative way of securing them. I would be looking personally at trilling a hole right through and a nut and bolt, or simply a larger screw but would need to see the details of what is there first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simplysimon Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 araldite the hole and smear the screw with light oil if you wish it to come back out. screwing it in will allow the araldite to conform to the thread 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoelliott Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 Thanks all… one end of the screw is in one pole and the other is just a pre drilled hole. If it had a steel thread in the female side initially I think it would be better. Anyway glue and or plugging seem to be way to go. Personally I don’t think it needs to come apart after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoelliott Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 (edited) 11 minutes ago, ProDave said: Typical rubbish design (don't be fooled by a posh make) A screw self tapping into a hole in a bit of wood that has worn and the screw now falls out. Post a very close up / macro shot of where the 2 bits meet and someone might suggest an alternative way of securing them. I would be looking personally at trilling a hole right through and a nut and bolt, or simply a larger screw but would need to see the details of what is there first. Edited May 11, 2022 by steveoelliott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoelliott Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 Agree on the rubbish design… here is a pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Yes you could spend ages to engineer a better solution such as embeding a metal thread into the pole. Or just glue it. Actually i would first try running a 5.5mm drill down the hole and inserting a red 6mm rawl plug for the screw to screw into. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoelliott Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 6 minutes ago, ProDave said: Yes you could spend ages to engineer a better solution such as embeding a metal thread into the pole. Or just glue it. Actually i would first try running a 5.5mm drill down the hole and inserting a red 6mm rawl plug for the screw to screw into. Sounds sensible to me. Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Remove the existing screw with mole grips. Drill & put one of these in each face. These are M6 but M5 would be fine. Short bit of stud between the two. https://www.screwfix.com/p/insert-nuts-type-d-m6-x-13mm-50-pack/59937 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Strap a structural steel to it - sorted ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 38 minutes ago, pocster said: Strap a structural steel to it - sorted ! Wrap the joint in composite plastic. A vacuum bagged and autoclaved wrap of carbon fibre should outlast most of us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 14 hours ago, Onoff said: Remove the existing screw with mole grips. Drill & put one of these in each face. These are M6 but M5 would be fine. Short bit of stud between the two. https://www.screwfix.com/p/insert-nuts-type-d-m6-x-13mm-50-pack/59937 or drill and glue in M5 round connector nuts with a length of threaded rod.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111805113838?hash=item1a081aa5ee:g:sHwAAOSwTzVcms95 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322308108964?hash=item4b0b0f72a4:g:5-oAAOSwcd9feIHO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markocosic Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Drill it 12 mm and glue in a length of M12 threaded rod...as a permanent dowel? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saveasteading Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 I would fill the hole with a paste of wood glue and sawdust. Then fix as originally. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 You could, take it to a specialist engineering company and get them to accurately bore holes the complete length of each half. Then get a tie rod and washers and nuts at each end. Tension the tie rod up. Think of it as a pre-stressed structural member. Where is @Gus Potter he could calculate how many turns on a threaded bar will be needed. Or just stick a rawl plug in a hole. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Could 3d print you a joiner? Into PVA cow moulds at the moment: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 2 minutes ago, Onoff said: Into PVA cow moulds at the moment: Did she say 'Moooove over' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted May 13, 2022 Share Posted May 13, 2022 9 hours ago, Onoff said: Could 3d print you a joiner? Into PVA cow moulds at the moment: I did wonder what that was …. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoelliott Posted May 13, 2022 Author Share Posted May 13, 2022 Thank you all… certainly mainly options when I come to put it back up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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