What ho one and all,

I only seem to ask questions relating to somewhat trivial things, and here is another.

Our rooflights are Fakro and too high to open/close by hand, so have the Fakro ZST pole to hook over the handle to twist open or closed. As is frequently the case with poor design, it is designed to save material rather than be sufficiently strong to last for as long as necessary.

Consequentially, one of the two supports had fractured and I have been researching the best way to fix and reinforce. Then I found the SuperGlue and baking soda solution. Whoever, the solution certainly hardens but does not adhere to the plastic so I have chipped it off.

There is an expensive solution, buy another pole which cost a mere £50. I am very reluctant to pay that sort of money when I only need a small plastic bit when the pole is perfect.

Which leaves with seeking some advice on GBF. Grateful for any thoughts.

I hot welded my broken water bottle using a wide blade soldering iron.

https://classicroofblinds.com/product/fakro-opening-pole-for-roof-windows-blinds/

£22


(Edit: or saw off the plastic fitting and.fix a large steel eye bolt or vine eye into the end of the pole? Not very hopeful about fixing that cracked plastic without it failing again before long).

Sugru looks good, but I have never tried it.

Drill a hole right through a length of 32mm push fit waste and use that instead?

I made an extended window opener for my Mum, who had a similar access problem, from a length of !" PVC tube and a couple of T- pieces. Solvent welded the T-piece to each end (tube size and length to suit your application) one to slip over the handle and the other other end provided a useful handle for the necessary twisting motion. Cheap and strong enough for the job.

If you want to repair the existing poor design - why the hole in the moulding near the point of maximum stress? - try drilling a hole from the inside of the ring down into the base through the crack, probably at an angle for access. Use a full threaded screw through into the base and cut off any leftover protruding metal in the ring if desired. Epoxy resin is useful and would add to the joint strength - you could maybe fill the hole in the moulding with epoxy as well to cut down on any flexing.

I have recently made a curved pick-up pipe for my garage vac to clean my gutters from the ground. The curve is made from cut angled sections, glued together with pvc solvent weld, but to make the joints stronger I used ordinary staples, heated with a soldering iron and pressed into the plastic around each joint at the points of higher strain. You might find the same technique handy for your cracked fitting.

Good Luck!

Araldite. Love the stuff.

Spread liberally all round. Maybe a bit of strong tape wrapped around after for belt and braces.

Will try Araldite but given that the superglue did not stick, doubt that Araldite will. Unfortunately, it takes all the torque of opening closing the handles.

Anyway, a bit of research and Fakro came up with the goods. Replacement plastic bit can be bought for a mere £6. But it comes from Poland via a distributor in the UK and has £12 delivery!!!!

So thought I would use my extensive Polish knowledge (!) and have a look at the PL web site. Managed to find the pole, and when converted the Zloty price, around £22 for an item that sells in the UK for double that. Someone is making a good profit.

Agreed. Probably not. But this one lasted ten years and as the delivery cost is the same, I have bought two. But before inserting the thing into the pole, I will abrade the internal surfaces and probably fill with Araldite.

Some plastics won't take super glue. The lids of superglue pots are made of them! As mentioned, an epoxy might work better, especially if you abraid the surfaces and build up around it too. You could recreate the whole thing in steel or aluminium flat with basic tools; drill, hacksaw, files. Although fixing it in the pole could be a bit rustic.

Just to close out this thread, I received the replacement end from Fakro and attach a comparison photo.

I guess they have had similar problems in the past and a small redesign has strengthened the weak area. I now have two so good to go for the rest of my life!!!