Bent stanchion

[Loginname]

Some dear person has bent one of my stanchions quite badly. There's a 15-20 degree bend near the foot which must have meant it had quite a clout....so much so that I'm surprised that the base does not seem to have been damaged or, as far as I can tell, the surrounding deck.

It is possible/worthwhile getting it straightened or should I try to find a suitable replacement?
Could I straighten it myself? Being mean, I would like to try.

They also smashed my navigation lights.
/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[BobnLesley]

We recently straightened what sounds like similar damage on Spring Fever: -
as the end fittings to the gaurdwires appeared fixed we disconnected and removed them, along with all the stanchions. We then put the bent stanchion into a vice and a few taps with a mallet got it 98% straight, after which we refitted everything. I would not recommend trying to striaghten it insitu; I think the base is likely to break.

 

[earlybird]

If it's stainless steel tube, you could try straightening it by locally heating to red heat, with a suitable piece of bar in the bottom of the stanchion to provide purchase, and the upper part gripped in a vice. It needs a fairly powerful blowtorch or oxy-acetylene though and it will need a good pull. Re-polish afterwards. Trying to straighten cold will leave kinks. Never tried aluminium, but I think that might be difficult to do neatly, and the anodising will probably be badly crazed, but you don't have much to lose.
I don't think aluminium should be heated, but others may know.

 

[Loginname]

Thanks for that folks.

I should have said; it's stainless steel and I have removed it from the boat.

I've never had much luck with re-polishing stainless after using heat. It always seem to "stain" so I can never get a mirror finish again. It also seems to become more rust prone.

How do you re-polish?

 

[rachapman]

To bend a stanchion the way you describe will have taken a considerable force, so I suggest re-bedding the base will be a good idea. If water gets in, especially if you have balsa cored deck, you could be storing up trouble for the future. I'd also look out for crazing appearing in the area of the stanchion base over the next few months. This is all a bit negative, but best to be informed.

 

[earlybird]

Polishing is best done with a powered cloth "mop" & polishing compound, but you can try very fine wet or dry, followed by metal polish with lots & lots of elbow grease. Doubt if you'll get a mirror finish though.

 

[Loginname]

It's done!
I was amazed how much heat it needed and I had to make up some metalwork to "reflect" the heat onto the back of the stanchion so that it heated up on both sides.
Together with a 4 foot bar to act as a lever, plenty of brute force and it's now more or less straight.
I polished it by putting it in a drill and working up the grades of paper to 800 grit. There's no point going any further, it's already better than the other stanchions.

It's not perfect, but it won't be noticeable once its back on the boat. It's certainly better than fitting a mis-match.

Now all I need to do is re-tap the base and fix it in.
I think I had better re check the deck; there must have been an enormous force to bend it like that.

Does any one know where I can get aluminium bolts for the base?

Thanks for your help everyone.