How would you repair this?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 49549
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted member 49549

Guest
I bought a camping table and bench set off eBay and it has been damaged by the courier...
The seller is making a claim against the courier, but I am wondering how the bench can be best repaired. It looks like a fibre laminate. It has cracked so I need to waterproof it and add some structural integrity. Ideas?
BC35C5A7-37D7-4A2B-8D8C-DDB28C3F9BA0.jpegF34EBB17-9F3E-4E63-94B2-992E38942B8D.jpeg23881CB2-4832-4FFF-863D-D13E557D62EA.jpegAECE092F-DFFE-4CD5-AE77-931BE0BE5FED.jpeg
 
That's the sort of thing I would have just thrown some fibreglass on using a cross-weave for more integrity (underneath too). Then painted over the top. If you get a clean line then it looks like it should be there.

Does anyone use fibreglass anymore? I'm going back to the early eighties and fixing motorbike fairings and suchlike.
 
As Morris says GF tape will work ,might turn out to be to expensive for what it is though
 
You will never satisfactorily repair laminated hardboard..
However you could take it out of the frame and use it as a template to cut another one. but it would hardly be worth the bother, you still end up with a hardboard bench top.
Hard board is not a suitable material for a bench.
 
I think the time spent removing it to use as a template, cutting something else to size and then fitting it back in is probably not worth it as it’s all riveted in. Really looking to fix in-situ.
I’ve been looking at fibreglass kits as suggested. Would something like this be good?
www.halfords.com

Davids Fastglass Glass Fibre Kit - Small | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Looing for fibre glass repair kits? We've have you covered. Check out Davids Fastglass Glass Fibre Kit and more with Halfords today. at Halfords UK
www.halfords.com www.halfords.com
 
Rivets are a doddle to drill out and replace. The whole job could be done in 30 minutes.that is if you have the right tools.
But I just can not see it being worth repairing.
If you fibreglass it it will tend to delaminate and will not be very strong or pretty.
Hardboard that has lost its integrity, is the hardest material to repair satisfactorily, it is not intended to be structural.
 
Last edited:
Sky said:
I'd bin it and buy another one. :rolleyes:

Too much hassle and expense for a bodge that will probably not work or look dreadful.
Click to expand...
I’m a tight git and unfortunately that table and chairs was an old model that is better built than the ones available now, hence my desire to fix it as best I can.
as it’s a camping bench, aesthetics are not really a concern and it will be used by my two young kids so doesn’t need to be very strong. I just want to do the best job i can without spending a lot of time or money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sky
Cheapest option if you just want it useable would be to screw a baton or 2 across the crack underneath to support it then use a filler of some kind (polyfilla?) on top and paint over it.

If you don't strengthen it, anyone sitting on the bench will be sitting on the filler and it will just come apart.
 
Last edited:
Terrywoodenpic said:
Rivets are a doddle to drill out and replace. The whole job could be done in 30 minutes.that is if you have the right tools.
But I just can not see it being worth repairing.
If you fibreglass it it will tend to delaminate and will not be very strong or pretty.
Hardboard that has lost its integrity, is the hardest material to repair satisfactorily, it is not intended to be structural.
Click to expand...
I havent worked with rivets so thought it would be more difficult than that. I don’t have a rivet gun but will see if I can borrow one.
 
An old style one like this should be fine
www.ebay.co.uk

POP RIVETER + PACKET OF RIVETS | eBay

POP RIVETER + PACKET OF RIVETS. VERY GOOD CONDITION, GOOD WORKING CONDITION. IN ITS ORIGINAL BOX WITH INSTRUCTIONS. READY FOR WORK ☺ REMEMBER BUYING SECOND HAND TOOLS HELPS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT ☺ WOULD COMBINE POSTAGE ON MULTIPLE BIDS OF OTHER ITEMS ☺
www.ebay.co.uk
But you may need some short rivets
 
Cheaper in toolstation....
I'd use the matting underneath and some resin on the top. Rough it up with some sandpaper first. On the top, try and create an indentation at the crack with some sandpaper then brush in some resin.
When it hardens smooth with finer sandpaper.
www.toolstation.com

Big Boy Fibre Glass Resin Kit

Find everything you need to make efficient and effective repairs with this handy glass fibre resin repair kit. You can use it to fix damaged spots in materials like brick, metal and plastic, as well as wood, aluminium and fibreglass. Because it sets to a hard finish but keeps its elastic...
www.toolstation.com www.toolstation.com
 
Last edited:
I'd be careful of fibreglass or more precisely the polyester resin that is used with it, the solvent in which the resin is dissolved is very good at dissolving plastics and might damage/blister the surface. If you go go down that route try some resin on a small patch and see what happens. More expensive but much more likely to not cause problems is epoxy, available on Ebay, just be aware that epoxy takes many hours to cure at room temperature.
 
FWIW I used fastglass to repair my daughter's plastic slide when it was accidentally cracked. It was ugly but is still holding unlike the rest of the climbing frame which has rotted to bits.

That said if you take it away and it breaks on you you'll be much more irritated than in your own garden. If you can replace the whole board then I would.
 
I'd probably glue and screw a piece of 1/2" ply to the top of the bench to get some strength into it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top