fixing a warped mast

So this is an opportunity to make a more accurate one, too.

Hi Bill ;

    I have found that straightening masts is easier by just replacing it . You can build it out of solid plastic rod from Evergreen Plastics. If it's the stepped single main then you can build it in sections locked together with center pins ( brass ) and the new ultra violet activated glue . Try it you'll like it !  T.B.

Forgot the second suggestion I was going to make.  I have a sort of mini heat gun from craft stores (Micro Mark carries it). It is called a stamping iron, or stamping gun.  It puts out considerably less heat than a hair dryer, just right for bending thin pieces of styrene. I ordinarily use it to apply tension to monofilament rigging, but is nice for bending parts too. If the part gets too hot to touch, you are heating it too much.

Sometimes proper tensioning of the rigging stays can straighten a mast if the bend is not too severe (not kinked).

Yea if all goes wrong in fixing it , I will make a new one.

Bill

Easy to make a new one.

Hello;

It is a plastic mast for my Glencoe Oregon which is not very large.

Bill

Is it wood, or plastic? I guess it doesn't matter since this technique will save it either way. If it isn't too long for a 12" inch pan you can heat water in it, and put your part in the pan. Once it absorbs enough heat then you can slowly bend out the warp.You can also use a broiler pan filled with hot water a little at a time from a pan heated on the stove top, or if you have a big enough stove top you can use two burners to heat the water in the broiler pan. If not I'd suggest using something made from aluminum, copper, or brass tubing to replace it, or support it depending on how bad the warp is, and what size diameter your part is.

DO NOT USE FLAME!!! Only use hot water to keep from destroying your part, and burning yourself. If you get the part too hot it can make it worse, or it can destroy it completely. You can also tape your parts to something sturdy after warming it so that it will take the shape of something straight. I hope this will help. Take pictures, and let us know what your results are.

~ Cobra Chris