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My friend has a 3/4″ square oak towel rod set into hangars which, in turn, are themselves set into the tile wall and grouted. The oak “rod” has broken.
My fix suggestion was to make a new rod from some 1x oak and finger joint it in place.
Comments/other suggestions most appreciated.
Eric Svendson
Silver Spring, Md.
Replies
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I know you can get replacement rods at places like Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, or just about anybox place that has towel bars. One of the tenons would be spring loaded, kind of like some toilet paper holders. If you can't find one in oak at those stores, or if it's a weird size, you could *probably* find plans somewhere to make one. That to me would be the least damaging, i.e. no need to get into ripping out the old hangers, etc.
*What Mr. Pita said, and a little more: Make a rod the length of the distance between the ends plus the depth of one pocket. Drill a hole, say 1/2", into each end an inch or so deep, get a spring for each end to fit the diameter and depth of the hole when compressed, and insert. The two springs keeps the rod centered better. I used to make folding screens with removable bars for changing the fabric like this.
*Been there: best luck with a sliding dovetail in the centre of the bar (holds it together while the glue dries without exotic clamps).
*My rudimentary memory of physics tells me you would probably be better off if the joint were not in the middle of the bar. You would get maximum torsion at that point - a joint near the end would be almost completely in shear and should give you less total stress than in the middle. A really good glue joint should be stronger than the wood at first, but not necessarily over the long haul. Maybe a joint near each end for esthetic balance?
*Well, can't argue with your logic; however, a good glue joint is virtually forever; and, as you say, strong than the wood. That being said, there's also some logic in putting the joint in the middle where it is usually covered by the towel rather than the end where it would more likely be seen. There's also the point that the eye regularly passes over symetry. Probably neither answer is better.
*Some good ideas mentioned previously; here's another: Find some oak with the grain running diagonally across the piece and cut it to required size. Put one end in a vise, clamp on the other end for leverage, and break it. Helps to make a shallow saw kerf on the far side (wall side) to encourage the break to occur where you want it. With luck, you will end up with only two pieces, which can be inserted into the brackets, and the fractured pieces glued back together, held with spring clamps. This is called an Accidental Scarf Joint, or in this case, an On Purpose Accidental Scarf Joint. GPW
*gp, wouldn't that piece also be subject to future Accidental Scarfage? This needs to be strong as well as pretty...
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My friend has a 3/4" square oak towel rod set into hangars which, in turn, are themselves set into the tile wall and grouted. The oak "rod" has broken.
My fix suggestion was to make a new rod from some 1x oak and finger joint it in place.
Comments/other suggestions most appreciated.
Eric Svendson
Silver Spring, Md.