How to splint a broken parasol rib?

[SteamBlast Mary]

Have any of you clever chappies got some suggested for what to use as a split for a broken rib on a parasol? It was jerry-rigged with a darning needle stuck in the groove then bound into place with buttonhole thread: now that has snapped (these things are under a lot of tension), what would be a good material to use to bond the pieces together and reinforce the join?

It must be smooth (so as not to snag the canopy fabric), strong, and flat as it will have to sit on top on the rib.

And if you can think of a more attractive material than insulation tape to bind it with, that would be a boon!

Thank you.

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

you could repair the same as it was before and wrap with dental floss instead of button thread.

or was it the needle that snapped?

[SteamBlast Mary]

Yep, it was the needle that snapped. And one end is firmly lodged in the groove (thank you Araldite) so I can't insert another the same way, so it will have to be on top of the rib.

[Narsil]

Carbon fibre tube might work

[Dave_G]

Piano wire (as large as you can fit in the rib)
Araldite or soft solder in position.
Hope this helps 

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

How about a photo of the problem area with something like a coin in the photo for a better sense of scale...

[greensteam]

The thing about brolly ribs is that they have to bend a bit, which knitting needles dont much. Hence if you are going to put something into the rib's groove it needs to be a little springy.

How about this: Our local pound shop sells nasty little dirty-laundry bins about a foot tall. These are of the sort that folds flat like a pop up tent. The pop up is done by thin strips of spring steel in tubes sewn into the fabric. I bought a couple in order to get the spring steel. The strips are very thin and could easily be taped or bound to a brolly rib.

If you cant find any near you I have spare and can post you one.

[robotmastern]

you could get some of the metal strapping they use to secure boxes to pallets in shipping and cut it thin. maybe put a bend in it along the length like the rest of the umbrella ribs

[greensteam]

you could get some of the metal strapping they use to secure boxes to pallets in shipping and cut it thin. maybe put a bend in it along the length like the rest of the umbrella ribs

I think it will be very hard and brittle to cut. hence my attempts to get strips already thin.

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

you could get some of the metal strapping they use to secure boxes to pallets in shipping and cut it thin. maybe put a bend in it along the length like the rest of the umbrella ribs

I think it will be very hard and brittle to cut. hence my attempts to get strips already thin.

Anneal it. Heat it with a flame like a propane torch and let it cool slowly.

[Argus Fairbrass]

An old car aerial or telescopic metal pointer may work. They are quite strong but bendy. I don't know how you'd splint it though. Of course if you could find an old umbrella you could possibly adapt a rib from that.