How to remove plastic sleeve from rotary line ground spike

135

Comments

  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 8,068 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    @Lulu58, if you cannot get the bent coat hanger end underneath the sleeves (it does sound as if they are sleeves rather than spacers, and I have seen such things), can you get a blow torch or camping stove to heat the bent end up so that it will be hot enough to melt its way into the sleeve(s) and allow you to pull them up even if you can't get right underneath them?
    If the spike is full of water, you'll have to empty it out first. An old stick that can be pushed into the hole will help with that, but beware of getting splashed with very dirty and smelly old water if you do. Been there, done that!
    Cool the wire down with water(!) before attempting to pull it up. :)

    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the In My Home MoneySaving, Energy and Techie Stuff boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. 

    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

  • Lulu58
    Lulu58 Posts: 318 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    victor2 said:
    @Lulu58, if you cannot get the bent coat hanger end underneath the sleeves (it does sound as if they are sleeves rather than spacers, and I have seen such things), can you get a blow torch or camping stove to heat the bent end up so that it will be hot enough to melt its way into the sleeve(s) and allow you to pull them up even if you can't get right underneath them?
    If the spike is full of water, you'll have to empty it out first. An old stick that can be pushed into the hole will help with that, but beware of getting splashed with very dirty and smelly old water if you do. Been there, done that!
    Cool the wire down with water(!) before attempting to pull it up. :)
    Clever idea, victor2.  Thank you!  Good point about the water too  :)
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 7,225 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 7 July 2023 at 7:52AM
    Tent pegs - poundland
    They have them every year. I bought 3 lots because they are useful for securing netting in the garden. A couple also secure a board round the strawberry bed  :)
    Useful for all sorts.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


  • ThisIsWeird
    ThisIsWeird Posts: 7,935 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I suspect that a coat hanger, or even a wire tent peg, will not have the heat capacity to allow this melting, good idea tho' it is. Almost certainly it'll have cooled too far before it makes more than a wee mark. A thicker tent peg might work, and certainly worth trying.
    If this is a plastic 'sleeve', Lulu, and not a spacer 'ring', and you do manage to bend and buckle over a top edge, then there's a possibility you can drill through the edge now facing you using the coat hanger or tent peg.
    I'm anticipating the sleeve being a typical soft thermoplastic, and not that thick - perhaps 2 or 3mm - the sort of thing you could easy 'drill'-force a hole through using a flat-bladed screwdriver or similar. If you straighten your coat hanger, snip the end in a crude 'V' using pliers or snips, that should leave quite a sharp ragged tip. Then shape the rest into a crank like a starting handle. Press tip into plastic, press gently, and crank away. I bet that will drill through pdq.
  • Lulu58
    Lulu58 Posts: 318 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 9 July 2023 at 9:18AM
    I suspect that a coat hanger, or even a wire tent peg, will not have the heat capacity to allow this melting, good idea tho' it is. Almost certainly it'll have cooled too far before it makes more than a wee mark. A thicker tent peg might work, and certainly worth trying.
    If this is a plastic 'sleeve', Lulu, and not a spacer 'ring', and you do manage to bend and buckle over a top edge, then there's a possibility you can drill through the edge now facing you using the coat hanger or tent peg.
    I'm anticipating the sleeve being a typical soft thermoplastic, and not that thick - perhaps 2 or 3mm - the sort of thing you could easy 'drill'-force a hole through using a flat-bladed screwdriver or similar. If you straighten your coat hanger, snip the end in a crude 'V' using pliers or snips, that should leave quite a sharp ragged tip. Then shape the rest into a crank like a starting handle. Press tip into plastic, press gently, and crank away. I bet that will drill through pdq.
    Well, ThisIsWeird (and others who have so kindly put forward suggestions), there is good news!

    I managed to hook out the thicker of the two sleeves with my trusty coat hanger.

    There is still a very thin sleeve remaining in the hole. It's only about 1-2mm thick and I cannot shift it. I have tried various things, including boiling water and also trying to get something in between the metal ground post and the plastic sleeve without success.

    However, I'm hoping the new rotary washing line will now fit in the ground spike as I've managed to remove the thicker of the sleeves!


  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 8,068 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Lulu58 said:
    I suspect that a coat hanger, or even a wire tent peg, will not have the heat capacity to allow this melting, good idea tho' it is. Almost certainly it'll have cooled too far before it makes more than a wee mark. A thicker tent peg might work, and certainly worth trying.
    If this is a plastic 'sleeve', Lulu, and not a spacer 'ring', and you do manage to bend and buckle over a top edge, then there's a possibility you can drill through the edge now facing you using the coat hanger or tent peg.
    I'm anticipating the sleeve being a typical soft thermoplastic, and not that thick - perhaps 2 or 3mm - the sort of thing you could easy 'drill'-force a hole through using a flat-bladed screwdriver or similar. If you straighten your coat hanger, snip the end in a crude 'V' using pliers or snips, that should leave quite a sharp ragged tip. Then shape the rest into a crank like a starting handle. Press tip into plastic, press gently, and crank away. I bet that will drill through pdq.
    Well, ThisIsWeird (and others who have so kindly put forward suggestions), there is good news!

    I managed to hook out the thicker of the two sleeves with my trusty coat hanger.

    There is still a very thin sleeve remaining in the hole. It's only about 1-2mm thick and I cannot shift it. I have tried various things, including boiling water and also trying to get something in between the metal ground post and the plastic sleeve without success.

    However, I'm hoping the new rotary washing line will now fit in the ground spike as I've managed to remove the thicker of the sleeves!


    Well done!
    You should be able to destroy the remaining sleeve somehow.  :)
    If you haven't already bought the new dryer, then measure the existing hole and look at the specs for the new one. If the pole diameter is less than the hole, it may well come with sleeves, and/or you may be able to make use of the remaining one.

    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the In My Home MoneySaving, Energy and Techie Stuff boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. 

    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

  • ThisIsWeird
    ThisIsWeird Posts: 7,935 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Lulu58 said:
    I suspect that a coat hanger, or even a wire tent peg, will not have the heat capacity to allow this melting, good idea tho' it is. Almost certainly it'll have cooled too far before it makes more than a wee mark. A thicker tent peg might work, and certainly worth trying.
    If this is a plastic 'sleeve', Lulu, and not a spacer 'ring', and you do manage to bend and buckle over a top edge, then there's a possibility you can drill through the edge now facing you using the coat hanger or tent peg.
    I'm anticipating the sleeve being a typical soft thermoplastic, and not that thick - perhaps 2 or 3mm - the sort of thing you could easy 'drill'-force a hole through using a flat-bladed screwdriver or similar. If you straighten your coat hanger, snip the end in a crude 'V' using pliers or snips, that should leave quite a sharp ragged tip. Then shape the rest into a crank like a starting handle. Press tip into plastic, press gently, and crank away. I bet that will drill through pdq.
    Well, ThisIsWeird (and others who have so kindly put forward suggestions), there is good news!

    I managed to hook out the thicker of the two sleeves with my trusty coat hanger.

    There is still a very thin sleeve remaining in the hole. It's only about 1-2mm thick and I cannot shift it. I have tried various things, including boiling water and also trying to get something in between the metal ground post and the plastic sleeve without success.

    However, I'm hoping the new rotary washing line will now fit in the ground spike as I've managed to remove the thicker of the sleeves!



    Well done :-)
    See how it goes, and you can always come back if there are still problems.
    What material is the ring made of that you took out? A softish flexible plastic, or very hard and brittle? Any chance of a photo?
    What did you use to try and wedge between the remaining ring and the surrounding metal sleeve?
    Anyhoo, sounds good, and fingers crossed :-)
  • GrubbyGirl_2
    GrubbyGirl_2 Posts: 922 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If it's loose but you just can't reach it try using a hot glue gun and put a blob on a screwdriver then stick it to the inside of the tube.  Once fully set pull it out  
  • Lulu58
    Lulu58 Posts: 318 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    victor2 said:

    You should be able to destroy the remaining sleeve somehow.  :)
    If you haven't already bought the new dryer, then measure the existing hole and look at the specs for the new one. If the pole diameter is less than the hole, it may well come with sleeves, and/or you may be able to make use of the remaining one.
    Thanks, victor2. The rotary dryer I've just order is (hopefully!) the right size to fit in the ground spike with the remaining plastic sleeve in place, but it remains to be seen!
  • Lulu58
    Lulu58 Posts: 318 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper


    What material is the ring made of that you took out? A softish flexible plastic, or very hard and brittle? Any chance of a photo?
    What did you use to try and wedge between the remaining ring and the surrounding metal sleeve?
    Anyhoo, sounds good, and fingers crossed :-)
    Thanks, ThisIsWeird.

    The remaining sleeve is made from hard plastic.  I've tried taking a photo without much success but I'll give it another go and post if I'm successful.

    There is no gap between the metal ground spike and the sleeve so I can't wedge anything between the two.  I've tried a couple skewers and screwdrivers.

    I'm hoping the new rotary will fit the space so I can leave it in place!


Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.8K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 597.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.5K Life & Family
  • 256.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.