Heated Airer Broken

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
I recently bought a heated airer. My dog got under my feet on Tuesday and I ended up falling over and into the airer.

Thankfully it is still working but I have broken the brace across the bottom - it is basically two frames which are hinged at the top and bottom and the heated slats fold out in between.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can fix the bottom brace please - pics follow.

Thank you in advance......

teaselMay

Is that the only bit that's broken? And there's no element or power cable in the broken bit it's just a mechanical brace?

If so you could make a whole new piece like that from pipe. Or you could use a piece of slightly large diameter pipe that would fit over both broken ends and hold them together and then drill a hole though it in the right place for the bolt. You may need to also add something in the centre of the broken pipe so that it's braced inside and out. Unless you can get a very snug fit you may need duct tape or glue to hold the bracing part and broken parts together, or a couple of bolts through each side, but watch the drill doesn't skid and catch your fingers

FreeBear

Hammer a length of wooden dowel in to join the two parts together. Drill a new hole for the bolt, and then reassemble.

ThisIsWeird

How DIYish are you, W-Mum?
FreeBear's idea is the most accessible, I think. 
Any short piece of timber, just 2 or so inches long, and whittled down to snugly fit. Coat with Gorilla Poly glue (expanding) if needed, and tap into place. Once set, drill the existing hole through the timber to take the bolt
The tube ends will need some work to open up the squished ends first. Long-nosed pliers, perhaps, or anything tapered you can repeatedly tap in.
Can you unbolt these two pieces first? If so, I'm sure a lot easier to do.

teaselMay

Agree dowel in the middle would be simplest. You could actually replace the whole length with dowel. You can buy lengths in eg Wickes

Working_Mum

Thanks everyone, 
I think I'll have a little mooch at the weekend and will sort it out.
It is working safely but I'm having to lean it against my table to keep it straight!
Thanks again

((WM))