Straighten aluminium post?

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tchart

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#280825 13-Jan-2021 07:38

We have an aluminium gate and one of the vertical posts has been damaged in transit. The company has offered a partial refund and suggested I fix it myself.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this neatly?

I was going to try use a ratchet tie down with some supporting wood to pull the bend in. Any better ideas?

andrewNZ

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#2634627 13-Jan-2021 07:44

If you want it properly straight, it's going to need to be cut out and replaced. You'll never get all the bend out of it.

ETA. There's also a chance of breaking it trying to straighten it out.

timmmay

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#2634630 13-Jan-2021 07:52

Nah, they claim insurance from the shipper and replace it.

tchart

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#2634632 13-Jan-2021 07:57

timmmay:

Nah, they claim insurance from the shipper and replace it.

@timmmay yeah thats what I suggested. Problem is we've had it 3 months now (was waiting for better weather) and only just opened it to find the damage. They said its been too long to claim from the shipping company.

They have said they can send a replacement but I have to ship the 5m gate back to CHCH at my expense.

wellygary

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#2634633 13-Jan-2021 07:59

Even if you got it "straight" there will always be a deformation on the profile, and you'll likely always notice it....

As others have said claim off the shippers insurance and have it replaced...

Dingbatt

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#2634641 13-Jan-2021 08:17

If they acknowledged that they damaged it then the amount of time that has passed should be irrelevant (within reason ie not years). As such it is their entirely their problem and the resolution should be at no cost to you. IANAL.

edit: Just re-read your second post. It may be different if you have only just discovered the damage. If I remember correctly from the last time we moved we had to report missing or damaged items fairly promptly. However, as I said above, if they have acknowledged it, then it should be on them to rectify it.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

chevrolux

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#2634642 13-Jan-2021 08:17

Is it from get-a-gate?

tchart

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#2634644 13-Jan-2021 08:25

chevrolux:
Is it from get-a-gate?

Yes it is.

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mrdrifter

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#2634645 13-Jan-2021 08:33

tchart:

@timmmay yeah thats what I suggested. Problem is we've had it 3 months now (was waiting for better weather) and only just opened it to find the damage. They said its been too long to claim from the shipping company.

They have said they can send a replacement but I have to ship the 5m gate back to CHCH at my expense.

That would be because under the Carriage of Goods Act, claims for damage must be notified within 30 days, unless it was clearly obvious that it was damaged on delivery and the carrier could/should have noticed it at time of delivery. Best to work with the supplier and try get a resolution that doesn't leave you to much out of pocket.

Bung

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#2634647 13-Jan-2021 08:38

Have you any idea what it would cost to return?

Dratsab

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#2634650 13-Jan-2021 08:52

tchart: We have an aluminium gate and one of the vertical posts has been damaged in transit. The company has offered a partial refund and suggested I fix it myself.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this neatly?

I was going to try use a ratchet tie down with some supporting wood to pull the bend in. Any better ideas?

You can't 'fix' it yourself, it needs replacing or it needs to be fixed by a person suitably qualified to anneal aluminium. Especially 6000 series, which is what you will have, as it contains manganese and silicon for extra strength and corrosion resistance. Aluminium has a crystalline structure which has, in your case, been dislocated. This dislocation will have caused what is known as work hardening. Any attempts to straighten it will cause, at the minimum, stress fractures. It's more likely that you will break it as andrewNZ says.

djtOtago

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#2634657 13-Jan-2021 09:08

How is the gate constructed.

Are the bars just sitting in place or are they welded. If they are just sitting in place is it possible to remove the top rail of the gate and slot in a new bar. Talk nicely to the supplier, they may do you a deal on a new bar.

neb

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#2634742 13-Jan-2021 10:40

tchart:
I was going to try use a ratchet tie down with some supporting wood to pull the bend in. Any better ideas?

That's probably going to snap it, if you are going to do that - and see all the other comments, they should replace it not offer a partial refund - then what you need to do is get some reasonably hard timber (not pine, too soft) and F-clamps and clamp the timber along the bent sides to straighten it. It'll never get back to being dead straight, but should be close enough.

Despite the comments about work hardening and brittle alloys, most alu.alloys are relatively ductile and you can often get it straight again without any problems. In particular, try straightening it and see how it goes before you reply on the partial refund offer.

chevrolux

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#2634757 13-Jan-2021 11:04

tchart:
chevrolux:

Is it from get-a-gate?

Yes it is.

Fight him.

I had a gate delivered missing the sliding track. Told him this, got offered $100 cash back. Went to a local store and found the tracks were $300 worth. So asked for a $300 refund which he flat out refused. Exchanged some heated emails. Lodged a disputes tribunal claim, and all of a sudden had a refund without needing to attend to the hearing.

Don't let it slide. Get a new gate, or a full refund. And he can sort the shipping.

concordnz

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#2634816 13-Jan-2021 12:59

You really don't have a leg to stand on - against the supplier.
And he's offered you a good deal. (alternatively ask if he will give $100 off a replacement one)

You accepted the goods from the carrier, & failed to check contents and make a carriage claim within the legally required 30 days.

Its not the suppliers fault you failed to check - & they can't claim off 'any' insurance. - it is now simply a 'cost' to them, any help they give YOU to put it right.

tdgeek

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#2634845 13-Jan-2021 14:09

Dratsab:

You can't 'fix' it yourself, it needs replacing or it needs to be fixed by a person suitably qualified to anneal aluminium. Especially 6000 series, which is what you will have, as it contains manganese and silicon for extra strength and corrosion resistance. Aluminium has a crystalline structure which has, in your case, been dislocated. This dislocation will have caused what is known as work hardening. Any attempts to straighten it will cause, at the minimum, stress fractures. It's more likely that you will break it as andrewNZ says.

OMG :-). It never ceases to amaze me how much knowledge exists in good 'ol GZ.

6000 series Aluminium, feeding habits of the Southern Ethiopian Red Fly, its all here!

Magic.