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Why I'll never use free rebar stakes again after losing $160
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the_emma5mo ago
Did you check how the rebar was stored before you used it? I had a buddy who lost a whole tent setup because his stakes were stored in a damp garage and they got micro-cracks from rust that you couldn't see until they snapped under tension. He switched to coated steel stakes after that and hasn't had a problem since. Have you ever had issues with stakes that seemed fine but failed anyway?
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jordant695mo ago
...and that's exactly what happened to me last year. @the_emma your buddy's story rings a bell because I had some old rebar stakes I'd kept in a shed for years. They looked fine, no visible rust, just a little dusty. Set up a big canvas tent for a family reunion and the first gust of wind came through and three of them snapped clean off at the ground line. I was lucky the tent didn't collapse but it was a real mess. After that I switched to those orange coated steel tent stakes you get at the hardware store. They're not as heavy but they hold way better and I've never had one crack on me yet. It's the kind of thing you don't think about until it happens.
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charles5084mo ago
Wait, do you really think rust would cause that kind of cracking without you seeing it? I've used rebar for years and I swear by it, but I think the issue is more about quality of the steel than storage. The stuff from big box stores now is just cheap and brittle, you know? I've had rebar that sat in a wet shed for two seasons and held up fine, then another batch that looked perfect and snapped right away. @the_emma I'd say your buddy's story is more about bad luck with the metal itself than the damp garage. Coated stakes are fine for light duty, but for a big canvas tent I'd take good rebar any day over those.
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