Restringing day night shade..help

[Rolin]

The string in our daynight shade broke. Any web site that has restringing instructions? Not sure if we have to remove the valance or if we need new string. An suggestions appreciated. We have a Winnebago aspect26a.

[kkmack]

Maybe it's due to our location, but we were so happy our RV came with Day/Night shades. The mini blinds don't help with the heat at all!

Thanks for the information on restringing!

K

[Bordercollie]

It might help to take pictures to see how it all goes back together. I made a long needle out of thin steel wire with end bent over to hold string while threading string though pile of pleats. You could temporarily glue string to wire instead. Do not drink beer, etc., while attempting this for the first time.

[ron_dittmer]

tenbear wrote:

ron.dittmer wrote:

tenbear wrote:
In the future check your blinds for frayed cords and replace the cord before it breaks. It's much easier to repair before the cord breaks.

Very True!

I have restrung micro-mini blinds in minutes at home using the "Hot-Melt" method. It does require the original string to be unbroken. You detach both ends of the original string. Then take one end of each new & original strings, and melt them together, end-to-end with a heat source like a candle. You simply heat the tips until melted, then press them together. While the material is still soft, roll the joint in between your fingers to eliminate any sharp edges. Then carefully pull out the original string to allow the new string follow it throughout the entire blind.

Strings for blinds have a very high content of polyester or other plastics which melts under the heat. Be careful. The gooey joint can get very hot. It's best done by someone with calloused fingers.

Buy a large spool of the string at fabric stores and ebay. If physically shopping around, it is best to have a sample of your shade strings to compare.

Right on. Thanks for explaining the process.

You are very welcome!

[trnfla]

I am planning on switching my day/night blinds with the old style roll down shade like one at my door. I realized that since my windows are dark tinted people cannot see in during the day and I only will need to roll down the shades at night and during storage.

[tenbear]

ron.dittmer wrote:

tenbear wrote:
In the future check your blinds for frayed cords and replace the cord before it breaks. It's much easier to repair before the cord breaks.

Very True!

I have restrung micro-mini blinds in minutes at home using the "Hot-Melt" method. It does require the original string to be unbroken. You detach both ends of the original string. Then take one end of each new & original strings, and melt them together, end-to-end with a heat source like a candle. You simply heat the tips until melted, then press them together. While the material is still soft, roll the joint in between your fingers to eliminate any sharp edges. Then carefully pull out the original string to allow the new string follow it throughout the entire blind.

Strings for blinds have a very high content of polyester or other plastics which melts under the heat. Be careful. The gooey joint can get very hot. It's best done by someone with calloused fingers.

Buy a large spool of the string at fabric stores and ebay. If physically shopping around, it is best to have a sample of your shade strings to compare.

Right on. Thanks for explaining the process.

[Mike_Leslie]

I bought the kit but the strings were not long enough for my long window. Had to do it again. I used 90# test dacon fish line, it was strong enough but too slippery. At the campground a friend had some contractor string, we used that (boy it went fast with three pair of hands). This is working. It slowly works it way down, but it is very slow and livable.
I should have purchased real restringing cord at Joanns, right Off the bat.
BTW drawing a diagram of the stringing pattern as I took the other one down, was extremely useful.
Mike Leslie

[ron_dittmer]

tenbear wrote:
In the future check your blinds for frayed cords and replace the cord before it breaks. It's much easier to repair before the cord breaks.

Very True!

I have restrung micro-mini blinds in minutes at home using the "Hot-Melt" method. It does require the original string to be unbroken. You detach both ends of the original string. Then take one end of each new & original strings, and melt them together, end-to-end with a heat source like a candle. You simply heat the tips until melted, then press them together. While the material is still soft, roll the joint in between your fingers to eliminate any sharp edges. Then carefully pull out the original string to allow the new string follow it throughout the entire blind.

Strings for blinds have a very high content of polyester or other plastics which melts under the heat. Be careful. The gooey joint can get very hot. It's best done by someone with calloused fingers.

Buy a large spool of the string at fabric stores and ebay. If physically shopping around, it is best to have a sample of your shade strings to compare.

[l001952119]

tenbear wrote:
I have restrung 5-6 of my day/night shades. Fix my Blinds Has everything you need and lots of advice for making the repairs.

In the future check your blinds for frayed cords and replace the cord before it breaks. It's much easier to repair before the cord breaks.

X2 on Fix My Blinds. Just placed order with them. They are VERY cooperative and will send samples of string colors. They also include a $2.00 discount code with the samples.

[F1bNorm]

I have an 06 Aspect and have re done both day nights. The WIT guide below was the most helpful in restringing. http://www.winnebagoind.com/resources/service/pdfs/2006-09%20Restringing%20Day%20Night%20Blinds.pdf

I found, as others have mentioned, jagged burrs from the holes drilled in the alum bars and misplaced plastic bushings. I deburred the holes and glued the bushings in place.

I bought a kit but all I used out of it was the string. Next time I would just get a bunch of string. To make it easier to thread, I stiffened about 3 inches of string with thin crazy glue (same glue I used on the bushings).

Take pictures as you disassemble or mark things so you know which way they go back.

Norm

Removing the side valances was easy and made it easier to work. The shade was held in place with 2 screws and a clip. The screws were hidden in the folds. A small hand mirror made them easier to find.

[tenbear]

I have restrung 5-6 of my day/night shades. Fix my Blinds Has everything you need and lots of advice for making the repairs.

In the future check your blinds for frayed cords and replace the cord before it breaks. It's much easier to repair before the cord breaks.

[CloudDriver]

Restringing instructions for day/night shades. When I did mine, I first bought a set of darning needles from the local JoAnn Fabrics. One of the needles was the right size for the holes in the bars and pleats. The needle allowed me to thread the string through all of the pleats in a section at one time, making restringing an easy job.

We have two day/night shades in our MH and in the past 11 years I have restrung one shade twice and the other once. The three metal rails in the shades have nylon grommets in the holes so that the strings slide through the holes on a smooth slippery surface. The first time I restrung both shades I found that the grommets had been inserted from the wrong side, which allowed the strings to rub against the sharp edge of the metal hole. This frayed the strings, resulting in an early failure. The second time I had to restring a shade was due to one of the grommets coming out of the hole in the rail, again resulting in the string fraying against the sharp edge of the hole.

One last caution - don't over tighten the strings when you hang the shades. The strings should be just tight enough so that they don't come down when going down the road.

[rockhillmanor]

:B
As mine where all starting to break I would just call RV mobile repair at the CG I was at.....and let them do it while I opened a cold one and watched! They are wizards at it, they do so many.

Oxymoron at best because you pay a set price for it and they do it in record time! But for me worth it! :C

[obgraham]

Fussy job, yes, but not that difficult. There are several online demos and drawings of how they are set up. You do have to get the blind down onto a working surface. I like to use 70-lb test braided dacron fishing line. It's thinner, slipperier, and stronger than the original string, and does not fray. Very cheap at sports stores.

[Bordercollie]

I restrung the big side window day/night shade. When you get it down off the wall you need to lay it on a bed to work on it. It is rocket science and requires patience. I had some damage to the fabric and had to remove a pleat and glue fresh part. I also used painters tape to hold sections together while threading new string though holes. There are websites showing how to restring different size shades with different number of strings as well as instructions and diagrams in repair kits. There are services who will restring shades for you. Here's just one of You Tube How To videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e8vVkuGnRk

[RV_CONUS]

As they break, mini blinds take their place.

One more to go!