Can't find 1/8 inch replacement vinyl coated clothesline

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

My steel parallel umbrella clothesline came assembled with 1/8" vinyl-covered clothesline. Now the weather and sunlight have finally degraded the line and it is breaking at the point where it passes through the holes of the arms.

I found that the 5/32 inch plastic coated clothesline is almost too thick for the holes in the arms and the line is too thick for my clothespegs. The spring loaded clothespegs fit but more than half of my clothespegs are the kind made from a single piece of wood.

I am good at online searches and have tried a huge number and combination of search terms with minimal luck. I've only found two places, one selling a 100 ft roll for $13.99 + shipping and the other asking $33.32 per 100 ft roll, BUT... I can buy the 5/32 inch, 100 ft roll here for $4.99 plus sales tax.

I just want to replace the line with the same material and need 2 to 3 one hundred foot rolls.

None of the big sellers carry it (Walmart, Amazon, Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc.).

If I go with plastic coated wire, the size goes from 1/8 to 3/16 and it would outlast the dryer and cost more than the dryer is worth (after depreciation.) There is nothing wrong with the galvanized frame of this dryer.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

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Comments (5)

DavidR
5 years ago
This sounds a little like the dilemma you face when the transmission on your 15 year old car dies -- you can afford to get the transmission fixed, but it's more than the car is worth. So do you fix it for a one-time cost and hope nothing else goes wrong, or do you you buy a new car and make payments for the next 5 years or so?

In this case, you can:

1. Buy the expensive (or the crazy-expensive) clothesline online, and fix the unit.

2. Buy a new unit (presumably for even more money).

3. Buy a cotton clothesline and tie it between your house and a tree in the back yard.

4. Buy a clothes dryer.

I'd probably go with #1, but that's me. I can't stand junking stuff that's repairable.
primeline thanked DavidR
tsweigart
5 years ago
You may have to compromise the material. There is a small diameter (.134") plastic coated cord, not metal interior, for $5.99 at both Walmart and Amazon. 100' of cord and smaller than 5/32". The reviews say it's very thin and holds clothes pins perfectly. Reviews also said they used it for their umbrella clothesline. Whitmor 6198-921 100' Plastic Clothesline.
primeline thanked tsweigart
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primeline
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you DavidR and TSWeigart for your kind replies.

After extensive research online (I even tried to find out the names of the manufacturers of the rotary/parallel/umbrella clothesline devices without luck - They are probably ordered from an off-shore wholesaler and there is no customer support), I have come to the conclusion that the reason I can't find it anywhere is because there is no demand for it (except for me), that it is an inferior product and has been discontinued.

I refuse to pay $13.99 plus shipping per roll of 5/32 inch line and will instead buy it from my local, independent hardware store and support the little businessman. I will also buy more of the spring-loaded clothes pins to add to my collection.

We live on Long Island, NY and our taxes and electric bills are very high. Our Northport power plant, run by PSE &G, pays the most taxes for a commercial building in the U.S. - $82 million a YEAR in taxes, more than the Empire State Building and more than Disneyland in CA.

Therefore, we save where we can.
talley_sue_nyc
5 years ago
In your case, I would pay any amount equal to or less than the price of a whole new clothes dryer. (I would not factor in the unit's current value nor would I pay attention to depreciation--is the frame in as good of shape as a new, less well-made one would be?)

And I would ignore any different in price between an unsuitable product and the product I most want to buy.
primeline
Original Author
5 years ago
Our first umbrella/parallel dryer lasted a good number of years, being galvanized as well, but had begun to rust a bit at the joints. The heavy wet snowstorm that hit us here on Long Island a week after Hurricane Sandy finished it. The weight of the wet snow sticking to the strings and frame caused it to bend at the weakened hinge. The second one was aluminum that lasted a couple of years until it, too gave way in a strong Nor Easter storm. This one is again a galvanized one, with out any rust now and the plastic caps on the open tubes are in great shape, so I am going to just replace the lines.

I do agree with you completely. For the long run, the cost of todays clothes and the cost of electricity here lead me to believe that we should not take the cheap way out. Thank you!

Can't find 1/8 inch replacement vinyl coated clothesline

Comments (5)

DavidR

tsweigart

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Can't find 1/8 inch replacement vinyl coated clothesline

Comments (5)

DavidR

tsweigart

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primelineOriginal Author

talley_sue_nyc

primelineOriginal Author

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