It is highly unlikely that you or someone you know has never experienced having their slinky twisted, stretched out, bent, or tangled. The frustration when this happens either makes you give up and never play with it ever again or throw it away and just buy a new one, but some of the great tinkers out there would totally persevere through fixing their slinky, and here are some tips on how to get your slinky working again.
There are many ways to untangle slinkies and it is difficult to find one that works. However, what worked for others might not work for you but still, it is worth the try to save and fix your slinkies.
How to Fix a Stretched Out Slinky
- Step 1. Lay down your slinky on a flat surface.
- Step 2. Take one end of your slinky and insert it through the hole.
- Step 3. Step 3.
- Step 4. Keep pulling up until the other end, and voila! Now your slinky is straightened out.
More visuals in this video:
How to Fix a Slinky When It Gets Tangled
- Step 1. Step 2. Remove the tangled end of the Slinky.
- Step 2. Collapse the coil of the slinky together up to the first tangle then push that handful through the first tangle.
- Step 3. Insert the stick through the hole and then start spinning the slinky.
- Step 4. If you still have a tangle on one end, take that top-most layer, and feed it to the true end below.
More detailed tips in this video:
How to Fix a Bent Metal Slinky
- Step 1. Cover the bent coil area with a small towel.
- Step 2. Using an iron, apply heat to the area where the bent coils are on top of the towel. This is because certain materials bend when the heat is applied to them.
- Step 3. Keep the iron on top of the slinky and towel for about 5 minutes. In this process, it is best to use the high-heat or the wool setting of the iron.
- Step 4. Using a pair of pliers, squeeze it to place pressure on the bent coil.
- Step 5. Rotate it either to the left or right depending on where the direction of the bend is.
- Step 6. Keep applying pressure and rotate up until your slinky bends back to its original coiled shape.
- Step 7. Find the bent part of the coil and pull the slinky towards the left and right, around 3 inches from the bent coil. This will make the coiled end flat.
- Step 8. Hold this part using the pliers and lay the slinky flat on the ground.
- Step 9. Hammer down that bent part until it becomes flat, and your beloved slinky is fixed again!
How to Fix a Broken Slinky
- Step 1. Boil just enough water and wait till it cools down a bit.
- Step 2. Place your slinky in the hot water and wait for a minute or two.
- Step 3. Take it out and place anything heavy on top of your slinky and wait until it cools.
- Step 4. Hope for the best while waiting and it should be fixed by then albeit not as perfect as it once was.
More tips available here:
How to Fix a Twisted Slinky
- Step 1. Take the slinky and insert four fingers on your right hand through one of its ends.
- Step 2. Step 2.
- Step 3. Step 3. Gently stretch the coils so that you can see the twisted end.
- Step 4. Grab the coils up to the twisted slinky using your right hand until they are tightly together, then hold them in place.
- Step 5. Step 5.
- Step 6. Step 6. Turn your wrist in the opposite direction until the right thumb touches the outer part of the coils.
- Step 7. Include the now newly formed twisted coil together with the other in your right hand and use your right thumb and fingers while removing your left hand.
FAQ:
1. What’s wrong with my slinky?
It may be tangled, stretched out, or have broken coils/springs.
2. How do I untangle a slinky?
Carefully unwind the coils one by one without forcing, or you may break it.
3. Can I fix broken coils/springs?
You can try bending them back into shape, but replacement may be needed if they are severely damaged.
4. Will it still work if stretched out?
It may still slink but won’t bounce as high – you can gently stretch or compress to tighten coils.
5. What can damage a slinky?
Overstretching, crushing, and leaving in heat can wear out metal over time.
