Posted: Jun 28, 2009 - 10:04 AM
Filling it with sand is a good precaution. The modulous of elasticity has to be exceeded to straighten it if it has not reached it's yield point (kinking). Filling it with sand will aid in holding the shape. Basically, you have to put on something like saw horses and find a way to apply ever increasing loads till the M of E has been reached. Usually a hydraulic jack with a 2x4 between the jack and the mast. Have a pressure gage attached to see how much you are loading. Do it in increments... see the mast move, note the pressure on the gage... unload and see if it straightened. If not.. reload to a slightly higher load, unload and check it.
Do this till it is straight. DO NOT USE HEAT! Aluminum does not glow red... it just suddenly goes to a liquid. Talk about a mess!