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How to make a fly screen with cross brace?

Bunnings sells the fly screen frame material, great. I have done most of the house windows, easy.

We have some large windows remaining. I made one frame and it bows. It needs a cross brace.

Bunnings sell the clips

https://www.bunnings.com.au/rolltrak-flyscreen-cross-brace-clip-4-pack_p0356127

Can someone enlighten me to which profile to use to make the actual cross brace? Those clips don't fit in the outside frame profile, and when I make it fit, it looks crummy.

The pdf for the clips show a very different looking profile.

Would be great if someone can point me in the right direction!

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JacobZ

Hi @thwackviper,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

I believe the clips are designed to slot over aluminium channel or tubing, such as this Metal Mate 12 x 12 x 1.5mm 3m Aluminium Channel, however I will have to confirm this with our supplier to ensure that I am getting you the correct information. Please bear with me, I will reach out when they reopen on Monday and get back to you when I have an answer.

In terms of look, I'd have to see what your frames look like and the issue you are experiencing to assist. If you can upload some photos, I could certainly see what can be done to make things look a bit nicer.

Let me know if you need a hand uploading images.

Jacob

thwackviper

The profile should be rectangular tube.

CROSSBRACE MILL

The downside of any profile I can buy is that it isn't powder coated and spray painting won't look the same. Regardless, Bunnings sells the clips, they should have the profile to suit I reckon.

thwackviper

The clips are designed to go into a rectangular tube profile.

You can see in the product pictures, but more clearly in the installation guide document

https://media.bunnings.com.au/api/public/content/0c82043060e343e99e3ee1db8ba4be78?v=4f4979c5&_gl=1bcrzxd_gcl_au*NjIwMDE0NjIuMTc3MTA1MTg1Mg..FPAUNjIwMDE0NjIuMTc3MTA1MTg1Mg..

Those clips can't go into a U channel.

I can find the proper profile at other suppliers but they are mill finish (plain aluminium), not powder coated to match the other Bunnings products. Bunnings sell the clips, but not the correct profile unless you can point me straight.

JacobZ

Hi @thwackviper,

Apologies for that, looking at their installation guide, I thought you'd be able to clip them over the outside of a U channel, but it looks like they need to slot into the end of tubing.

What colour was your frame? Was it powdercoated black?

I will reach out to our suppliers tomorrow when they reopen to see what I can find out.

Please bear with me.

Jacob

thwackviper

We have powder coated white.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/pillar-25mm-x-2-5m-white-flyscreen-frame_p0339754

JacobZ

Hi @thwackviper,

We've checked with our supplier for flyscreen frames, and unfortunately, they do not produce an aluminium extrusion to go with these clips. We apologise for this and we will be flagging this with our merch team.

There is a bit of a roundabout solution shown in the reviews for the Rolltrak Flyscreen Cross Brace Clip, where you use a piece of Pillar 22mm x 2.5m White Flyscreen Frame and bend down one of the fins by tapping it with a hammer. I have just tested this myself and can confirm it does work and the clip fits snug if you leave a slight radius on the bent down fin.

It's not perfect, but at a pinch, it will work.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

thwackviper

Mechanically that will definitely do the job. Aesthetically unpleasing however. Hopefully Bunnings can get something on the shelves soon, otherwise I may just get some stuff powder coated myself.

I can't post links unfortunately but if you search for 'cross brace profile shape aluminium' you should find it.

Thanks for your assistance and I really hope Bunnings can get something stocked.

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