How to Restring Traverse Rods

The traverse rod is has the mechanism to open and close your draperies when you pull the string. If your traverse rod no longer carries your drapes across the window, then you might have a worn and broken string. You can restring your traverse rods with new cord and avoid the cost and hassle of purchasing another traverse rod. The difference in the cost is amazing and it will only take you about 30 minutes to do it. Often, it takes less time than purchasing a new one and hanging it.

Instructions

1. Measure the rod while it's on the window. You'll need to measure the length of the cord and then the distance to the floor. Add the two numbers together, then double that amount to find how much cord you need. Add several inches in case you need to trim the cord. If your traverse rod is 50 inches and 72 inches to the floor, you get 122 inches times two. That means you'll need 244 inches or a little more than 20 feet of cord. Make the amount 21 feet, should you need to trim the ends periodically to make threading it easier.

2. Buy the cord. Often, you'll find traverse rod cord in packages of 50 feet, selling for less than $10 at most home improvement stores. This is more than enough for most rods. Don't bother with the kits because they simply contain fancy decorations for the end of the cord and cost much more.

3. Take the traverse rod down and lay it face down on the floor. Remove the old cord by cutting the knots in the master carrier and pulling it out. Start to feed the new cord into the traverse rod. Look at the left hand side and you'll notice two pulleys, (they look like circles), inside the traverse rod. Feed the cord up and over the first pulley until it comes out into the channel of the traverse rod.

4. Create a tool. If you open a paper clip, it becomes a metal hook to help you do the job. A crochet hook also is useful to grab the cord. Pull the cord out to get several feet of length. You need to push the cord under the slides, (the things that hold the hooks for the draperies.) Once done, go under the master carrier, the large box-shaped object on the traverse rod, and up through the first hole in the master carrier. Once it's through the hole, tie a knot in the cord. You may need to double knot it so it's large enough not to slip back down through the hole. Use the paper clip to fish it out of the master carrier hole.

5. Start the other end of the cord between the two pulleys on the left side. The first end went on top of the pulleys, now you place the other end under the top pulley but above the second pulley. Just like the other end of the string, pull out enough so you have plenty of slack. Go under the slides again and this time go under the master carrier. Next to it is another carrier. You'll go under this and up through the first hole on the left. You may need your tool for this task.

6. Pull some slack for your cord because you're not through with it yet. You'll need to push it down through the hole on the right hand side of the second carrier, right next to the hole from which it came. Feed it down the channel, under the rest of the slides and to the end where you see two more pulleys. Push the cord between them, pull it down for more slack and then push it up through the opening. You do this to make it simpler to go over the top of the top pulley. Once it's through the top, pull more slack and push the cord back through the rod so it goes over the top of the top pulley.

7. Push the string under the slides, the carrier on the right, more slides and finally under the right side of the master carrier. You'll feed the cord up through the hole on the right. Pull it up through the hole and tie a double knot in it just like you created for the hole on the left. Test the rod to make sure it works and then hang it back up on the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Pull out the slack in sections. Don't attempt to do it by simply pulling on the string at the end.