Erecting a firm pole

Ideas, advice, tips, and tricks regarding shelter, shade, tents, and camping. Yes, this includes RV's too.
Post Reply
jc
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:37 pm

Erecting a firm pole

Post by jc » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:59 pm

:?: I'm wanting to put up a flag pole this yr at my camp. I tend to have trouble finding hm. The pole will have 2 windsocks and a light weight light becon. I'd like to go at least 20 ft high. However I don't know if that's tall enough? What matterials are best suited? Does pvc work and what diameter? Do I need guide wires? How many wires and where on the pole? Can I just pound a single 5 ft piece of rebar 3 ft down and attach the base of the pole to it? :?:

User avatar
Tiahaar
Posts: 1142
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2003 9:13 pm
Burning Since: 2003
Camp Name: Starship Palomino
Location: Mojave Desert, CA (also Forever via Pandora)

stop me now

Post by Tiahaar » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:46 pm

I just can't resist...that's such a good line...I always find a soft touch erects a nice firm pole <<SMACK>> ow!! ok sorry back to the real question: my favorite flagpole is a discarded 20' fiberglass sail mast I found down on the beach, about 3" dia at the bottom tapering to 2" at the top. Very strong. Its set over a peg at the bottom and secured to the bus 7' up. Aluminum or fiberglass would be my choice, I also used some 2" sch 40 pvc for light poles and they were floppy.
Burning Man 2003-25; Desert Carillon, HypnoHorse, Ulaume's Chimes, Iron Native, Black Rock Solar, Portal Collective, Center Camp Café Stage and Sound Tech, 747 Project
Starship Palomino

User avatar
Bob
Posts: 6747
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 10:00 am
Burning Since: 1986
Camp Name: Royaneh
Location: San Francisco
Contact:

Post by Bob » Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:09 pm

A sailboard mast or very stout surf fishing pole could be extended by fitting it onto steel or aluminum pipe, or a decent wood post. PVC is great if you're actually doing plumbing or electrical work but IMO is too weak & brittle to use for anything that could fall from a height and bonk someone in the head.

I use 3/4" steel stakes, the kind used for concrete formwork. They're available at the big-box hardware stores. Could use a 3- or 4-ft stake to pin the base, and three 2- or 3-ft stakes to placed so the guy lines are at about a 30 degree angle out from the pole. Look at a Scouting manual or knot book for appropriate knots and lashings.
Amazing desert structures & stuff: http://sites.google.com/site/potatotrap/

"Let us say I suggest you may be human." -- Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam

jc
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:37 pm

Post by jc » Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:24 pm

THX Mens,
Sounds like it'll be a little more expencive than I was hoping. I'll shoot for steel and fiberglass.

User avatar
ahchim-namdongsang
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:48 pm
Contact:

Re: stop me now

Post by ahchim-namdongsang » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:43 pm

[quote="Tiahaar"]I just can't resist...that's such a good line...I always find a soft touch erects a nice firm pole <<SMACK>> ow!! .[/quote]

dammit - that's what I was thinkin' when I saw the subject too! Except just thinkin' about the soft touch was more than enough to erect mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It it not economical to go to bed early to save candles if the result is twins
- Chinese proverb

Biff the Paperboy
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2004 11:03 am
Location: Lost Wages, Nevada
Contact:

Post by Biff the Paperboy » Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:08 pm

Howdy,
Flying poles with banners and windsocks is a pass-time of mine.
I have a large camo net over my VW van, supported by five 16' 2-pc carbon-fiber masts. On top I add a tapered fiberglass pole, up to 32'.

The tip of my tallest pole is nearly 50' off the ground.
I fly either a 24' Black/White tube or a 12' spinning Red/Black/White gyro.

At Black Rock City, after Wednesday, I can't see my camp until I'm on that block. Sooooooo much stuff flying.

In this default world, I do landsailing and the kite/buggy on desert dry lakes all over the Mojave. It's also my business.
I sell collapsible fiberglass poles.
Three grades of stiffness and durability.
Up to 32' tall - Unsupported.

Trick? A 4' piece of rebar pounded in about a foot.
Slip a thin piece of pvc over the rebar to act as a cushion.
Extend your pole, remove the bottom cap and slip it over the rebar/pvc.

Sometimes it's not enough to get it up... You gotta keep it up.
Twist the sections as you extend them as they start to snug.
Spinning windsocks? Add a couple stainless steel ball-bearing swivels (from a local fishing shop) and don't forget to lube!
I've found Tri-Flow to be among the best.

If you'd like to check out my stuff (and I'll gladly offer 10% off to burners) go to: www.windpowersports.com

I hope that doesn't offend anyone.

Enough talk. I'm ready to GO!

biff the paperboy

Post Reply

Return to “Building Camps”