Aluminum poles???

furrball · Post by **furrball** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:35 am

So I'm looking to get hold of some 16-18ft Aluminum poles, probably around 2" in diameter to hold up my 15' tipi this year. Does anyone know where the hell I can find anything like this in the Bay Area or Seattle I'm at a total loss right now...

Thanks.

Ebenezer Squeezer · Post by **Ebenezer Squeezer** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:19 am

Pacific Iron and Metal in Seattle at 2230 4th Ave S is the place to go. They have a huge yard with all sorts of metal. Pick out what you need and cut it to whatever size you want. They charge by the pound. I think I paid something like $20 for 3 pieces of 8 foot 2" aluminum.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:40 pm

Military surplus outlets might have sectional aluminum or fiberglass tent poles, and other oddball stuff. Might look at sailboard masts, too.

furrball · Post by **furrball** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:28 pm

Thanks for the tips, both of you. A gracious friend went out to a couple of places in Seattle, incl. the place suggested, and he came up blank (or at least with a hefty price tag). I decided to try bamboo as and alternative after some research and it's quite a bit cheaper and more asthetically pleasing so we'll have to see how it goes...

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:17 am

They sell schedule 40 aluminum conduit.
That's the best approach I found for this.

It is best to use an alloy with some strength for this though.
Tent manufacturers can make up poles, but unlikely to have this diameter.

In my city, we have a specialist in stainless.
Certain shops deal with the more unusual materials.

Salvage may be your best choice.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:21 am

Have you considered wooden poles?
here in northern CA, we have access to cedar, fir, pine.........all make good, lightweight and strong poles........can quite often be had free or cheap.
and, if you don't want to haul them home......they burn well.

you should have the same, or better access, in Seattle.......with hemlock and other species of straight growing evergreens.

Post by **Sham** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:38 am

This thread is from 5 years ago. I hope they got the poles that they were looking for. If they got the bamboo poles, they are probably rotted and disintigrated by now. I hope they spent the few extra bucks and went for the aluminum.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:45 am

Missed the date.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:55 am

hahaha, I didn't bother to scroll up.......

*Shambala is always so on top of things.........*

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:04 am

Shambala wrote:This thread is from 5 years ago. I hope they got the poles that they were looking for. If they got the bamboo poles, they are probably rotted and disintigrated by now. I hope they spent the few extra bucks and went for the aluminum.

party pooper

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:33 am

Yeah, the spammer got you. I had him early this morning, but Comcast dropped my internet connection just as I was trying to delete him. He was down in lost and found too.