Flag pole design

[82boy]

I have another question does anyone have a flag pole design they care to share?

I dont have much money, and I have already made what I think will be great flags but now what to suport them on.

I have been looking at photolight and music stands, but the more I think I think I would rather have a spike I can drive into the ground.

The question I have is how do you guys make a base that can be hit with a hammer, to drive into the ground, and how do you make the telesoping adjustment?

What materials are the best to use?

Is there anyother products that are made that can be modified to work?

I think that I want something that is adjustable from 2' to 4', any sujestions one what would be better, or is this right thinking?

Thanks for the information.

 

[J. Foster]

Post type flag pole

What works very well for me requires some lath work but it is fast and simple. I buy golf ball retrevers from Wal-Mart for about $ 14. They are aluminum and extend from about 20" to about 9 ft. Cut off the plastic ball cup and about 1/2"of the tip and then remove the handle from the base. Cut off about 1/2" from the base to get above the crimp. I take a 3" long piece of 3/8 aluminum rod. turn it to fit into the tip of the retrever rod. Also drill it so that a 3/16 in dia pointed stainless rod 3" long can be inserted to set your flag on. Locktite the aluminum piece into the retrever rod.
For the other end I take a 6" long piece of 1" dia. Aluminum rod. turn it to fit inside the base of the ball retrever leaving a small flange on the bottom end as a stop for the ball retrever to rest on. I then drill it out for a snug fit on a 12 in long spike. I don't remember exactly but it is about 3/8" You want a tight enough fit so the spike has to be driven thru the hole. Almost easier to do than to describe. Thats it Jack Foster

 

[BJS6]

Or get some aluminium tube about half inch in diameter and something like 1/16th wall thickness. Thread it each end internally and get steel studs or cut off bolts and screw the sections together. Epoxy the studs half way into the end of each section, one end only !!! You can make each piece as long or short as you want and these can be used to make up the bulk of the length you need.

You then need a smaller diameter aluminium rod that will slip inside the half inch stuff. Place an "O" ring on the smaller rod and slip the rod into the bigger one. The flag attaches to the smaller rod and between the solid extensions and the slip joint top you can tune the length to whatever suits your needs. A wrap or two of good strong wide tape on the inner tube can be used to make the slip fit a bit firmer if you can't find sizes that slip in nicely.

I have some BRT Australian flags and poles, Butch Lamber sells them in the USA. I use the BRT extensions poles and have made up some 1 metre and 0.5 metre long screw in extensions for when more height is needed. They use a stainless steel ground spike that you just drive into the ground and the bottom tube slips over the spike, after the spike has been checked for verticality. Google them up or look for Butches information on them, you will quickly see the concept and can figure out what will work for you.

Bryce

 

[lcw]

Made ours from....

extendable paint poles from Lowe's for $6.50 each. Cut off the handle as short as you want, mine are around 24in, cut off the extension part on the top where the roller attatches, for the bottom you can get (at Lowe's as well) a piece of steel about 1in X 1/4in X 36in, cut it into 6 pieces, get a piece of conduit to fit inside the handle area, cut it into 4-6 in pieces, get a steel rod about 36in, cut it into 6 pieces and sharpen 1 end on a lather or with a grinder. Weld the conduit to the flat bar and opposite weld the sharpened rod. Once you have your spikes assembled, you can epoxy/weld/glue them into the handles. Generally you can step them in the ground, but on occasion you may need to pre-drill your spot. Fix some sort of top piece to hold your flag design, we made ours with delrin. Really inexpensive and sturdy way to do it.

Linc

 

[David Halblom]

Well, at teh risk of being self serving, the "spike" I make for Flying Fish poles is about as simple and functional as you can get. Center dril a 3/4" black iron pipe cap w/ a 3/8 spotting drill, insert a 3/8" log cabin spike, leaving it 1/2" proud and weld. This threads on to a 3/4" nipple that is attached to the bottom of your pole. You can drive itinto the ground, even in a rock quarry (Unaka) or sunbaked clay (many other ranges) and it won't blow over in a thunderstorm (Casper, Porcupine). The poles can be as simple as nested diameters of tubing w/set screws for adjustment or paint poles/golfball retrievers with twist locks.

Unless you have a lathe and are willing to spend some considerable time, you might be money ahead to buy your poles.

IMHO

David