Building a Flagpole for tailgating

flipflops · Post by **flipflops** » May 16, 2004 12:34 pm

I was thinking of building a flagpole this year so I can display my pirate flag and JB/Corona ticket banner. I was thinking of using just some PVC pipe. I also need to be able to break it down to fit in my car. How tall should it be?

Phins1026 · Post by **Phins1026** » May 16, 2004 12:39 pm

http://www.wonderpole.com/

Check these out if you don't want the hassle of making one.
NYCPORT has one and has brought it to a few gatherings.
I am pretty sure he'll tell you he loves his pole.

ngaparrothead · Post by **ngaparrothead** » May 16, 2004 1:19 pm

I originally wanted to get one of those wonder poles but couldn't swing the $$$. I ended up buying some 8 foot long PVC pipe and now I duct tape them to the corner poles of my tent. They are a pain in the a** if you can't tie them to the top of your vehicle but work just fine and cost less than $10.00 for all four pieces. You can make them shorter to fit inside the car and just tape them a little higher up on the tent poles. As far as the wonder poles go - "someday I will".

I added a picture to the photo gallery and will put it here once phjim approves it.

PARROT HEAD MIKE · Post by **PARROT HEAD MIKE** » May 16, 2004 3:21 pm

I use a 20' length of copper 3/4" water pipe, it can be cut into 2 or 3 sections and easily put back together with a coupling. I use plastic zip ties to go through thr grommets of the flag and around the pole. The pipe it self wont cost more than $5 or so and the couplings about .50 each, if you dont know what this stuff looks like just go to Home Depot and ask for it. The only problem is you have to be creative on how you stand it up if it is very windy you will have to make a good base.

NYCPORT · Post by **NYCPORT** » May 16, 2004 7:07 pm

Phins1026 wrote:http://www.wonderpole.com/

Check these out if you don't want the hassle of making one.
NYCPORT has one and has brought it to a few gatherings.
I am pretty sure he'll tell you he loves his pole.

Not only do I love my pole, but ladies love it too...It makes it easy to find me (get your minds out of the gutter!)

If you can't swing the $$$ for the wonder pole, don't foget to buy the wheel stand too, try buying the largest expanding pool cleaning pole you can find and work from there. I thought of that once I saw the way the wonderpole was put together.

PARROT HEAD MIKE · Post by **PARROT HEAD MIKE** » May 16, 2004 9:48 pm

NYCPORT wrote:
Phins1026 wrote:http://www.wonderpole.com/

Check these out if you don't want the hassle of making one.
NYCPORT has one and has brought it to a few gatherings.
I am pretty sure he'll tell you he loves his pole.
Not only do I love my pole, but ladies love it too...It makes it easy to find me (get your minds out of the gutter!)

If you can't swing the $$$ for the wonder pole, don't foget to buy the wheel stand too, try buying the largest expanding pool cleaning pole you can find and work from there. I thought of that once I saw the way the wonderpole was put together.

Thats a great idea, use a pool skimmer. Check this web site out cheapest $$ I've seen.

http://www.flag-pole.com/telescoping.html

MelliJellyBean · Post by **MelliJellyBean** » May 16, 2004 9:59 pm

gee Id really like to have those..not only for buffett tailgates but I have an awesome WVU flag Id like to display at Mountaineer tailgates.

Alot of money for a pole..

flipflops · Post by **flipflops** » May 18, 2004 6:44 pm

ok, I think I am going to go with five, four foot long pieces of PVC pipe. Three on one side, joined with connectors and two on the other. On one side I will display this

and between the two will be this

.

What do you think?

NYCPORT · Post by **NYCPORT** » May 18, 2004 6:49 pm

If you dont cut holes in the stuff you're flying it will all come down with the first gust of wind. I'd stick with just a single pole.

flipflops · Post by **flipflops** » May 18, 2004 6:51 pm

Didn't think about that. Ok. single pole and I'll hang my Buffett banner from canopy.

big hat carmen · Post by **big hat carmen** » May 18, 2004 7:01 pm

For small flags, we use a golf ball retriever, also handy for playing afternoon golf.

alpinevalley · Post by **alpinevalley** » May 18, 2004 10:13 pm

Hi All:

Forgive the interruption, but I would suggest something that does not conduct any sort of electricity. I know that the first thing you would think of when a storm rolls in would be to take down your flag, but believe me, you will probably be running around gathering up all of your things.

At Alpine last season, we had 8 people struck by lightning in our parking lots during a bad storm before the start of the Dave Matthews show. Everyone was OK afterwards (and after being transported to hospitals), but the main reason for the strike was a 10 foot tall aluminum tent post that a guest was hanging on to. It just happened that his friends were close enough to be hit from the wet ground as the bolt went through the pole and then him.

So, PVC or fiberglass are definitely good choices. Copper, golf ball aluminum, and other metals are not.

Thanks for listening.

Regards,
Brian, Security Manager
Alpine Valley Music Theatre

flipflops · Post by **flipflops** » May 18, 2004 10:24 pm

Good call! I didn't even think about that! Just checked weather.com and we will be looking at partly cloudy skies, high of 84, low of 67, with a 30% chance of rain for the Atlanta show. No wammys!

Clairebert · Post by **Clairebert** » May 18, 2004 10:27 pm

A couple years ago I decided to fly the Maple Leaf next to the Stars and Stripes in anticipation of meeting Canadian Parrothead at Great Woods. I used very heavy cast iron patio umbrella stands for the bases (2" PVC fits nicely over 1 1/2" base receptor that is usually about a foot high). Telescoped 10 ft section of 1 1/2" PVC into 10 ft section of 2" PVC with 3-4 ft of overlap. Pre-drilled two 1/4 inch holes to tie them together with nuts, washers, and bolts, and voila, a 16 - 17 ft flagpole that assembles in about 5 minutes. Used pre attached I-bolts to secure flags (with double sided clips..don't know what they are called but think of the clip at the end of a dog leash). Tied the PVC to the roof of the car for the ride over. Bought a hack saw and cut them in half and threw them in the car when we took it down. Total cost about $20.00. It was very windy that year but they stood the test, no problem. Attracted a lot of curious parrotheads and was a big help when trying to find our home base.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

flipflops · Post by **flipflops** » May 19, 2004 4:02 pm

Clairebert wrote:A couple years ago I decided to fly the Maple Leaf next to the Stars and Stripes in anticipation of meeting Canadian Parrothead at Great Woods. I used very heavy cast iron patio umbrella stands for the bases (2" PVC fits nicely over 1 1/2" base receptor that is usually about a foot high). Telescoped 10 ft section of 1 1/2" PVC into 10 ft section of 2" PVC with 3-4 ft of overlap. Pre-drilled two 1/4 inch holes to tie them together with nuts, washers, and bolts, and voila, a 16 - 17 ft flagpole that assembles in about 5 minutes. Used pre attached I-bolts to secure flags (with double sided clips..don't know what they are called but think of the clip at the end of a dog leash). Tied the PVC to the roof of the car for the ride over. Bought a hack saw and cut them in half and threw them in the car when we took it down. Total cost about $20.00. It was very windy that year but they stood the test, no problem. Attracted a lot of curious parrotheads and was a big help when trying to find our home base.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

Went with two 5 ft PVC pipes coupled together and also went with an patio umbrella base that can be filled with water or sand. Got the I-bolts and two key chains that seperate in the middle for easy removal. Won't put it together until I get my flag. Thanks for all the help!

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » May 19, 2004 4:53 pm

I could sure use a big pole!!!

Thanks for the info! I'll add a Wonderpole to my birthday list so everyone can go

!

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