A flagpole made from wood

[keegs]

Back in the day, flagpoles were made almost exclusively from wood. I imagine a suitably straight tree was selected and felled from which a flagpole was fashioned. I'm thinking it may still be done this way by the boy scouts.

Has anyone ever done this? If so, what kind of wood did you use? How did you fabricate the flagpole? What kind of preservative if any did you use?

 

[czechsonofagun]

We done it for boy scouts every summer. It was little bit more complicated, since we were "Marine" scouts - it is a copy of a mast. But we used straight fraizer fir for it.

 

[biggerten]

Back in the day, flagpoles were made almost exclusively from wood. I imagine a suitably straight tree was selected and felled from which a flagpole was fashioned. I'm thinking it may still be done this way by the boy scouts.

Has anyone ever done this? If so, what kind of wood did you use? How did you fabricate the flagpole? What kind of preservative if any did you use?

We did this with a fir. We cemented in a couple of 4x4's, leaving about 3' out of the ground. The fir pole went between them, with a couple pieces of all thread through the 4x4's and the pole, one down low, one higher. That way, we could remove the lower one and rotate the pole down for painting.

 

[Egon]

Faux Birds Mouth Mast - by Andrew Linn


I have never done this but Birdsmouth Mast's built in wood may also be used for a flagpole.

The INTERNET has lots of hits on Birdsmouth Mast's.

 

[smstonypoint]

I believe I am correct in remembering that Norm built a flagpole on one of his New Yankee Workshop episodes.

 

[dave1949]

I believe I am correct in remembering that Norm built a flagpole on one of his New Yankee Workshop episodes.

Yes, he did. I don't recall the details, but I assure you he didn't just stand up a straight fir tree I think it was a lamination, also could be pivoted.
Dave.

 

[nickel plate]

I made a 30' mast for one of my sailboats and it was a laminated boxbeam construction. once out of the clamps it was then round edged shaped. An extreme amount of work-since then I switched over to aluminum on future boats. You have to do it once to appreciate the effort involved.
Using a solid tree trunk for a flagpole might work but quite possibly might twist some due to the usage of the heart center of the log which is the most volatile part of the log. Out here, I would attempt to use Lodgepole Pine. A lot of commercial fisherman use Lodgepole for their 24'/30' outriggers. Do however use only seasoned air dried cants as they will by then show signs of any early twisting.

 

[gwjd]

yea boy scouts do it all the time i have lots of pics ut dont know how to load them.

dig a hole like 4feet deep put a piece of culvert in and let the first 4 feet in the ground, then compact gravel around it will not last for ever but trees are easy enough to come buy.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Good trick is to put two posts in the ground - 3 feet under and 3 feet above and use two big bolts to hinge the flagpole. Makes dropping it much easier task.

 

[keegs]

Thanks for all the suggestions gents. My guess is there may be warping issues using just a felled tree. It would seem to me that Egon's plan could produce something with strength, length and a more cylindrical shape although I'd imagine a solid core at the base would be good. I did look up the NYWS segment on building a wooden flagpole. The website has the plans for $10.99 I think it was.

We fly the flag on a steel flagpole here in Jersey. I was looking for some ideas for the Maine place.

Thanks again. :thumbsup:

 

[sodamo]

...
We fly the flag on a steel flagpole here in Jersey. I was looking for some ideas for the Maine place.
...:

Not wood, but you might consider this for the Maine place.

I fly mine 24/7 (lighted) and like that fact that I can raise or lower according to wind conditions. It would also be very easy to remove when you aren't there.

David

 

[Egon]

For a hollow flag pole a solid base is a good idea.

Trees could also be used. Think of all the masts on the sailing ships of yore, most were made from trees.

Raising and lowering could be made easier by having a removable boom like in sail boats for the mast.

 

[dave1949]

Thanks for all the suggestions gents. My guess is there may be warping issues using just a felled tree. It would seem to me that Egon's plan could produce something with strength, length and a more cylindrical shape although I'd imagine a solid core at the base would be good. I did look up the NYWS segment on building a wooden flagpole. The website has the plans for $10.99 I think it was.

We fly the flag on a steel flagpole here in Jersey. I was looking for some ideas for the Maine place.

Thanks again. :thumbsup:

Hi Keegs,

I don't think you will have much of a warping issue using a whole tree. It will get some cracks/checking as it dries, but that adds character.

Sawn wood warps a lot more than a whole stem will because the sawing creates/allows unequal contraction and tension across the wood as it dries.
Dave.

 

[keegs]

Hi Keegs,

I don't think you will have much of a warping issue using a whole tree. It will get some cracks/checking as it dries, but that adds character.

Sawn wood warps a lot more than a whole stem will because the sawing creates/allows unequal contraction and tension across the wood as it dries.
Dave.

Dave, We have a variety of trees on the farm, mostly aspen, white cedar, birch, alder, spruce. Not sure whether one is any more suitable than another. I was considering the alder since it tends to grow tall, straight and slim.

 

[tommu56]

Going by memory our scout camp had 6-8" channel sticking out of the ground about 4' with the 2 bolt routine except on the bottom a stop was welded so when it was pulled up(tractor) it hit stop slide bolt in and its done.
The mast was pipe was about 3" od stepped down 2x with smaller pipe slipped inside the previous ones and welded.

tom

 

[scgargoyle]

I've seen old wooden flag poles (and masts) that were round on the outside, and made by gluing together 8 or more mitered strips, and then turning the outside of it round. It would be a lot lighter than a solid one, and more stable, but a lot more work.

 

[Egon]

Egon's plan

Please note this is not Egon's plan; he merely provided a site the idea could be found at.

Sitka Spruce was once very desirable for spars.

 

[Gary51]

Why not just get a used treated pole from the power company?

 

[dave1949]

Dave, We have a variety of trees on the farm, mostly aspen, white cedar, birch, alder, spruce. Not sure whether one is any more suitable than another. I was considering the alder since it tends to grow tall, straight and slim.

I wouldn't choose aspen or birch for sure. White cedar should last a while but might tend to get splintery on the surface messing up your flags. My alder never gets more than about 20' tall and when it dies and rots, there is no strength to it all. Spruce would be the best of what you mentioned IMO. The sticky resin should harden up in the sunshine.

If you use a tree, cut it this Spring and strip the bark right away. It's the best time of year to do that.
Dave.

 

[keegs]

Thank you Dave.