DIY steel flagpole for July 4

drizler · Jul 8, 2017

Great idea . I was thinking of doing the same thing and am glad to find this tio save on making a design of my own. That provision fo rotatingbitvdown for repairs is slick and simple..
My only question is why the 10 wire? I'd just ,use a 14 buried in plastic tubing or 12 if I was going to put an outlet out there which is a nice touch.

Todd727 · Jul 8, 2017

He didn't run 120v out there. If I was going to do that, I would use 12-2 UF and skip the PVC.

nikdfish · Jul 9, 2017

drizler said:
Great idea . I was thinking of doing the same thing and am glad to find this tio save on making a design of my own. That provision fo rotatingbitvdown for repairs is slick and simple..
My only question is why the 10 wire? I'd just ,use a 14 buried in plastic tubing or 12 if I was going to put an outlet out there which is a nice touch.

With low DC voltage, you need upgraded wire size to combat voltage drop on longer runs, much more so than with 120v AC. It boils down to the amp flow being higher in 12v than 120v for the same wattage.

Nick

EddieWalker · Jul 9, 2017

Very nice. Love how you designed it to tilt so you could have access to the entire pole without using a ladder!!!

betty2017 · Jul 15, 2017

Wow, nice job! Special April, 4th Celebration!

whitexc · Jul 15, 2017

^^^

Great job...lot's of 'Merican ingenuity there.

17 Oaks · Jul 15, 2017

I must say...WOW, you built that to last, in fact I suspect that flagpole will be standing tall long after your your grandkids are gone. Make sure you inscribe on the pole, you name and date, you just created a piece of history...

nikdfish · Jul 18, 2017

OK - one more ...

I wanted a more finished look for the base tube tops. I took a chance on some 1 7/8" fence post caps whose description was an actual measurement of 2". They fit over a 1 7/8" metal fence post & Lowes had them for $0.95 each - but only as a special order & they took a while to show up. This is the critter:

After checking fit against the 2" tube end, I made a half dozen hacksaw cuts around the base to allow the skirt to deform inward more easily, then tapped them into the tube tops with a wood block & hammer.

Pretty much the finishing touch for the hardware.

Nick