Using a Light Pole as a Post

[TomPenny]

Hi I have several 14' round steel light poles that I plan on using as posts.

I want to use them to make a carport and an awning. The trouble is the are tappered. 4" pipe narrows to about 3".

I am a little stumped on how to level them once I put them in the hole.

I thought about placing a bracket for the top/narrow end on the level. That works for one side but I guess I'd need two at 90 degress from one another.

My grandpa gave them to me before he passed away. He said "give me a holler and I'll tell you an easy way..." Well I never got that info from him.

Any Ideas?

 

[MarkV]

Tom, take a few measurements to determine how much the pole tapers in a four foot span. Once you know the difference cut a spacer to that size and tape it to one end of a 4’ level and you will be able to plumb the poles.

Sorry your grandfather isn’t around to help.

MarkV

 

[Glenn9643]

If I understand you correctly, there's not a lot of taper. A 14' pipe with a 1-inch drop in diameter over that length... should have 1/2" difference on each side. I wouldn't worry about that amount. Set your posts and plumb them on two sides, and try to set them all the same way. I would plumb the outside facing edge and then one of the side edges at 90degrees to that outside edge. If you're going to be attaching framework for siding, etc. you should probably plumb the side that'll have that attached.
It's not rocket science /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and you'll never notice the difference.

 

[TomPenny]

LOL, It's a good thing I'm not a rocket scientist! We'd never have left the ground!

Ah-ha...modify the level not the post. Man that's funny I don't care who you are....

thanks

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Tom,

1" over 14' is not a big taper.

An easy way to check for plumb on a tapered post is just be sure the bubble on the level is in the same place on all sides.

When you put the post in the ground place the level on the side of the post, the bubble may be 1/8 or 1/2 heavy. Basically if the bubble is the same on all sides the pole should be plumb.

Just try and check at about eye level on each post and they should all be about the same. Or you could measure down from the top of the post, before putting it in the ground, to about eye level and make a mark on the post for reference point for level so you are placing the level at about the same place on each post.

Not sure I explained this real good. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

I like the idea of getting the outside edge perfectly level. If you ever decide to enclose it, then your all set. From a distance I think it would look better being plumb and with such a small taper, I don't think it will affect anything.

I am curious about the guage of the guage of the pipe and what material it's made from. A carport wont require great strength unless you get snow. Do you? Othewise I'm sure the light polse will probably be fine.

Eddie

 

[TomPenny]

Yeah Eddie I probably get less snow than you do, so I'm sure it will be fine.

Thats not a bad Idea plumb on the outer side. Not so much for the carport as for the awning. I got a 28 x 20 patio and I didn't cover it when we built the house.

 

[JustGary]

If your dimensions are accurate, your taper comes out to about 9/64" over four feet. That's not enough to bother cutting a spacer for your level. In fact, you may have more warp in them than that.

Like a previous poster said, just get your bubble the same all the way around (in quarters or thirds) and you're good. Don't forget to stand back and give it the eyeball quality check just to make sure before the concrete sets.

Good luck, and don't forget pictures for us!

- Just Gary

 

[MMM]

If you want perfection I suppose you could cut post to desired length and invert the drop and place between level and post. That would give 180deg. Maybe more trouble than it's worth with a round post.

 

[Inspector507]

If you want a tapered pole plumb, just use a plumb bob.......old school and maybe you need and older guy to show you how it works, but it's gonna get it plumb for you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif