jtbinvalrico
Well-known member
So, I've been battling weak flag poles for a long time.....Anyway, after years of flag poles ending up bent in half by high winds, I think I've found the answer: Epoxy resin.
I fly that flag all year. Tampa sees some wind.....I recorded a 35 mph gust the other day. We're near the coast and the house faces just right in our neighborhood to catch some high winds. I use two means of ensuring the flag doesn't wrap around the pole: One is the pole itself. I use a rotating 1" aluminum pole that spins on a set of bearings about half-way up the length of the pole. The second is a set of spinning rings the flag clips to - This combination works exceptionally well. The flag doesn't wrap. But that precludes the use of solid wood or fiberglass poles; I've yet to find one of those that spins on bearings like the hollow aluminum pole. I also use a particularly stout flag pole bracket.....Yet I still had to deal with the occasional bent over pole.
The issue is the side-bending load placed on the pole at the bracket and the epoxy resin fill was the fix. My solution was to fill the bottom third of the flag pole with epoxy resin. I pushed a wad of paper towel into the bottom of the pole, mixed up the two-part epoxy, and poured it all in. I inserted the cap back onto the bottom of the pole, taped it over to temporarily seal it, and stood it on its end to cure.
Below are some pictures and links to what I used. The flag pole bracket is an interesting piece. It's got a municipal-use feel. It's meant to be screwed on or secured with a metal strap - think "utility pole." However, as sold it will present the flag at 35 degrees, and that's a bit steep for the front of a house. I used my standing belt sander to bevel the mounting face a bit to somewhere over 40 degrees, but not quite 45. This combination is solid.
I fly that flag all year. Tampa sees some wind.....I recorded a 35 mph gust the other day. We're near the coast and the house faces just right in our neighborhood to catch some high winds. I use two means of ensuring the flag doesn't wrap around the pole: One is the pole itself. I use a rotating 1" aluminum pole that spins on a set of bearings about half-way up the length of the pole. The second is a set of spinning rings the flag clips to - This combination works exceptionally well. The flag doesn't wrap. But that precludes the use of solid wood or fiberglass poles; I've yet to find one of those that spins on bearings like the hollow aluminum pole. I also use a particularly stout flag pole bracket.....Yet I still had to deal with the occasional bent over pole.
The issue is the side-bending load placed on the pole at the bracket and the epoxy resin fill was the fix. My solution was to fill the bottom third of the flag pole with epoxy resin. I pushed a wad of paper towel into the bottom of the pole, mixed up the two-part epoxy, and poured it all in. I inserted the cap back onto the bottom of the pole, taped it over to temporarily seal it, and stood it on its end to cure.
Below are some pictures and links to what I used. The flag pole bracket is an interesting piece. It's got a municipal-use feel. It's meant to be screwed on or secured with a metal strap - think "utility pole." However, as sold it will present the flag at 35 degrees, and that's a bit steep for the front of a house. I used my standing belt sander to bevel the mounting face a bit to somewhere over 40 degrees, but not quite 45. This combination is solid.
Epoxy Adhesive C-TOUGH by CECCORP 2 Part Epoxy Glue for Metals, Aluminum, Glass, Fiberglass, Masonry, Wood, Stones, Rigid Plastics (P.V.C – ABS) - Not Suitable for PTFE.PP.PE & Rubbers – 8.5 Oz: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
Epoxy Adhesive C-TOUGH by CECCORP 2 Part Epoxy Glue for Metals, Aluminum, Glass, Fiberglass, Masonry, Wood, Stones, Rigid Plastics (P.V.C – ABS) - Not Suitable for PTFE.PP.PE & Rubbers – 8.5 Oz: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com