Looking for a flagpole

[AA7483]

I'm looking for a flagpole for my property. I have a place locally that sells them where I can pick it up. It seems a little pricey but I'm sure the quality is good. Just wondering if there are more reasonably priced options for what I'm looking for in a residential flag pole. Here are the specs. Im looking at a 20' pole.

 

[kabinenroller]

I can’t help locating a pole in your area but I can give you an opinion on the type you provided a link to. The poles in the pictures are straight tubing. There is nothing wrong with that but I think a tapered pole looks better and is stronger. I have a 30’ aluminum tapered pole, the aluminum reflects the light and makes the pole and flag really stand out at night. I am using a Cree LED fixture.

 

[58Yeoman]

I just replaced my HF 16' pole with a HF 20' pole. The old one has been up for 8 or 9 years and wouldn't telescope anymore. It's all aluminum and has 5 sections that you raise and twist to lock. No lanyard. About $57 before a 20% off coupon.

 

[bwessler]

Find a VFW. They sell really nice collapsing flag poles. Had mine for at least 12 years. Money goes to a good cause.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

I have been happy with mine http://www.tele-pole.com/

 

[AA7483]

Thanks guys. I dont have a problem paying the price for the local place but obviously i dont want to if i can have something that will last for cheaper. I just dont want to replace it in 10 years.

 

[mc4life27]

What about using some electrical conduit? Like some rigid conduit or possibly emt but I would like emt is on the thin side. It wouldn't collapses but you could using couplers and screw the pieces together.

 

[SARG]

I've put up two from this outfit. I believe they're 2.5" diameter.
https://www.theflagpolecompany.com/10rebseflco3.html

 

[SteveeP]

I have had a Sunsetter telescoping flagpole for ~15 years and it has performed flawlessly.
https://www.sunsetter.com/FlagpoleProducts

 

[casmurbax]

This company is near me, I have never heard a bad thing about them.

http://www.saratogaflag.com/Outdoor-Flagpole-Kits_c_49.html

best of luck in your search

 

[4Kings]

I have had a Sunsetter telescoping flagpole for ~15 years and it has performed flawlessly.
]

Me too ...

 

[AA7483]

See thats where i get confused. The comany near me is almost 600 for a single piece. The company near you is 990 for a single piece. Then there are some for 2 or 300. Obviously i know you get what you pay for. I just dont know what the difference is and if its worth twice the price.

 

[reader2580]

Check out aflag.com for good prices on poles.

If you need a larger American flag check out American Legion. They have the least expensive large flags I could find and they are Made in the USA.

 

[gunguy]

Bought my 20ft telescoping aluminum pole here http://www.uncommonflagpoles.com/ortefl20fosi.html about 15 years ago. Not a bit of trouble with it.

God bless America and all the good things she stands for.

Jim

 

[driftpin]

Try looking for a sailboat mast in whatever classifieds you have. They may-not collapse, but you could make something that would hinge-down, as some designs do that already. Obviously it would be for a small boat.

 

[Higgins]

If the pole is 20ft or longer, I can just imagine what the shipping cost are !!!!

Yrs ago I needed a 2" dia SS pipe. The shipping cost was over $300. Got in truck and drove to IN. 5 Hrs round trip and 1 tank of gas !!!!

I can only imagine what the costs are today!!

 

[AA7483]

Thanks guys. Im kind of leaning toward the high quality 1 piece that is available locally. If im going to pay around 300 for a telescoping one and 100 or more to ship 575 doesnt seem too bad picked up 20 min down the rd.

 

[Skiff Builder]

Nevermind.

 

[NUTTSGT]

We usually get a carrot-top catalog at the fire station. They have poles of various sizes and materials.

 

[A29]

Horable freight sells a telescopeing one. Some day you will have to take it down to replace the rope

 

[Jazz1]

Our flagpole been up 40 years. Cedar pole. Forest full of them.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Years ago I found a guy that had a batch of fiberglass tapered light poles, that had never been installed. 16' w/ 36" long base/form for setting into concrete. I simply dug a hole and planted it in the ground (no Concrete) and it has held up AWESOMELY. However it does need repainted as the flags hardware beats on it in the wind and has chipped the paint over the years. It is right outside our bedroom window and the fiberglass is much quieter than an aluminum pole. Found them on CL. The other 3 hold up sun shades around our pool.

I didn't mention I paid something like $100 for 4 of them

 

[woodzy]

Well, I say you only cry once (price of the original pole). This one is 30' tall 5" at base and is in a block of concrete 32" diameter 42" deep. It can be removed by removing the sand between the pole and sleeve. Very easy to level and is solid as a rock.

View media item 90679
I replace the rope every three years - easy to replace before it breaks. Flags last about 18 months.

Edit - this is only 25' tall and 5" at base. I just check the receipt.

 

[AA7483]

I decided to go with the cry once school or thought and ordered the high quality one locally. Figure when i die my kids can sell it along with my eley hose reel.

 

[In2toys]

My first house, I used some chain link fencing top rail, put a cap on top with a pulley for rope to go through. Put a rope cleat about 5' off ground to keep neighbor kids from dinking with it.

 

[AA7483]

Thank you guys for all the input.

 

[IBEW702]

View media item 86752
30' 5" base. I paid around $900 and another $60 for 5X8 flag.

Do yourself a favor and buy a quality made in America pole and flag. Install it with a proper concrete base, PVC sleeve and sand it will last years.

 

[davewo]

This may or may not be reasonable for you, but I ended up buying a used street light pole from my local scrap yard. It worked out to be 26' tall, very sturdy, and 20 cents a pound.

 

[AA7483]

Do you guys recommended mixing the concrete when setting the sleeve or dumping it in dry like when setting a fence post?

 

[woodzy]

On mine the sleeve was an 8" corrugated tube and in the bottom of the tube was a teepee structure to hold the pole in the center. The sleeve had a welded piece of rebarb welded to it that went into the ground to act like a ground rod. I braced it in the hole and poured in the concrete. Once the concrete was set, we dropped in the pole and leveled it with some wood shims between the pole and sleeve at the top of the sleeve. Once it was perfectly leveled, slowly added play sand between pole and sleeve and used a 1" dowel and packet around - removed the top shims and checked for level - perfect. I then mixed some two part urethane I had and poured on top to seal it all up. If I ever need to remove it, I will just break out the urethane and **** out the sand with a shop vac. The pole will just pull out the help of a few friends.

I even ran a 14-2 Underground romex to the center of the pole in the event I wanted to get creative but never used it.

On a side note, the first one I ordered was a 4" pole at the base but when it was delivered it was bent. When I talked to the flag pole company, they said they would send a new one but I upgraded to the 5" which was stronger and really glad I did.

 

[ford33]

Thanks for making the effort to fly the flag.

 

[Hooked]

Do you guys recommended mixing the concrete when setting the sleeve or dumping it in dry like when setting a fence post?

I've done it both ways and prefer mixing rather than dry pour. For me, I knew with mixing the base would be solid with no possibility of voids. I installed an Uncommon 20' pole at home then relocated it about 15 years later. A couple years ago I installed one for my daughter using the dry pour method as I'd read it was just as good, etc. Maybe I did something wrong but it just didn't feel right simply pouring a little water on top of the dry stuff. Hopefully, hers will last as long as ours.

 

[AA7483]

Im going to mix it up to be sure. The pole is 3" x 20'. The sleeve they gave me is a 3" piece of pvc. The pole fits very nicely into the sleeve with barely any movement
I can set the sleeve in concrete and drop the pole the next day right? Ive seen people put sand around the pole inside the sleeve but dont see how ill have any room to spare.

 

[Hooked]

Yes, set the sleeve and let the concrete set first. Put some gravel and sand in the bottom of the hole before setting the sleeve and pouring the concrete. This allows drainage for what water seeps in between the pole and sleeve.
Regarding sand around the pole, possibly pour some around the pole after inserting in the sleeve to prevent any slight movement? I've never done this and never see any noticeable movement.
As an aside, my pole went through hurricane Ike flying two 4x6 flags without damage as I neglected to take down the flags during my hurricane prep.

 

[IBEW702]

I dug a three foot deep hole two feet wide. Added a ground rod, bonded the rebar and left enough wire to attach to the pole ground.

View media item 90685This is the hole with a 8' by 5/8 ground rod.

View media item 90686This is my attempt to make a rebar basket. You can see the bonding clamp on the rebar, then it goes to the ground rod. The extra goes into the pole and attaches to the pole ground lug.

View media item 90687Here the PVC sleeve is in place with ground wire.

View media item 90688This was right after I poured the concrete. I chamfered the edge around the PVC sleeve as the concrete was setting. This allowed me to get a nice bead of Skila Flex to seal the sand around the flag pole. After a few days I stained and sealed the concrete to match our stamped side walks and patio.

 

[bbxlr8]

This may or may not be reasonable for you, but I ended up buying a used street light pole from my local scrap yard. It worked out to be 26' tall, very sturdy, and 20 cents a pound.

I just saw this thread, but was going to mention & did this and was an excellent choice (mine is spun bronze finish and looks very nice). I brought with me to my new house, but have yet to reinstall. Line runs inside FWIW

 

[Dagny]

made one a long time ago put 2 pipes in concrete pole mounts in between with 2 bolts. take out one bolt and you can tip it down easily.

 

[mikegt4]

I know a couple of people who have used old aluminum sailboat masts. They can often be found on CL at reasonable prices.

 

[Lucky13driver]

I did the 20' HF the locking mechanism is not so great. I'm using hose clamps for the windy days.

 

[AA7483]

Got my sleeve in today. Concrete is still soft after 7 hrs but its only 40 degees. Im covering it overnight and hoping its hard tomorrow. Excited to drop the pole in.