Welding an Aluminum flag pole

[PeterT]

I recently bought a 25' industrial aluminum flag pole at auction. When they removed it, they used a plasma cutter and cut it into two sections, a 7' and an 18' section.
I would like to use the entire length but would either need to have it welded, I think you can weld aluminum.. Or I would have to have a special 'sleeve' fabricated.
The pole is tappered from bottom to top. The bottom is about 6" diamter and the top is about 3".

Any suggestions?

 

[planecrazy]

Look up R.J. Hlasco in North Ridgeville. I worked for him in college and he is the finest welder I've ever met. I'm sure he can put you flagpole back together.

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

I'm not sure how much it would cost to have a welder come out there and weld it up for you, but you can always just wart (sleeve) it together. If so just cut the sections again with two new square cuts and find a suitable sleeve (probably about 2 feet long). You'll just have to drill a few holes through the sleeve and the pole and it should be fine, granted you don't live in a high wind gust area.

 

[bad_idea]

I would cut a piece of pipe to fit into the inside of the joint that needs to be re-welded. That will give you a nice backing ring to weld to. Keep in mind the plasma cutter removed about an 1/8" of material. A couple of minutes with a mig welder or 20 minutes with a tig welder. Call around to some fab shops, you should be able to find someone who can weld it for you. The only pain is going to be getting it to the welder. But if you find someone with a portable unit you are golden.

Either way, I would recommend welding it, no big deal for a decent welder.

 

[toymn6366]

shouldn't be a problem to weld back together just find you a welder with a portable rig tigging it back together be that hard

 

[Boiler]

X2 portable welder to come out and take care of it. MIG or TIG

 

[Sureshot]

How thick is the wall and is it tapered as well?
Could you slide the bottom over the top and have an overlapping section that you could bolt or pin?
I would even consider that if you are welding as the taper should fit and you don't want it coming over in a windstorm.
6" to 3" over 25' is 1/8/ft. So if it is 1/8 wall you would have 2' of overlap and a 23' pole. You could heat the outside or cool the inside with propane or do both and just wedge it together and not have to weld it.

 

[PeterT]

ok, thanks - I will make a couple calls.. I prefer the welded route as I am in high wind open area.

 

[bad_idea]

Don't forget the backing ring.