Memorial Day is for Flagpoles

Creamer · May 30, 2016

OK I need some help on this one. I have been wanting a flagpole - 25' or better - but not wanting to pay $1000 for one.

Today I happened upon a sailboat mast that is 27' long and I thought of a flagpole. I figured if it can hold a sail it can handle a flag - right?

Now my next question - where is a good place to get all the hardware?

Fossil Farm · May 30, 2016

Made a wooden one years ago. Hardware store had the small pulley for the top of the pole, snaps for the flag, rope and rope holder.

bcp · May 30, 2016

Likely when used as a mast it had lines from the top to the deck. It may not be designed for much bending resistance.

What about chain link fence top rail? Not too expensive or heavy, available in 10 and 20 ft lengths, and different diameters, usually with male-female joints.

Bruce

BoylermanCT · May 30, 2016

When we moved to our farm 6 years ago, there was a 25' flag pole in the front yard made of metal pipe. Bottom section is 2" steel pipe, middle is 1 3/4" and top is 1 1/2". You could build this for much cheaper than $1000. Only hardware needed is a pulley at the top and a cleat at the bottom. Mine is mounted between 2 pipes that are buried in cement, and held in position with a pin. Remove the pin and the flag pole can be tilted to the ground for painting and maintenance.

CurlyDave · May 30, 2016

Creamer said:
OK I need some help on this one. I have been wanting a flagpole - 25' or better - but not wanting to pay $1000 for one...

Look on Amazon.

I just checked, and there are plenty of 25 footers for under $100. Some were under $70. This is for the whole kit, flag, pole, hardware, etc. And the pole is properly tapered, so it looks very professional.

Creamer · May 30, 2016

CurlyDave said:
Look on Amazon.

I just checked, and there are plenty of 25 footers for under $100. Some were under $70. This is for the whole kit, flag, pole, hardware, etc. And the pole is properly tapered, so it looks very professional.

They are out there. Valley Forge has a nice one that can be bought for $100 but when I look into the wind ratings for these they are not very good - even for a pole without a flag. Where I would want to put it wind is a big issue.

Boylerman - that sounds like an interesting design especially the idea of tipping it over to service it. that is one problem with a tall pole.

GaryM · May 30, 2016

I've got a 20' Titan telescoping flagpole that works great. Four sections and can fly two flags. They have a 25' model as well that lists for $329 with everything included, shipping's probably not included. Check Flagpole Country, LLC - Manufacturer of the Titan Telescoping Flagpole and find the dealer who handles your state.

They even have mounts for RVs etc if that's your thing.

CurlyDave · May 31, 2016

Mine was a gift, but I think was in the $300 neighborhood.

Give some thought to mounting it, even if the pole is strong enough, if the mount is weak it will not take the wind.

I probably overdid mine, but I buried a 5' long piece of 18" galvanized culvert added rebar and poured an octagonal concrete pad. An 18" square base 36" high rises from the center of the pad and has a 24" long piece of 6" pipe set down into the top center. The pole goes into the 6" pipe and we poured sand into it to get the pole vertical and solidly set. lots of rebar holds it all together.

It looks very good. Will try to get a picture tomorrow.

chim · May 31, 2016

I deal with this outfit:

Buy US Flags and Flagpoles at United States Flag Store

We get HD flags in two different sizes for our two work locations. We built a pole for the facility I work at from a 40' site lighting pole. We had a pretty pathetic pole and one day on the way to work I saw a remodel project at a warehouse (that included a new parking lot). I stopped and asked the supt what they were doing with the existing tapered 40' steel light poles. For $200 they loaded 4 of them on our flatbed trailer. One went to our weld shop to be outfitted with uplights we had plus hardware from the above source. A shot of two-part white paint and we were good to go. Fortunately I had a crane scheduled to load a piece of equipment about the time the pole was finished, so setting it was a cinch.

With the taller pole, we now use larger flags becasue they scale better. The flags we used on our poor little stubby pole were kind of dwarfed by the new pole. If anyone near Lancaster PA wants one of the three I have left, drop me a line.