Build your own portable flag pole for cheap! By:Jaybez

[JAYBEZ]

As many of you know, no tailgating station is complete without your flags flying high. They are a nice decoration and can be used as a way to help people find your location. But instead of paying $100 + at some website or store, follow this guide.

This is my guide to building your own Flag pole. It will stand 15 feet high and fully break down with ease. All this for under $15.

Refer to the images below for all your building needs and visual guides on this project. (*Ivisuals are for poles using two flags, will work the same for one flag)

Let us start with the 10 foot lengths of PVC. Begin by cuting them in half, creating four, 5 foot poles.

Use the two couplings to join three of these lengths together. This will of course create one 15 foot pole.
Once you have selected which end will be the top, grab a flag. Using the clip holes in the flag, mark the position on the main PVC pole. This will designate where you will drill to place the i bolts. Then simply dril and install bolts (see fig 1.2 for visual)

You can just bolt the flag into the pole, but the use of the Carabiners make for easy removal and storage of the flags. No point in spending $20-$30 on a flag, just to wrinkle it up. So, clip the carabiners on to the i bolt loops and then the flags onto the carabiner.

Next is the base. You will now take the "T" joints and the remaining PVC and make an "I" base. Refer to fig 1.3 for the layout. The t joints are marked in yellow. The length here is up to you. The two legs on the ends do not need to be that long (maybe half a foot out from each side of the t joint).

After this base has been assembled, screw it into one side of the piece of wood. Make sure that the piece of wood has room for you to park one tire on. (See figure 1.4 for visual - tire marked in grey)

Now simply attach the two main peices that have been constructed (main pole and base)


*extras to mention - You may want to use some PVC glue to glue the base peices together. You may also want to buy some bungie cords or small rope to tie the mid of the pol to your roof. This is in case a good wind comes up the pole will have some extra support. And feel free to paint the pole as you desire.

If you would like to see this in action, stop by and see me this weekend.

I will snap a few pictures to post.

[cockyhoskins]

Pretty sweet Jaybez. Any photos of the finished product?

[theuscerock]

GREAT! I've been thinking of doing the same thing! I cant believe the prices they are charging for them. We used to get pledges to get us bamboo for Tally-Ho...back in the day...and our last year we built one out of metal pipe, but that was when we were only 2 miles from tailgating...
this will work out great for me driving from Atlanta!
Thanks
I should have mine up for the Vandy game...dont have the time this week to make it.

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
:bow::bow::bow:

[JAYBEZ]

I just recently put mine together, so I will take some pictures this weekend during its first tailgate.


So far it has been performing quite well in the drive way this week.

[USC63]

Thanks for sharing this with us. I will put it to good use.

[Gaichon]

Awesome!!! I paid almost 80 bucks for my flag pole last year. I'm going to give this a shot so that I can represent with FOUR flags from now on!

[theuscerock]

Well finally bit the bullet and went to Lowe's and got the materials tonight with my brother. We paid $35 for each set the materials and built two tonight. Both worked pretty well a couple minutes ago in the drive way. We went the 1 1/2 inch route. Covered the pipes with Black Duct Tape. Looks pretty good and holds up pretty well on the Jeep and the Z71. I'll be flying mine high tomorrow at Seawells...while the other one will be headed to Athens and then Jacksonville with my brother for the World's Largest Coctail Party flying them UGA colors. We'll both post them in the next week.
Thanks again Jaybez

[cockyhoskins]

Can't wait to see the pictures.

[theuscerock]

15 feet didnt work so well with the wind yesterday...didnt have a bungee or anything else to secure it so I flew it a 10 ft. Here are some pics...

http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/7803/vandyuscoct200548am.jpg


http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/941/vandyuscoct200534ut.jpg


http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/5360/vandyuscoct200567zj.jpg

thanks again jaybez

[JAYBEZ]

Well, it is time for its re-emergence. It is the time of year to start getting all your tailgating stuff together again.

[theuscerock]

Works well as long as you dont have a lot of wind while setting up and then its just a real pain, thats why the pictures have the 10ft view, not the full 15ft.

[JAYBEZ]

Yeah I added an addition to the original design.

I bought a 2 inch diameter piece of PVC, drilled a big hole in it, and put the pole through the big hole. It acts as a slidding arm that I bungie to the rack on top of my explorer.

It is a good stabalizer. you should give it a try.

[IHateOrange]

I asked about this earlier JayBez, thanks a lot I really appreciate it. I know what my project before I go into work tom is going to be.

[JAYBEZ]

Sure man.

Depending on your tools, it shouldn't take to long to make.

[theuscerock]

only took about 30 minutes to make with a hack saw, power drill, and patience...

[JAYBEZ]

Have you tested it out yet? If so, take some pictures and post them.

[Whaler]

Jay, has anyone tried 20 feet? Your idea with the 2 inch is awesome, i'll incorporate that this year, as well i'm going to make the feet wider to absorb more stress as I plan on flying 4 flags... gotta fly old glory this year.... thoughts?

[IHateOrange]

I was also thinking about 20 feet.. i bought my stuff earlier in teh day and was wondering....hmmm. 20 sounds tall....

[Whaler]

Yeah man, but those chicken flags will look good this last year in the farmers market soaring OVER the rooftops!

[IHateOrange]

I was looking at the expensive ones on EBAY and was like 20 ft, 25 ft, and it kept going so I was like hmmm I need to go bigger.

[JAYBEZ]

Well, if you go 20ft you are going to run into a couple problems.

Depending on how many flags you are flying, there will be less support for all the drag those flags are producing. You may get a lot of bending in the flag pole if it isn't braced somehow.

Also, you will need to go with a thicker PVC pipe. You may even want to consider metal. either way, it will still be a lot cheaper then buying one on-line.

[IHateOrange]

Oh yes for sure cheaper... I may try and figure out how to do a metal one... dunno yet... I just don't want it to smack my car though...

[JAYBEZ]

Just tape a towl or rag to the area that may contact the car.

[IHateOrange]

JayBez either you are a genius, or I am an idot... you got everything figured out...

[JAYBEZ]

If you say so man.... but I claim no responsibility if it all comes crashing down on you.

[IHateOrange]

Oh you WILL assume all legal liability if my flag pole is to crash land on my face... nah im playing i expect it to be a neat project.

[g4m3c4ck]

I know this is an old thread but it has sparked my creative juices.

There are many type or schedules of PVC out there. Most of the PVC you will find at home depot and Lowes is going to be a low psi PVC meaning it will have thinner inner walls hence it is more flexable. However, if you want the good PVC you need to look else where. You need to go to a pipe distributor or irrigation supply company.

There is Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 PVC. The higher the number the thicker the wall of it will be. I personally would get schdule 80. I would use a base similar to what JAYBEZ laid out. Most PVC pipe comes in either 20' or 10' sticks. I would probably stick with 10' because 20' even in 2" schedule 80 has a good bit of flex. I need to forewarn people though. Schedule 80 is expensive. You might want to wait on me testing this before goin out and buying schedule 80. Anyhoo.... The rest of my theroy.... I would get 10'-2" stick of pipe. on the Bell end( the wide part ) I would place a 2" to 1/1-2" reducer fitting. A stick of 1/1-2" pipe with a 1/1-2" to 1" reducer fitting. And a stick of 1" pipe. Make sure you buy glue. Glue all the fittings to the bell end only. Place you flag together make sure everything is fairly snug. Then drill a hole on the side of the pipe through the center of the bell end and fitting all the way through the other side. And place a bolt through it. Then you have your flag. Hell you probablly could go much higher with schedule 80 and starting out with 2 1/2" pipe. I will try to do a tutorial with pictures.

Oh and the cool thing about it is that each smaller pipe will fit into each other for easy transportation.

[cockyhoskins]

Good points!

[theuscerock]

I know this is an old thread but it has sparked my creative juices.

There are many type or schedules of PVC out there. Most of the PVC you will find at home depot and Lowes is going to be a low psi PVC meaning it will have thinner inner walls hence it is more flexable. However, if you want the good PVC you need to look else where. You need to go to a pipe distributor or irrigation supply company.

There is Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 PVC. The higher the number the thicker the wall of it will be. I personally would get schdule 80. I would use a base similar to what JAYBEZ laid out. Most PVC pipe comes in either 20' or 10' sticks. I would probably stick with 10' because 20' even in 2" schedule 80 has a good bit of flex. I need to forewarn people though. Schedule 80 is expensive. You might want to wait on me testing this before goin out and buying schedule 80. Anyhoo.... The rest of my theroy.... I would get 10'-2" stick of pipe. on the Bell end( the wide part ) I would place a 2" to 1/1-2" reducer fitting. A stick of 1/1-2" pipe with a 1/1-2" to 1" reducer fitting. And a stick of 1" pipe. Make sure you buy glue. Glue all the fittings to the bell end only. Place you flag together make sure everything is fairly snug. Then drill a hole on the side of the pipe through the center of the bell end and fitting all the way through the other side. And place a bolt through it. Then you have your flag. Hell you probablly could go much higher with schedule 80 and starting out with 2 1/2" pipe. I will try to do a tutorial with pictures.

Oh and the cool thing about it is that each smaller pipe will fit into each other for easy transportation.

good call...wish i would have thought about that...

We havent used our yet this year

[g4m3c4ck]

Thanx fot the points guys! Hopefully I will get around to making a better tutorial with pictures.

[JAYBEZ]

I was asked out the details of this, so I am giving the thread a bump.

[Spur 'Em]

Thanks Jaybez!! Gonna get started this week.

[SangareeCrew]

I've been looking at this thread for the last 3 pre seasons............maybe this is the year my lazy tail builds one of these!

[Lant]

I've been looking at this thread for the last 3 pre seasons............maybe this is the year my lazy tail builds one of these!


:lol: same here