Mega Tree Center Pole

Madko

Full time elf
Joined
Dec 24, 2012
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250
Location
Castle Hill NSW
Hey Guys,

Im planning on doing a 6 meter mega tree and im having problems locating where people are buying their center poles or flag poles

I would like to know what everyone is using for there mega tree center pole and where they got it from and how much? please include postage details if you can remember.

Cheers and thanks
 

ecbailey

Full time elf
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Dec 26, 2011
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127
Location
Armadale, Victoria
My (compared to others, primitive, but cheap) solution was to get some pvc non pressure (storm water) pipe (around 120mm?) and bang it into the ground a fair way. Then I got some stainless steel eyelets and screwed them into the top. I have a star which is attached to a capping piece for the pipes, for which the power cables run through the pipe and out a hole at the bottom (drilling out a small hand sized hole hasn't seemed to weaken the pipe. I only used a smaller piece (3m or so) but you can get longer pieces, or otherwise use joiners, which would make storing easy!


All of this came from Bunnings and cost less then $30. It very sturdily stood up in the ground for 3.5 months and didn't wiggle as because the bottom was hollow, the soil went up into it, as well as around it.
 

Beacy

It's so much better on the dark side
Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
467
Location
Beaconsfield
speaking from experience do NOT use the ebay flag poles they work at 5mt but not much more, after my experience last year I'm going to use gal steel fence posts like they use around sports ovals
 

Superman

I Have C.L.A.P and its very infectious
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May 29, 2010
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1,778
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Ipswich-QLD
I am one that gets away with a 5m flag pole from deals direct. I use 3 stays attached 3/4 the way up down to huge sand tent pegs. it managed to survive our summer storms in QLD but wouldn't want to see it in the 100km winds Beacy had. the pole is only 4.5 meter high so I bought 2 of them to add an extra section and have some spares.
 

fasteddy

I have C.L.A.P
Global moderator
Joined
Apr 26, 2010
Messages
6,648
Location
Albion Park NSW
Im one that used a 6 metre ebay flag pole that learnt the hard way. My pole collapsed in strong winds 4 days from show time.
I instead now use a 6.2 metre 50MM OD Gal pole i bought from the local steel supplier i found in the yellow pages for a cost of $65. So let your fingers do the walking and search around for any local steel suppliers as prices can vary.
Nothing is going to bring this tree down now.
 

ԆцряєсϮ

Senior elf
Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
503
Location
Botanic Ridge
I'll be using 2" gal pipe for mine. If I haven't "acquired" any by about June or July I'll prolly have to by some.
Its around $30 - $40 for a 6mt length.
 

aussiexmas

Sinnamon Lights
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
218
Location
Brisbane - Australia
I used 100mm PVC sewerage pipe (from any hardware) sitting on a board on the ground and guyed at top and midway. The bottom sits on a board to stop pole sinking further into the ground during wet periods. The standard PVC pipe length is 6m, but I extended my pole length to ~7.2m. Because of my yard layout, my lights start about 2m above ground from a support ring.
 

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Madko

Full time elf
Joined
Dec 24, 2012
Messages
250
Location
Castle Hill NSW
Here in Castle Hill NSW, we have this company that do all tv antennas and supply's. I found this pole and was wondering this should be sufficient if they are using then for antennas.



http://www.bitek.com.au/index.php?option=com_icommerce&Itemid=&page=product&prod_id=426&return=option%3Dcom_icommerce%26page%3Dcategories%26cat_id%3D25%26return%3Doption%253Dcom_icommerce%2526Itemid%253D2%2526page%253Dcategories%2526cat_id%253D22%2526return%253Doption%25253Dcom_icommerce%252526Itemid%25253D2%26p%3D1
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Habbosrus

Back again
Joined
Dec 5, 2012
Messages
758
Location
Swansea, NSW
If you use that, make sure you have plenty of support. It's only 1"1/2 x 1.5mm wall thickness. I haven't made a mega tree before but I think that is a little light. Maybe look at some 2" (50mm) nominal bore pipe with at least 2mm wall thickness.
 

tuppetsdad

Funding & Tech Support
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
549
Location
Melbourne
Now there is a nice idea....well done Jim ....you would not be from Jim's antenna's would you???
 

Gray_magic

The CLAP is highly infectous and incurable!!!
Joined
Sep 10, 2012
Messages
111
Location
brassall
I just finished a trial run on the pole i intend to use.. I wanted to see the scale in the yard as i find it hard to visualise. I live in Brisbane and i have seen Geoff and his tree in action. it seems to hold up well so I have decided to go with a similar set up. mine will be 6.5m high with the star so getting the pixels to the top seemed like a bit of challenge, so like Geoff i am using some I bolts with pull cord to get them there. should make it easier to look at if i have to take sections down again. it is also good on cost. i spent less than $100 to build it.. everything but the lights, PS and controller.
 

dannyp

Full time elf
Joined
May 12, 2010
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262
Location
Sydney
I also use galvanised pipe 32mm in size. I bought a plastic insert for a hills hoist (about $35) and concreted this into the ground. Now I just drop the pipe into the hills hoist housing. Easy to put up and pull down.
 

Gray_magic

The CLAP is highly infectous and incurable!!!
Joined
Sep 10, 2012
Messages
111
Location
brassall
Well the tree is up and we had some medium gusts come through today. I added more guys to my mast. I am seriously going to freak out the first storm I see come through.
 
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