Question on T-14 house pole??

jmcdill · Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:24 am

Hi,

I am going to build a T-14 house for next spring. One question, what is best pole to use? Also, has any one used cedar fencing and edge
glued to make 11'' width.

Thanks,
Jerry McDill

Guest · Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:32 am

It would work fine and you will need to have a jointer so you can dress he edges,use a good waterproof glue, another option would be the board and batt approach with a sealer under the batt.

dick

MingjoMartins · Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:07 am

Having had both a homemade T14 pole and now the 3 inch aluminum pole - hands down 3 inch aluminum beyond a doubt.

Yes it is pricey, but it won't warp, bend, twist, swell, etc.

Chriscreole · Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:24 am

I just picked up a T-14 house and T-14 3" aluminum pole with wench for $100 off Craigs list so there are deals out there. I'll be putting up a super system 24 with all Troyer Vertical gourds for next year. Leave my old S&K setup to the HOSP.

Emil Pampell-Tx · Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:34 am

Try to get a square pole. The house or gourd rack will twist and turn when you lower it if you have a round pole. On a square pole, you can lower it partly and not change the cavity orientation.

jmcdill · Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:25 am

Question, why are 4''x4'' wood treated post not used?

Jerry

rdhd · Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:27 am

jmcdill · Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:38 am

Thanks Randy, I received PM.

Jerry

flyin-lowe · Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:44 pm

Wood can twist over time affecting the ability to raise and lower the house. I myself have mine on a round pole and it doesn't twist unless it is less then half way down. When it is towards the top the cable sitting in the pulley will not allow it to spin on the pole. I have a 3 1/2 inch galvanized pole that is heavy enough that I don't have to lower it down below half way unless I am doing a nest check. If I had my choice between round and square I would have chosen round, but at the time a friend of mine who is a contractor sold me the pole for $60 (its 21 foot long). So it was a no brainer.
Assuming you are going to install it next spring I would shop around and check contractors etc. Sometimes you can find a bargain, current high metal prices make it harder to find good deals. The same pipe I bought 3 years ago for $2.85 a foot now cost $9.00 a foot for import steel and $12 a foot for US steel.
I am not sure what kind of wind my pole would withstand but I have seen it in 60-70 mph gust and it didn't move hardly at all. I think the only thing that would take it down is a tornado and if that hits it wont matter if you have it lowered or not.

Linda Reynolds · Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:02 pm

4"x 4" pieces of wood warp...............they are not good to use for a high poles. There are other options that the experts will tell you about..............

Guest · Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:10 pm

Last year we had a new electric service installed. They replaced one of the utility poles (wood) and asked me if I wanted the old one. I said certainly, even though I had no immediate use for it. Now I know what to do with it. I cut a 21 foot piece off the bottom. 3' in the ground and 18 above.

I have designed an aluminum contraption similar to a box kite. 4 rods on the top and bottom levels, 2 gourds on each end of each rod = 32 gourds.
I plan to cut a v-notch into the top of the 4 sides. These will winch up against some round rods going through the top of the pole. They should stabilize the contraption against wind.

Now I just have to find someone to help plant the pole.

Tim