Hello, New in Forum. & Pictures of my DIY Rack.

[Carrera Mike]

Hello all. Been lurking for more than a year reading, learning and getting ideas. I had a plastic S&K PM House for two years that successfully fledged youngens.

This year I got 16 BoNines and made my own rack. Made it on a round pole but notched the rack main tube to lock it into place to prevent twisting around with the wind.

Tunnels are on order and should be coming in next week.

Anyway, pls critique and suggestions welcome as Im learning all this as I go.

Thanks all!
Mike
Chesapeake, VA

[John Miller]

Looks great. Really does.

Add a good predator guard to the pole.

Welcome to the Forum.

John Miller

[Ed Pace]

Welcome Mike, your rack looks good. I like the way you offset the angles on the hub to balance the weight. Some of the people are inserting a short section of pvc in the hub for sliding. Do you think the wind will aventualy turn the u-bolts on the hub ? Good luck on your second year ,that's always a nervice one.
Ed

[AnnieM]

Mike, I only see one problem. Your shop is way too clean. We also had a plastic S&K house that we replaced with gourds after I learned from the Forum that it was not the best choice for our hot Central Texas summers. The Forum is a fantastic resource. So many folks with so much expertise and all willing to share and help each other. Good luck and the predator guard suggestion is a great one.

[Don~VA]

Hello Mike and Welcome to the forum. If you have been reading for a year I'm sure you already know you can find a wealth of information and answers here. That is a nice looking gourd rack you fabricated which I'm sure will serve you well for years to come. Depending on the number of pairs you have had in the past you may want to consider keeping that S&K up for this year as returning martins will be looking for it. Hopefully, you have room for that new gourd rack near by.

Best of Luck and its great to have another Virginian dedicated to the Purple Martins!

[Carrera Mike]

Ed, Annie,& Don,

Thanks! Appreciate the warm welcome! Thanks for the suggestions.
Yep those U-bolts have some teeth on their bracket to grab the pipe. Just got to tighten them good. Well see how they do in high winds. We do get high winds here all the time.

Im also planning to keep the old plastic S&K house, but on a new pole about 30 feet from its original position. The original pole will be taken by the gourds. You think last years tenants will look for the house in the same spot?

Don, There's another house here in my street about 2 miles down that has a lot of gourds. I have yet to meet the owner. I just see his numerous set up.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Welcome to the forum. That's a nice looking rack you have there.

[Phil Spitler]

Hello Mike I live in Chesapeake also if u have any questions feel free to ask I will help with anything I can I have been looking for other people in the area all my info is on the mentor page .

[Carrera Mike]

Hello Mike I live in Chesapeake also if u have any questions feel free to ask I will help with anything I can I have been looking for other people in the area all my info is on the mentor page .

Hi Phil! Thanks for the heads up. You dont happen to live by Carolina Rd do you?

[Carrera Mike]

Welcome to the forum. That's a nice looking rack you have there.

Thanks Ray!

[Phil Spitler]

I live in hickory off benefit rd

[Phil Spitler]

That's near head of river I think right mike

[Carrera Mike]

Yep Phil, I go through Benefit road when I go to our RC filed by Balahack rd. is your place on the left or right hand side if Im coming from Centerville Turnpike? I go though Benefit rd maybe every other month when I fly RC I think I noticed a couple of hanging gourds behind houses on my right hand side(coming from the east).

[Phil Spitler]

Benifett an bunch of walnuts is where I live I am glad u already have had martins if u need anything or questions u can call me 757-288-6585 i am a younger generation martiner but have been around them all my life an have a lot of knowledge with them so please don't hesatate to call or stop by you rack you made looks nice I'm glad to hear you have ordered tunnels to prevent owls and hawks from reaching in an grabbing a youngin between me and my neighbor last year there was at least 115 martins flying in the field behind our house what a sight many people would come and watch them come home .

[Patrick W. Dusek]

Welcome, that rack looks great!!! Glad you have the tunnels coming, I hope that all-thread will be okay on their feet.

Later, Patrick in Sugar Land, Tx.

[rrmartins]

Welcome to the forum.
Not too be Johnny Rain Cloud, but if I could say something about the design. I think you have a great idea and did a great job on it. All looks good except where the two pieces of angle cross each other. I would have turned the top angle so the flat side was facing the flat side of the bottom piece. This way you could have used stainless bolts and bolted them together and added A LOT of strength to it. The weight of the small bolts would be nothing and the structure would be firmed up, so the u-bolts don't have to worry about spinning on the pole.. I would then tighten all bolts VERY tight and use RED Locktite. I am not too sure about the all thread either, might cut them. I like wood better. Just my two cents.
I have a T14 that sits 17ft. in the air and I have got a 2" sch. 80 steel pipe in a steel socket concreted three feet deep. That wind will get her swaying but she bounces right back every time. Winds can do some amazing stuff.
Best of Luck this year. Hope you have a great 2014 season.

[Carrera Mike]

Welcome, that rack looks great!!! Glad you have the tunnels coming, I hope that all-thread will be okay on their feet.

Later, Patrick in Sugar Land, Tx.

Thanks for the pointers Patrick. I was thinking this would be good for grip for them I'll look for something smoother surfaced rods or natural bamboo stems..

[Carrera Mike]

Welcome to the forum.
Not too be Johnny Rain Cloud, but if I could say something about the design. I think you have a great idea and did a great job on it. All looks good except where the two pieces of angle cross each other. I would have turned the top angle so the flat side was facing the flat side of the bottom piece. This way you could have used stainless bolts and bolted them together and added A LOT of strength to it. The weight of the small bolts would be nothing and the structure would be firmed up, so the u-bolts don't have to worry about spinning on the pole.. I would then tighten all bolts VERY tight and use RED Locktite. I am not too sure about the all thread either, might cut them. I like wood better. Just my two cents.
I have a T14 that sits 17ft. in the air and I have got a 2" sch. 80 steel pipe in a steel socket concreted three feet deep. That wind will get her swaying but she bounces right back every time. Winds can do some amazing stuff.
Best of Luck this year. Hope you have a great 2014 season.

Thanks for the idea. that's a good one to have better integrity.
I might need to go for the bigger angle bars to make that happen, and here's a picture why... the U-bolt brackets are wider than the angles...
Im thinking these brackets are really stiffening the assembly.

[Carrera Mike]

Benifett an bunch of walnuts is where I live I am glad u already have had martins if u need anything or questions u can call me 757-288-6585 i am a younger generation martiner but have been around them all my life an have a lot of knowledge with them so please don't hesatate to call or stop by you rack you made looks nice I'm glad to hear you have ordered tunnels to prevent owls and hawks from reaching in an grabbing a youngin between me and my neighbor last year there was at least 115 martins flying in the field behind our house what a sight many people would come and watch them come home .

Thanks Phil. Got your no in my cel. appreciate looking out. Ill be out of town in the next couple of days , shld be back soon.

Ill post pictures of the tunnels... just got them today!

[Carrera Mike]

Just got the tunnels this afternoon! excited to install them onto the gourds!

They game with two gripped porch/floors. One porch for the outside (of course) and one for the inside for exiting.