T-14 on a 4x4 post. Safe?

[neckbone]

I just finished my T14 build and raised it for the first time.
Using 4x4 post 15' high is a little unstable.
It is set in concrete. But the wind has the pole flexing a good deal.
Fresh pressure traded is soaking wet throughout which makes it less rigid.
Hopefully drying will help.
Are t14's normally mounted on 4x4's?

[rrmartins]

That post will warp as it drys out, not sure it it would ever break or not. I have mine on a 2" schedule 80 pipe. She gets to rocking but has never bent. Good luck.

[Matt F.]

Hi Neckbone, and welcome to the forum!
Check out this thread:
https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... hp?t=14928
Lots of great info about T-14 wooden poles used by some others.

[mulebarn]

I just finished my T14 build and raised it for the first time.
Using 4x4 post 15' high is a little unstable.
It is set in concrete. But the wind has the pole flexing a good deal.
Fresh pressure traded is soaking wet throughout which makes it less rigid.
Hopefully drying will help.
Are t14's normally mounted on 4x4's?

Welcome to the forum Neckbone!

You will for likely want to add some 2x4's around the post as stiffeners and up about half way. 15 feet is really up there! My pole is at 11 ft. to the bottom of the house. You can even add metal bands to increase stiffness. I just erected my wood house and it is likely even heavier than the T14! My post is down in the ground about 40" along with two 50lb bags of cement. The pole had a few weeks to set solid before we pushed the pole up from a heavy duty hinge at the 3 ft. pivot location. Today I built a wood box at ground level and added another 100lbs of cement (I have wood piled on the cement in the below picture to keep the rains off while it cures). We get high winds here and the house barely swayed during 40mph winds and the base was rock solid. As for compartment checks, I have a very tall step ladder and I also will construct steps on the back of a utility buggy that I use on the property. No need for winching up and down if I can just pull up on the buggy, take some steps up and inspect. I have had a lot of experience with treated wood and I have found it pretty rare to have 4x4 warp that has been properly treated and dried. Good Luck and see my pictures below! Regards, John

The house under construction


The pole/house up with 4 Troyer vertical gourds


2x4 stiffeners along the base to stiffen the pole and pole base connection. Concrete base added today and wood pile on the base only temporary during cure.


Heavy duty hinge used to tilt up the pole/house

[JudyA]

neckbone,
T-14s are not usually mounted on 4x4s. For our T-14, we used the laminated post in Andrew Troyer's T-14 plan (two 6x2 with 6x1 in the middle). We made it a 16' post above ground and mounted it in a ground socket (pivoting) so that we could lower the post in the future. My husband and I were able to raise the post by ourselves!!! It is rock solid! I primed and painted both the post and the ground socket and it turned out beautiful. I think you need to shore up the pole.

Matt,
I love your house! Thanks for posting pictures! I am always looking for inspiration on our next additions!
- Judy

[Matt F.]

Matt,
I love your house! Thanks for posting pictures! I am always looking for inspiration on our next additions!

I wish I could take credit for that house - it is gorgeous!
That's actually John's awesome 16-room house (forum member "Mulebarn")

[Rusty Axle]

I went through the pile at Lowe's until I found one that was reasonably straight. My treated 4x4 did twist slightly after drying.

No issue so far with post supporting the house, a 32 holer which weighs about a hundred pounds. It does sway a bit in the wind, but not that much and I really have no concern about the post snapping. Haven't had a hurricane force wind though, which we get occasionally in Houston. I'll lower it for those.

[neckbone]

Great ideas folks.
For now I think it will be a "watch and see" deal.
The post still being wet, sways a touch in the wind. We just finished 4 days of high winds and all is well.
I actually pivot raised the post in high wind. There was a "hurry up moment" to locate the second pin as I could hear the next gust of wind coming like a freight train.
On the second day up, I spotted a female PM sitting on the house. Encouraging. There were other species of birds doping around, but was nice to see at least one PM.
Here are a couple pics;

[barry resvick]

Hey neckbone,
I'm building one this summer and iv heard that a lot of people are using two treated 2x6 with a treated 2x4 sandwiched in between. This gives a sturdy pole that won't warp on you

[barry resvick]

Hey neckbone,
I'm building one this summer and iv heard that a lot of people are using two treated 2x6 with a treated 2x4 sandwiched in between. This gives a sturdy pole that won't warp on you. The groove left on each side is where your cable runs

[Matt F.]

Neckbone,
That is a beautiful T-14!
Great work!

[JudyA]

Neckbone,
You have built an amazing house!
I can't imagine that pole will fail you too soon, and you can keep watch and replace in the future if needed! Good luck!
- Judy

[RJM]

I have a T-14 on a 3x3 aluminum post. Super strong, no warping, and holds up to wind

[neckbone]

I have a T-14 on a 3x3 aluminum post. Super strong, no warping, and holds up to wind

I have heard that before. Where did you find your post and how long is it?
Thanks, Ron