T-14 PM House on 3" Aluminum pole?

[Shoehorn]

Does anyone have experience using a 3" aluminum pole to mount a wooden T-14 PM house. I have a 3" alum pole with gourds and it seems like it's pretty stable. But as I build this T-14 I'm questioning whether the aluminum pole will support it, especially in the wind. I'm using Western Red Cedar wood, which is about as light as wood gets, but there's a lot of it when it's put together. I wouldn't be surprised to see it weighing 75 lbs or more when finished. What do you think?

[rrmartins]

I don't have experience on the square pole, sure you'll get a lot of responses. I went off, Chuck's Purple site and did the round pole. I live in Central Texas, and we get some severe storms. We just had 60mph winds, blowing fences and trees down all around us. I used a 2" schedule 80 pipe on mine and it has taking a beating. After seven years, it's still straight and has never needed to be removed from the ground socket for maintenance. It's a very easy to set up, and the design is simple. Good luck

[Berndog]

I TO HAVE A T-14 AS ONE OF MY SET-UP'S ON THE 3IN SQ POLE I PURCHASED FROM THE PMCA,IT IS SOLID AS A ROCK,NO ISSUES.I USED APPRROX 3 80 LB BAG'S SACRETE.I BUILT MY T-14 OUT OF WESTERN RED CEDAR ALSO.

[williamn]

I live in tenn. Where do you purchase western red cedar boards ?

[Shoehorn]

Sorry to be so late responding, I was out. Thanks for the responses.

I bought WRC lumber at the local lumber company that supplies contractors. It's fairly common lumber used for siding in houses. It has one smooth side and one rough. I put the rough side out and will paint it.

Thanks for the info on the 3" inch square alum pole. I'd like to check out the schedule 80. Where do I find that, please?

[rrmartins]

Any big plumbing supply house will have sch. 80 steel pipe. It's 21ft. I put it in a 3ft. ground sleeve with a bolt running through the socket and pipe to keep it from spinning. Good luck.

[rrmartins]

Any big plumbing supply house will have 2", sch. 80 steel pipe. It's 21ft. I put it in a 3ft. ground sleeve with a bolt running through the socket and pipe to keep it from spinning. Good luck.

PS
They might ask you is its plain end or gas pipe. It's the plain end that you want.

[Shoehorn]

Thanks so much. I've been doing further research and I'm inclined to agree with the schedule 80 pipe. I'm just almost afraid the alum pole is too light weight.

[rrmartins]

It's a very easy, solid setup. I will tell you one thing though. Not sure how much a house on a square pole will twist back and forth in the wind, when you lower it some in bad weather. The higher the T14 is up the pole, the less it spins in the wind, so when lowered to 8ft in bad weather, it twist back and forth in strong wind. I made a little wood wedge to put between the frame and the pole on the bottom to keep it from spinning. This may not be a issue on a square pole. Good luck.

[Ryan]

I put this 12 unit house on a 3" square aluminum pole and it's very solid. Even though it's a different housing style, it's Probably close to the same weight as your housing.


https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... 57#p247057

[Ryan]

I put this 12 unit house on a 3" square aluminum pole and it's very solid. Even though it's a different housing style, it's Probably close to the same weight as your housing.

https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... 57#p247057

[Shoehorn]

Ryan, wow, love the set-up. Maybe I'll rethink the alum. Your set-up will surely equal the T-14 in weight. Thanks for the tip and the pics.

[wyatt]

I vote for the 3" aluminum square pole. Easier to set up and solid in the Florida wind. Also no worries about it spinning in the wind if you decide to lower it for a storm.