T-14 Post and Groundstake Question

daveh · Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:17 am

I'm using the standard wooden laminated post that's in the plan book for the T-14 and I'm using a wooden post set in concrete for my ground stake. My ground stake is a little soft at ground level so I'm thinking of replacing it with 2, 6 inch wide flat irons, each 5 ft. long and 1/4 inch thick. 30 inches would be in the ground set in concrete. The other 30 inches above ground and my T-14 post in between the flat irons and attached with 3, 1/2 inch all threads and nuts. Do you people think that is sufficient to hold the post and T-14? My T-14 is about 100 lbs plus 4 plastic gourds under it on the 16 ft post.

Has anybody checked steel prices lately? It's really getting crazy!

Dave

Guest · Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:53 am

It could be a little iffy if using flat strap or plate,I assume that is what you are calling flat iron,this might just twist in a hi wind,,,,,,,I would use a 3x3x3/8 angle iron and not look back 4inch would even be better. If you weld it up as a unit with a flat strap top and bottom the pole can be raised by using one of your bolts as a pivot point,the top strap would keep the pole from going over so it can easily be raised by one person.

dick

daveh · Mon Aug 29, 2011 11:56 am

Dick, what about using 2, 3 inch square tubes 5 ft long, and half in concrete in the ground? Would that be ok to secure the 3 3/4x5 1/2 T-14 post? Would it twist in the wind and I have lots of wind?

Dave

Guest · Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:26 pm

I am not a Structural Engr so hesitate to say yea or nay on the sq tubing............but it probably would hold it.

dick

Robbo · Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:20 am

Hi Dave,
I have the same set up as you, 2 - T-14's and 4 gourds underneath. I built 2 laminated poles also using Troyer's book. I have them attached to a 6 foot 4x6 pressure treated post cemented 3 feet into the ground with 3 feet sticking up. Iam using 2 - 1/2" carriage bolts to secure the poles together. I have had these ground stakes for about 6-8 years now and I doubt I will ever be able to move them, SOLID! I have found that one of the laminated poles however has warped after one year

. Iam now on the search to find Square Aluminum tubing locally to replace the warped pole and will purchase a conversion kit from the PMCA. Iam hoping to find a supplier as I want a one piece pole. Dave, Ihope this helps, I see no need for additional support for the ground stake as of what I am using.
Rob

~Ray~Gingerich · Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:35 pm

I have my laminated post installed directly into the ground, no ground socket or concrete, I did add an extra 3/4 treated board on each side of the post to make the buried part thicker if I remember right its in the ground about 45"or so, I kept the hole as tight as possible and packed the dirt tight around it, the post has been in the ground over 14 years and never had a problem with it. Back then I didn't have a tractor with a bucket so I had to set the heavy 20ft post on a barrel to get it tipped into the hole.

daveh · Sun Sep 04, 2011 3:26 pm

Ray and Rob, I like to tilt my laminated post over for maintenance like painting or replacing perches or perch cap and checking the pulley. I can't hardly get on a ladder any more without getting dizzy so I like staying on the ground. I like my laminated post. It has not warped in 5 years of use, and I'm going to laminate a new post for Buskas North Star House project this winter, 2, 2x4's and 1, 1x4 glued and screwed. I'll have to plane about a 1/4 inch off the 1x4 to make the post the proper 3 1/2 x 3 1/2. I looked at the 4x4 posts at several lumber yards and wouldn't give you a wooden nickel for any of them, all warped and as they dry, they're going to warp even more. The laminate post works for me. If I could find a decent price on square tubing I might go that route but haven't found any yet.
Dave

Robbo · Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:35 am

Hi Dave,
I also have used 4x4 posts in the past and I also found that they warped in a couple of years. Dave, you say you like to tilt the pole down for maintainance, are you not using a winch?
I really was hoping that my laminated pole would not warp

. I must have not followed the directions?
Rob.

daveh · Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:51 am

Rob, all of my houses have winches. I tilt my T-14 post down before or after the martin season for closer inspection. If I need to do anything to the post that's when I do it.

My T-14 post is as straight today as it was when I built it 5 years ago.

Dave

j arnett · Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:58 pm

HI every one
i found out the hard way and my post worped bad. make sure the laminater edge faces the direction the whether and wind comes out of and it will do much better. i live in pennsylvania and we get all kind of weather so i went to 3 inch square tubing 12 ft high and put a flat plate on the bottom with holes in the corners and put allthread in concrete in the ground and put a nut on bottom and top to adjust it any way you wont to keep the pole straight. i used 3/16 thick tubing and it was ok to put up. you got to fab the pully intop and aluimn pearch rods on top.
good luck joe arnett

daveh · Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:05 am

Joe, I think the instructions say to face the sandwiched side to the south so the sun would hit that instead of the flat side. That's what I did. I also dried my boards in the garage for several months before putting it together, used clamps, lots of screws, lots of Gorilla glue and it looks as straight now as when I built it.
dave