I need to extend a flag pole that's at the front of our house. It's a 6' pole with a 3x5' flag. It's mounted on the side of the house and the flag is pointing at a 45 deg angle or so (the typical angled flag setup).. the flag winds up getting blown onto the roof that overhangs that part of the house. For years I had an 8' closet rod that I made into a flagpole here and it worked fine. Wound up wanting to do it 'right'. and getting a flagpole that has a rotating upper portion so the flag doens't get wrapped around the pole. But its too short / the flag gets on the roof.

Trying to extend it,I found that a 1/2" PVC pole fits into the bottom of the flagpole (hollow aluminium tube.

Home depot has 2' pieces of sched 40 PVC 1/2" that are precut and they are nice and ridgid. but their 10' pieces seem more flimsy. Yes, over 10', there's going to be more bend. but just handling the 2 different ones (the longer pieces have black printing and the small ones have orange. Likely differnt vendors. they don't cut them at the store.

Does that sound right? Different company's sched 40 can be more / less flexible than another brand?

I'm thinking how to stiffen the longer piece (I need about 5 ' long so the 2' won't work on its own) - 2' sticking out and 3' going into the existing pole (its a 2 part pole so the PVC would hit the connection of the 2 parts.).

I thought of rebar, but that's heavy. the aluminium mounting bracket is made for the 6' pole. I';m lengthening it AND making it that much more heavy if I go with rebar.

Any ideas? Thin inexpensive tubing? something else?

THANKS!

 

As far as I know, schedule 40 PVC is the same regardless of the manufacturer. At least in terms of composition, size, and strength. While there may be very minor differences between vendors, I can't imagine it would be noticeable.

It looks like 3/4" EMT has about the same ID (0.824") as 1/2" PVC (0.802"). I'd give that a try.

I guess you could put a piece of rebar or smaller metal pipe inside it to stiffen the PVC. But I'd try another type of pipe that doesn't need stiffening.

 

Why not try electrical conduit? Might be stronger if it's the right size.

 

They do make 1/2" PVC in schedule 80.
That would be the same outer diameter as schedule 40 but the wall thickness is increased.

 

schedule 80!? Is that hard to find?

The 1/2" PVC OD fits inside the aluminum tubing of the flagpole,

zorfdt - were you thinking the other way around? That why you mentioned OD?

The flagpole is white so I was hoping for something white. and doesn't rust. But I'll check EMT for diameter, weight and cost. Along with sched 80 at a plumbing supply house (if they are open here in NJ. Liquor is essential here. How about plumbing!)

 

The upper limit on costs would be $20 - the cost of another flag pole. I could use 1 of those poles instead. And have spare parts.

 

Dont use PVC pipe, PVC has never been a structural material and with time it's going to deform or break (it is brittle), especially with a flag pulling on it with the wind.

Ever see a flag pole made out of plastic? Eventually your going to be right back to having to replace!

You want something light weight and strong and flexible, that is why they used aluminum!

 

1/2" Aluminum conduit should have the same dimensions as 1/2" PVC pipe..

 

aluminum conduit? Sorry, my life is only at Home Depot. Is that something they'd have or have to go to electrical supply house? And it'd be under $15 or so for a piece at least 5' long?

 

I seriously doubt a big box store would sell aluminum conduit, but any supply house should stock it. 1/2" Galvanized Rigid Conduit would also have the same dimensions as 1/2" PVC conduit and the box stores do sell it.