First of all--- Is it acceptable to fly 2 other flags on the same pole below the US flag? (USMC and State of Texas flags flown below US flag.)

I have several 20' long joints of 2" dia oifield production string pipe, one of which, I would like to turn into a permanent flagpole. My 2 plans:

#1:
A. Insert a joint of 1 1/4 galvanized pipe inside the 2" pipe to give added strength.
B. I have a block of concrete 32" cube, with a piece of 4" pipe extending 24" out of it. Weighs approx 1500 lbs--my backhoe will handle it, but barely. I want to bury this in the ground, with the 4" a few inches above top of ground. Swage down the 4" to accept the 2" pipe.
C. Rig hoisting hardware and rope on the 2" pipe.
D. Insert the 2" (with 1 1/4" pipe inside it) into the 4" pipe that is embedded ithe the concrete cube.

Plan #2:

1. Cut a 6' long piece of 2' heavy wall pipe.
2. Slot one end with torch and hammer in to a point and weld the slots.
3. Drive 6 feet of the 2" dia heavy wall pipe into the ground, leaving 1 foot etending above ground.
4. Make up hoisting hardware on to a 20' joint of 1 1/4" galvanized pipe.
5. Insert the 20' joint of galvanized 1 1/4 dia into the 6' long driven pipe.

Thoughts?

Don.

I would go with Idea number one but place the pole down into the ground and fill with sand around the pole. (you want 2 feet of the pole below ground). Pack the sand around the pole tight a seal it shut (I actually used car undercoating to seal mine. You need the sand to allow some movement of the pole otherwise it will start to bend.

The way I did mine was I bought a 6 inch I.D. pipe in a 2 foot length (thin walled galvanized0 and dug the hole 2 feet deep by 8-10 inches around. Leveled the pipe and concreated around it. I then let that dry then placed my pole into the center leveled it and packed the sand around it and sealed it.
Nothing moves my Flag pole and it has been standing for 2 years through 45 to 50 MPH winds on one occasion. Now to let you know my pole was 22 feet long before I started so I still have a full 20 feet above ground. This is what the flag pole guy who put the pole on base told me to do so I figured he knew what he was talking about.

Yes it is permissable to fly two flags on the pole at the same time. I do it all the time. The only time I take the second flag off is when the U.S. Flag flys at half mast just because the second flag will be pretty low.

Hope this helps

Shelby

[This message has been edited by ARFiero (edited 06-08-2009).]

I wish to fly 3 flags--not just 2.
US--USMC-Texas.

Thanks for the reply--I will study what you did.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: I wish to fly 3 flags--not just 2. US--USMC-Texas. Thanks for the reply--I will study what you did.

Why not just put up 3 flag poles of 3 different heights? IMO, it'd look a lot cleaner and a more "professional" look.

You can fly three as well but remember the more flags you put on the sturdier (is that a word?) the pole needs to be the flags are what will bring it down in heavy winds if it is going to come down.

You can google it too. When the man told me about it I couldn't remember all that he said so I did a search and came up with this site. It shows you in a picture what I did and gives detailed instructions. http://www.coastalflag.com/...ial_Installation.htm

Shelby

quote Originally posted by aceman: IMO, it'd look a lot cleaner and a more "professional" look.

Considered it, and yes it would look better--but to be honest, it's doubtful anyone other than a very few visitors would ever see it. I have a very secluded rural location.

quote Why not just put up 3 flag poles of 3 different heights?

Room constraint for one thing. I've gone to a lot of trouble to make sure there is NOTHING that could fall on my house, yard fence, or my powerline. And, whatever I put up, has to be able to be taken down fairly easily--which is why I discounted using a Gaff designed pole. Hurricane season is here, and I have no windbreak at all on 3 sides--open pasture all around the yard.

Shelby--what are you using for a rope? Cotton, cable, or nylon?

Don I am using a Nylon braided rope. I bought it at Home Depot as well as the clips to attach the flag. I bought brass clips just so they wouldn't rust.

Shelby

I have a mounting concept that might work for you. I helped my Dad do a similar sized flagpole installation at my church.

We sank pieces of angle iron into cement to anchor the pole. The top down view looked like this _IOI_ With the "O" being the flagpole. The angle iron stuck above the ground about 2 feet. We attached the angle iron to the flagpole using two heavy bolts, one near the top of angle iron, and one near the base. The flagpole (pipe) did not stick into the ground. This makes re-painting it, or fixing the top pulley very easy.

You simply remove the bottom bolt and the flagpole pivots around the top bolt, and you can lower it to a sawhorse, etc, to do painting etc.

In regards to your flag ordering, it should be (from top to bottom) US, TX, USMC.

From the Texas Flag Code:
Sec. 3100.054. DISPLAY ON FLAGPOLE OR FLAGSTAFF WITH OTHER FLAG: IN GENERAL. A flag or pennant, other than the flag of the United States, displayed with the state flag:

(1) should not be above the state flag; or

(2) if the other flag or pennant is at the same height as the state flag, should not be, from the perspective of an observer, to the left of the state flag.

Sec. 3100.056. DISPLAY ON FLAGPOLE OR FLAGSTAFF WITH FLAGS OF MUNICIPALITIES, LOCALITIES, OR ORGANIZATIONS. (a) If the state flag is displayed on a flagpole or flagstaff with a group of flags or pennants of municipalities, localities, or organizations that are displayed on flagpoles or flagstaffs, the state flag should be at the center and at the highest point of the group.

(b) If the state flag is displayed on the same halyard as a flag or pennant of a municipality, locality, or organization, the state flag should be at the peak.

Hope it goes well.

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quote Originally posted by maryjane: Thoughts?

Burying your concrete block while okay, would be much more of a task than I would take on. Even with a backhoe. To get it level, to keep it from settling/shifting, ..... nothing worse than a crocked flag pole. By the way, what kind of ground are we talking about? I am thinking pour fresh cement in a hole (with a pole) and let it set.
Also, production tubing is pretty flexible. Even the 3 1/2" drill pipe I have drilled with has a lot of flex. Used to drill horizontal wells. I did see that you wanted to strengthen it with core pipe but how high are you looking at for a finished product ?

quote Originally posted by ARFiero: (you want 2 feet of the pole below ground).

I don't think that is right, pretty sure it is not.

[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 06-08-2009).]

quote Originally posted by cliffw: I don't think that is right, pretty sure it is not.

Flexible yes, but it tends to spring back. The tubing I mean.
2 ft in the ground wouldn't last a day--too much rain here.

Doesn't matter what the Texas code says--EGA is going right below the Stars and Stripes on my flag pole.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 06-08-2009).]

quote Originally posted by ARFiero: You can fly three as well but remember the more flags you put on the sturdier (is that a word?) the pole needs to be the flags are what will bring it down in heavy winds if it is going to come down. You can google it too. When the man told me about it I couldn't remember all that he said so I did a search and came up with this site. It shows you in a picture what I did and gives detailed instructions. http://www.coastalflag.com/...ial_Installation.htm Shelby

Read it all. Interesting and sounds like a sound plan, but lots of work and expense for such a piddly little flag and pole.
http://myrtlebeachflag.com/Instal85.jpg

Hey...how did you get a picture of my yard???? LOL

Cliff the biggest reason you don't want to set the pole into concrete is that it will not be flexible under windy conditions (bend and break) and also that the rock to metal (thin walled aluminum in my case) will tear it because the concrete won't stick to the pole and will allow it to rub the concrete.

Shelby

[This message has been edited by ARFiero (edited 06-09-2009).]

" Insert a joint of 1 1/4 galvanized pipe inside the 2" pipe to give added strength."

3x5 or 4x6 flag? 20' pole?

Doesn't need it. Unless maybe build code. Or real heavy flag.

My pole:
2" to connector to 1.5" iron pipes. 20' 17' (I check.)
how old? no idea. many years.


Buy one or look...

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.homedepot.com/
etc...

search flag

What do people use for rope? I need rope. UV kill plastic. Rot kill cotton. I don't want to put rope every year or two.

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(Jurassic Park)

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[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 06-09-2009).]