Flag Poles

[Steve Pyro]

If there's enough potential (volts), the lightning will travel through anything - including trees (the sap) and flagpoles.

Always keep one hand in your pocket  

[jpchenet]

Always keep one hand in your pocket  

Is it true then that you are safe if you are touching rubber  

[Steve Pyro]

As long as you're not touching cloth.

[DelBoy]

Try these two ebay shops

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Skyblue-Leisure_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/KITES-AND-WINDSOCKS-OF-CORNWALL_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm

Doesn't say if they're lightning-proof though

DB

[Brian(Liverpool boys)]

  2 New 5 Metre Telescopic Glass Fishing Poles £0.99
 -   11h 50m
Some still on e bay. Ours arrived this morning great value and will do what we want them for.
Would not take a full sized flag as end taper is very thin.

[jpchenet]

1 x 5m and 1 x 8m for £6.99 from the same vendor.

Won two sets! Should be collecting them at the weekend on route to relatives.

[Mr Toad]

Any tips on anchoring them to/in the ground? Also are they telescopic, or are they lengths that connect together?

My 9m pole has gone straight to the Beermountain warehouse, so I won't see it until MB in June!

Thanks Mr T

[jpchenet]

They are telescopic. We'll be securing ours to the legs of the gazebo.

[skorpio]

 What you need is one of those metal poles they use for putting tape etc around things at roadside etc,  councils use them a lot, straight "rod" about 1metre long with a loop at the top, (think about it and you'll see what I mean   ) now cut the loop off, put a piece of rubber pipe [tight fit] over the top {this protects the inside of the flag pole} and  sharpen the point up a bit, there you have the "anchor" hammer it in the ground and slide the flag pole over the top.  
   Ours has withstood some very high winds like that with no further anchoage required.

[Mr Toad]

Thanks - got it - we carry those things in our stores for the orange fence if the pikeys are closing in. I'll cut the top off one (some sort of industrial welding lance?) and there you have it - the perfect lightining conductor extension!

[Ron Jeremy]

if you can, visit a building site preferably civils site and get some lengths of reinforcement bar.

There is usually large amounts knocking about as off cuts

 

[Robbo SPS]

Or get a small amount of scaffold pole !!

[Mr Toad]

Good thinking Robbo - I'll see if I can "borrow" a piece from one of the trackside towers - hope I don't take one of the vital supporting bits!

[smokie]

Good thinking Robbo - I'll see if I can "borrow" a piece from one of the trackside towers - hope I don't take one of the vital supporting bits!

Last year a french bloke between us and the track had a marvellous erection (phnarr phnarr) which he built on Tuesday and didn't return to until the weekend. I'm sure he wouldn't miss some bits...