Flag Poles

[lunarpowered]

I was looking into getting three flag poles with one of them being slightly larger than the other two; however, I was shocked to find out the prices on them.

Question 1: Do flags need to be taken down on windy/stormy days to keep from bending the flag pole?

Question 2: Where is the best place to purchase flag poles from?

[Mike.357]

Harbor Freight sells flagpoles. mine is a 16 foot model, IIRC is was 30 bucks or so, even came with a genuine American flag. I think now that have a 20 foot model.

I know according to flag flying rules that flags need to some down at night unless illuminated and should not be flown in stormy rainy weather. I fly mine 24-7-365. I carry patriotism only so far, LOL. When it gets dingy or tattered I do change it out for a new one. But I have never had any problems flying it in the weather we get, the pole is a straight as the day I set it.

[lunarpowered]

Mike, 24-7-365 & replacement at discoloration or tears is exactly what I'm wanting to do, so I am definitely going to check out Harbor Freight. Thank you!

[R1100R]

The Flag does best to come down in stormy/ windy weather. There is a special flag called a storm flag that is flown is bad weather on post.

I take mine down. My pole was from Harbour Freight and has held up well. It got a slight bend in bad weather and I just rotate the pole and it straightens it self out.

[Mike.357]

We have had bad weather here often enough in the 7 years the pole has been in the ground and never a problem. I do buy inexpensive nylon flags that even sopping wet do not weigh much. I had a real nice stitched nylon flag, the stripes were all stitched and the stars were too, it did not hold up any better than the cheapo ones.

Anyway I change out the flags about twice a year or maybe three times in two years, just depends.

Lunar I neglected to mention the poles are telescoping, no ropes to break or keep tied down.

[dou44]

never saw one like that.the ropes can be a pain sometime

[bajabuc]

I've been trying to find a battleship or carrier battle flag. A friend used to work for a school supply warehouse and found one on the shelf. Disposing of old and unsaleable stock was one of his jobs. The flag had been there since the end of WW2. They told him to dispose of it...he took it home. It was huge! I have since seen a Tipi made from two Flags and I want to do the same. Any help out there?

Edited May 29, 2011 by bajabuc
eh

[Mike.357]

I just stick to 3X5 foot flags, we have a huge one that flew over the white house but I have never unfurled it.

[Guest J.D. Skull]

Is it one of B Ocarters flags.

[lunarpowered]

Mike and R1100R, Most of the Harbor Freight reviews on the telescoping flag pole state that after 6 months of being outside the flag pole no longer telescopes. Have either of you had this experience or have you done anything to prevent it like using oil?

[R1100R]

Mike and R1100R, Most of the Harbor Freight reviews on the telescoping flag pole state that after 6 months of being outside the flag pole no longer telescopes. Have either of you had this experience or have you done anything to prevent it like using oil?

The one I have doesn't telescope. It came in three sections. It uses the rope and pulley system.

[Mike.357]

mine is 7 years old and still works like new. The telescoping has gotten sticky before and I needed another person to help get it free. I did not have enough strenght to twist it by myself.

We got it free easily enough. I put is litte remoil on it and it has been fine ever since fine. I am guessing if I went out periodically and lowered the pole it would have never gotten sticky at all.

Even if it sticks the pole is easily removed from the base and you can still change out the flag.

[lunarpowered]

Even if it sticks the pole is easily removed from the base and you can still change out the flag.

Sweet, looks like that is the one I'm getting then. Thanks again!

[Mike.357]

You cement the base down, the four section telescoping 16 foot pole slides down into it.

Seriously, if you take it down once a month it should never lock up on you. I let it sit for 6 months maybe longer. Had to have a friend hold it while I twisted. Then it came free.

A real good deal imho for the price.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The foul weather flag is no different than a standard flag other than a smaller size. The materials used to make them are the same.

An interesting flag story. I was stationed as White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. We would have to put up and take down the flag every day. Along with that was a salute fired from a 105 howitzer blank. Anyways, during the ceremony when we take it down we would have designated jobs and one of them was to grab the lowest part to keep it from touching the ground. This particualr day the wind was blowing very hard which it always did during the spring months. Probably 40 MPH constant and 65 MPH gusts. As we were lowering the flag the desingated guy grabbed the corner of the flag as it was lowered. He got a good handle on it when a gust came up. It lifted him at least 20 feet into the air before he let go. He fell and sprained and ankle but was no worst for wear. Prior to that and after that we never saw anyone fly as high as that kid.

Another part of the ceremony was to check the bore of the cannon. The reason? People would put all kinds of stuff in the barrel. Over the years there have been bags of flour, confetti as well as all kinds of other food items. The worst one was when someone forced a roll of toilet paper down the bore then added a countless number of golf balls on top like a giant sized shotgun. I wasn't working that day but I was told some of the golf balls flew over a 1/4 mile and damaged dozens of cars in a parking lot. After that happened they went from using the 105mm blank to having a case machined to accept a 12 gauge blank. With the 12 gauge there was no risk of golf balls flying like before although it would cover us in flour or we would have to pick up confetti if we didn't catch those items before hand.

Dolomite

[R1100R]

Dolomite, that story is too true. At Ft Jackson it was a 10 Gauge insert. They also had a larger one for retreats I believe was 20 MM for the salutes.

I was on the color guard there. It was mandatory when you were in Drill Sergeant School. The retreat was on Friday afternoons. We had to check the bore

also. That was almost thirty years ago. I was at Ft Jackson recently and it is still the tradition.