Material
- Boat mast (sentimental - re-purposed)
- Pole stirrup (long base)
- Gavanised bolts (x2)
- Enamal white paint
- Rope
- Flag
- Bag of rapid set concrete (or 2)
- Aluminium venetian blind track (or any strip/length of metal that will not rust)
** Warning: Children are unpredictable. Any backyard construction needs to be child proof. This pole needs to be set securely into the ground to take any punishment the children may dish out.
Pole Stirrup Mounting
- Dig a deep enough hole to take most of the pole of the stirrup.
- Dig two cross trenches to make like a + shape with the main hole at the centre
- Place the pole stirrup. Back fill a small amount of sand to hold the pole stirrup in place. Use a level to keep the stirrup level.
- Cut two lengths of the aluminium venitian blind runners (the longer the better, at least 100 cm) to run along inside each trench to form a + shape. The aluminium poles should not touch the main stirrup pole, but be close enough to be covered with ample concrete to become one block with the pole stirrup. These two aluminium bars will give the pole extra support.
- Pour in the dry concrete mix, compact the mix with a metal bar, then add water.
- Before raising the flagpole feed the rope through the boat mast feeder holes. If there are no feeder holes then add some appropriate brackets.
- Ensure the rope is tort but still will feed to allow the flag to be raised and lowered.
- This is a two person job.
- Paint the pole with white enamel paint.
- Hold the pole in place and ensure it is level.
- Add some packing around the sides or bottom of the stirrup if the pole ends up not being level.
- Drill the holes and fix the bolts.
- Attach the flag
Flag raising and lowering tradition says the flag should be raised with the sunrise and lowered just before sunset. I have to admit I do not do this. I figure it is better to at least have the flag up.
More Project Ideas
See the Cubby House ("The Castle") project for where the flagpole has been installed.
