Make a Flagpole
You can learn how to make a flagpole instead of buying an expensive one. Making a flagpole takes minimal skill and is an inexpensive alternative to purchasing one. Children and adults alike can participate in this activity, as building a flagpole is a very hands-on activity. After gathering all the tools and supplies for this project, your flagpole can be constructed in less than 1 hour.
Steps
- Gather all the supplies and tools you will need to build a flagpole. You can locate most items at a hardware store if you don't already have them around the house.
- Use a tape measure, and determine the bucket's height. This is the distance on your PVC pipe that will go down into your bucket. Mark this distance with a magic marker on the PVC pipe. Wrap the marked area of the PVC pole around a few times with plastic wrap, and secure it with packing tape. Completely cover the plastic wrap with petroleum jelly.
- Mix up the cement by following the directions on the packaging. Make sure to use a separate container and not the bucket. Pour approximately 2 inches (5 cm) of freshly mixed cement into the bucket, and let it rest for a few minutes. This is quick-dry cement, so be sure you are immediately ready to use it when you mix it up.
- Put the pole into the bucket with the wrapped-side facing downward into the cement. Use a level to assure straight insertion. Your flagpole is unlikely to be straight if you don't use a level.
- Ask someone to hold the pole up for you while you pour cement evenly into the bucket around the pole. Avoid filling up the bucket the entire way because this can make it too heavy to move. Hold the pole in place for a few minutes. The cement dries quickly, so you will not be required to hold it for very long. Ask your helper to monitor the state of the cement. When the cement feels hard to the touch, you can stop holding the pole.
- Allow the bucket and pole to completely dry overnight to strengthen the cement.
- Remove the pole from the bucket, and take off the plastic wrap. The pole will now be able to move in and out of the bucket freely.
- Use a tape measure to find the halfway point on the pole so you can attach the rope cleat at that halfway point. Use the level and a marker to mark your place on the pole. Use the screws supplied with the kit to secure the rope cleat. You can drill small holes for the screws first if you desire.
- Cut a scrap piece of 2-by-4-inch (5-by-10 cm) wood to fit inside the PVC pipe. Screw it into place inside the pipe at the top.
- Attach a pulley to the top of the flagpole on the outside where the wood is located. Screw the pulley into the wood with an eye hook.
- Pull the rope through the pulley. Attach the flag hooks to the rope and secure your flag to the hooks.
Tips
- Make sure to use petroleum jelly to cover the entire surface of the plastic wrap so that the PVC pipe and plastic wrap don't get stuck in the cement.
- If you don't have a rope, a thick string will work as well.
- If you can't find an 8-foot (2.4 m) piece of PVC pipe, you can obtain 2 smaller pieces and glue them together with PVC cement and a 1-inch (2.54 cm) PVC connector piece.
Warnings
- Do not leave your flagpole outside during storms or high winds, as the flagpole could injure someone or get damaged. Since this flagpole design is portable, it can easily be taken inside.
Things You'll Need
- 5-gallon (19 L) or larger bucket
- 8-foot (2.4 m) or longer piece of PVC pipe
- 2-by-4-inch (5-by-10-cm) piece of wood
- PVC cement (optional)
- 1-inch (2.54-cm) PVC connector piece (optional)
- Tape measure
- Magic marker
- Quick-set cement
- Container
- Petroleum jelly
- Plastic wrap
- Packing tape
- Drill (optional)
- Screwdriver
- Level
- Rope cleat
- Simple pulley
- Clasps/hooks for the flag grommets
- Rope
- Heavy-duty eye screws
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