Box Aluminum for pole

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  • March 12, 2015 at 8:29 am #85183
    LongViewFarm
    Participant

    I am getting back into the project of replacing the pole on my forecart. Ironically I was working to fix this pole when a different one broke in December.

    My aim is to have a metal sleeve type receiver for the pole. I have cut a wooden pole, but maybe i want a metal pole. I talked with a local fabricator about it and he recommended box aluminum for greater rigidity and reduced tongue weight. I think he recommended 2.5″OD box Aluminum with 5/16″ wall thickness to slide inside 3×3 box steel receiver, so that their is just enough play to remove the pole when needed, but no slop in use.

    Has anyone used an aluminum pole before? What are the benefits/ drawbacks? I have not seen many in use but I have seen a lot of bent and warped steel poles. I’m feeling less than wonderful about wooden pole right now- not entirely a logical thought.

    Thanks!

    March 12, 2015 at 10:15 am #85184
    Livewater Farm
    Participant

    I have an alumimum pole on my Lancaster 80 bushel manure spreader and love it light weight and strong spreader has auto steering can turn real tight with side stops on pole have not bent in my 8 years of use
    Bill

    March 12, 2015 at 12:06 pm #85185
    Does’ Leap
    Participant

    Aluminum seems like a great alternative to steel and wood. I have broken close to half a dozen wooden polls in the past 7 years or so. With the exception of one time which resulted in a wreck, breaking these polls was non-eventful (other than the hassle). I have been thinking of alternatives to wood ever since and have ruled out steel.

    Bill, what are the specs on your pole (wall thickness and overall dimensions)?

    George

    March 12, 2015 at 8:02 pm #85186
    Brad Johnson
    Participant

    George-
    What are you using for your poles? Hornbeam, round or squared is pretty bombproof and easy to come by…
    -Brad

    March 12, 2015 at 8:36 pm #85187
    Does’ Leap
    Participant

    “George-
    What are you using for your poles? Hornbeam, round or squared is pretty bombproof and easy to come by…”

    I use almost exclusively ash. I have a hardhack pole on my scoot. I have done some research on wood characteristics and suitability for poles and have even consulted an engineer at the University of Vermont. As you might have imagined, poles not only need to be strong, but flexible. Turns out, ash – above all other species – fits the bill perfectly (at least according to my research).

    I still manage to break ’em. Some of this is due to the fact that some of my equipment is not kept undercover and moisture, over time, will undermine strength. I have broken poles mowing, raking hay, moving blocked firewood in a wagon, and several poles on my logging arch.

    Aluminum seems like a good alternative!

    George

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Does' Leap.
    March 12, 2015 at 9:37 pm #85189
    Carl Russell
    Moderator

    This clearly is not one of those topics that one should make claims over. I would love to tell about how much use I have gotten out of wooden poles, but I would not want that to be definitive.

    I have used ash for bobsleds, 2×8 tapered down. I have used ironwood, and I haveeven used soft maple. I did have a steel pole that was bent, and I never tried to straighten it.

    One of the important things to remember about poles is to cross bolt at every point of pressure to prevent splitting. Also I think that the flexibility of ash is undermined by its clear split-ability. I have an ironwood pole on my Barden Cart that came on it in 1993. It has been in the barn for 97% of its life.

    I have an ash pole on my bobsled that is about 7 years old, painted.

    I guess aluminum would be good if I knew I could repair or rebuild it myself. Maintaining poles is just part of the business. I know that every year when I go to hook up my plow, or mower, things that I don’t have indoor space for, that I jump on the pole. If it is weak, I cut another stick and replace it.

    I’m interested to see what you come up with.

    Carl

    March 13, 2015 at 8:15 am #85193
    mlelgr
    Participant

    Before I start a huge storm of controversy let me say I know pole material is a matter of personal preference and everyone has their own. Wooden poles have been in use for centuries, they are relatively easy and inexpensive to make or buy and they flex rather than bend. I will also say that a broken pole is one of the fastest ways to end up in a wreck that results in injury or death of animal or driver/passenger with all but the most rock solid animals and sometimes even then. See post titled “Killed my first horse today”. For me I would rather replace a dozen bent metal poles than have one wooden one break. Just my $.02

    March 13, 2015 at 9:42 am #85194
    j_maki
    Participant

    I got a round aluminum pole on my forecart and it works great, personally I think round aluminum is perfect as it flexs a lot like the wood tongues but it is stronger than wood. My tongue is 2 7/8 dia with 1/4 wall and fits snugly in in 3 in inside dia pipe. My intentions were to use the tongue on mutiple implements but there were a few burrs on the inside of the receiver that I didn’t see and now the tongue is semi permenantly stuck in there. One day I will knock it out.

    As far as draw backs the only thing I don’t like is its noisy just like steel poles with a steel double tree.

    Jeremy

    March 16, 2015 at 10:39 am #85235
    Livewater Farm
    Participant

    George dug the pole out of the snow it is 3 inch tubing 1/4 inch thick 91/2 ft long

    back end where strap is is open neck yolk end boxed off
    pole attached to equipment with steel side straps this is the weak link a box receaver I think would work much better
    Bill

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