Easton
Aluminum 7075-79 tent tubing. It is available in 3 different diameters (.340"
and .433" and .625- outside diameter). Black anodized. 18" lengths. Custom
make your own tent poles. Poles can be shortened. (NOTE: Poles usually require
more sections with inserts than sections without inserts-it is best to map it out on paper
to determine how many you need of each-see below on how to make a tent pole).
Sections can be shockcorded together using 1/8" shockcord (our item #2400).
Endtips for pole sizes .340" and .433" fit into 9/32" grommets (also
5/16" grommets-which are known as a #1 grommet). . Endtip #2 and the
dome tips are used when poles are to be shockcorded together. Endtip #1 is used when
poles are not shockcorded together.
(We do not carry fiberglass poles at this time)
HOW TO MAKE A TENT POLE:There are 2 types of poles:
(1) Poles with inserts -the insert is a tube (or sleeve) that is welded
inside one hollow end of a tent pole section and protrudes appoximately 3".
This insert allows you to stack one section on top of another.
(2)
Poles without inserts-these are hollow poles (sections) with no
inserts
Pictured above are both types of tent pole sections: the two sections on the left
are sections with an insert. The last section on the right is a section
without an insert . Using the pole without an insert at the end gives you a hollow
end on both the rightside and leftside of the long pole to insert the endtips.
To make a pole you will usually need more sections with an insert than those without.
For example if you want to make a pole with 4 sections (this would make a 6 foot
long pole), you would need to have 3 sections with an insert and 1 without an insert.
The reason you need the last section to be without an insert: picture stacking
one section with an insert on top of another. If the last section has an insert
that would not allow you to put an endtip into both ends of the pole.
Therefor if you use a section without an insert for the last one you will have a hollow
end on both ends of the pole, this allows you to put an endtip on each end of your pole.
Making
poles is very easy:
Step #1 Lay out your poles in the order you want them. (cut them to the right
length, if it is neccessary, using a hacksaw or even better a pipe cutter-quite
inexpensive at Home Depot or Lowes or Harbor Freight, ect)
Step #2
Knot one of the endtips onto to one free end of the shock cord and push it into one
of the hollow ends of the pole sections. Thread your shock cord through each pole
section.
Step #3 On the other end tie the other endtip onto the shock cord. The
tension will vary but as a rule of thumb do not pull too much tension on the cord-if you
do when you break down the poles they will want to instantly spring back into shape and
they will be hard to pack away. Push the second endtip up into the other hollow end
of the pole. If the shock cord is not tight enough remove the end tip and re-tie it
a little tighter. As a general rule to determine the amount of shock cord you need:
For 18" poles add the number of all the pole sections you want to shock cord together
and divide this by 2. ie: if you want to shock cord 8 sections together you would
need 4 yards of shock cord. For the 26" poles multiply the number of poles by
26 to get the total of inches. Divide this number by 36 and this will give you the
amount of yards. ie if you have 9 sections together you multiply 9 x 26" = 234"
divided by 36 = 6 1/2 yds
What size:
The poles are
available in 3different sizes .340" and .433" and .625" (all are the
outside diameter measurements). The .340" is just shy of 3/8" (about
the diameter of a Bic ink pen). The .433" is just shy of 1/2"
(similar in size to a Sharpie felt tip pen). For reference 3/8" is equal to
.375" and 1/2" is equal to .5". The .625" poles are 5/8"
diameter
How to bend poles:
The best poles
to bend into an arc are the .340" and the .433". If you have at least 6 of
these poles together they will arc very easily. The easiest way is to put one end of
the pole section in the tent grommet or pocket and ease the other end of the pole section
over to the opposite tent grommet or pocket. The center pole will usually be
the only pole that will have a small permanent arc in it but the arc is usually so minimal
that it will not stick out when all of the poles are broken down to pack away. NOTE:
it is usually best to try to arrange your poles so that at the peak of the arc you
have the center of a full pole (not an area where two pulls meet together. It is
weaker where the sections meet with each other and could break).
If you are only using a few poles and you need
to make a very strong arc several customers have told us that if you pack it with play
sand before you bend it this will keep it from kinking.
How
to shockcord poles together without using endtips-(ie. ring and pin system):
For your ring and pin
system the best way to shockcord the poles together is to tie the shockcord onto a
small washer that is just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tent
pole. When
the washer is pushed up into the pole the insert on the first pole will stop it
from going past. You can then feed the shockcord through the rest of the
poles making sure to put one pole without an insert in the center or your chain of
poles. On the opposite end of the pole sections you again tie another washer onto the
shockcord and let it go up inside the pole (note you will not be able to
adjust the cord tension after this is done as the knot and washer will be way up
inside the pole). This method allows you to shockcord all of the poles together and
have a hollow end on each end the pole sections to fit into your ring and pin at
the bottom. We have separate insert peices that will fit up into the
poles. This will allow you to glue these extra inserts onto the hollow ends of the
poles to give you more structural support in the pin.
DIAGRAM FOR RING AND PIN ASSEMBLY
FOR CUSTOMERS WITH A QUEST TENT: We are not the makers of Quest
Tents and have never been associated with them. If you are in need of parts or
service you can try contacting North Pole USA which is the maker of Quest Tents.
The number is 800-775-1965 or 800-366-1599. If you are in need of tent poles
and would like aluminum ones we may be able to help but bear in mind that we do not have
specs on specific Quest Tent models so we do not know the exact size pole lengths needed
for each tent. |
