What do you use for a mega tree mast pole? Looking to make a 20 ft tree

[GriswoldStyle]

For the last couple years I have used 2 pieces of 10 ' galvanized fence top rail for just a cheap looking mega tree. Just had a top rail coupler that I drilled 2 bolts through to secure it  to each piece of top rail and had 3-4 feet of it or so in the ground in a guide pole.

This year I am adding more weight to the tree and am looking for something stronger. I was thinking threaded pipe or something. Then just mounting a eye bolt pully at the top. Similar to a flagpole. Not sure if this is a realistic idea or not so I figured I would reach out to the community for suggestions. The tree will be approx 18  but no more than 20 feet tall so pvc is out of the question. It is on the side of the house where traffic is 14 feet away so it needs to be strong material and secured in concrete for stability. My concern with what I have now it was always flimsy and even with a guide pole in the ground secured with concrete, The top section of the top rail had too much wiggle. So I want to find something stronger.

Just curious what you guys use for your mega trees. It needs to be something easy to put up in sections and that can hold wind. We are just off the cost in Florida and the wind gets pretty strong at times. What do you use for your mega tree mast?

[Santas Helper]

I use a Rohn25 radio/ham tower fro my 33' mega tree to hold my 20,000 lights.

I use the same thing for my 16' spiral tree.

Edited May 25, 2018 by Santas Helper

[caniac]

two sections (10ft) of galvanized pipe connected with a pole pin from Christmas light show.  Also use there bases.

[smithzone]

15 minutes ago, caniac said:

two sections (10ft) of galvanized pipe connected with a pole pin from Christmas light show.  Also use there bases.

Same here - I use their pin pole (great solution) and then have 2.5' of PVC buried in the yard set in concrete.    I am in FL so no risk of freezing.

Overall pole hits about 17.5" + topper

[k6ccc]

1 hour ago, caniac said:

two sections (10ft) of galvanized pipe connected with a pole pin from Christmas light show. 

What diameter of pipe?

 

[caniac]

1 minute ago, k6ccc said:

What diameter of pipe?

 

1-1/4

[caniac]

 

[caniac]

sandbag the base and no need of guide wires.

[caniac]

though I do envy Santa Helpers rig but did not have a used/unavailable radio tower to use.

[GriswoldStyle]

1 hour ago, smithzone said:

Same here - I use their pin pole (great solution) and then have 2.5' of PVC buried in the yard set in concrete.    I am in FL so no risk of freezing.

Overall pole hits about 17.5" + topper

Same here in Florida as well.... although I think I only have inch and a half PVC in the ground going down three feet but concrete all the way around it until about 6 in below the grass level. Was just wondering if there's something to make it more secure as it kind of Bibles with the coupler they sell at Home Depot even with bolts in it.

 

1 hour ago, caniac said:

two sections (10ft) of galvanized pipe connected with a pole pin from Christmas light show.  Also use there bases.

Yeah I was looking at the pole pin but I only saw 8in. they were out of stock on the 12 inch one. That was my next option. I'm just thinking the 12-inch would work better than the 8 inch.

Edited May 25, 2018 by GriswoldStyle

[GriswoldStyle]

1 hour ago, caniac said:

two sections (10ft) of galvanized pipe connected with a pole pin from Christmas light show.  Also use there bases.

Yeah the stuff I got was galvanized fence top rail 1-1/4 but I didn't have the right connector. what I had is one of their joining couplings that they sell in the fence section and I just drilled holes through it to bolt it together. Even with the bolts it is very flimsy. I'm definitely needing some sort of pin that makes it more secure. The biggest problem I have is not having access to a lift to go up 20 feet to hook the wires so I have to rig the top with a pulley to make it like a flagpole per se 2 help the lights move/move up the pole to get to the top then tie it off. I bought the parts to do that today but I definitely need to find one of those pull pins. Does anybody else sell those online? 

[caniac]

if you are using galvanized pipe then the 8inch should work, if you buy it and aren't happy then I will take it off your hands.

[Santas Helper]

4 hours ago, GriswoldStyle said:

Yeah the stuff I got was galvanized fence top rail 1-1/4 but I didn't have the right connector. what I had is one of their joining couplings that they sell in the fence section and I just drilled holes through it to bolt it together. Even with the bolts it is very flimsy. I'm definitely needing some sort of pin that makes it more secure. The biggest problem I have is not having access to a lift to go up 20 feet to hook the wires so I have to rig the top with a pulley to make it like a flagpole per se 2 help the lights move/move up the pole to get to the top then tie it off. I bought the parts to do that today but I definitely need to find one of those pull pins. Does anybody else sell those online? 

If you can find two 10' sections of Rohn tower, you can climb it like I do and not worry about a pulley system. And adding more lights will put more weight on the pulley rig.

[GriswoldStyle]

18 minutes ago, Santas Helper said:

If you can find two 10' sections of Rohn tower, you can climb it like I do and not worry about a pulley system. And adding more lights will put more weight on the pulley rig.

I have neighbor looking into it. Very rare finds for that around here. He works at a construction landfill so he is going to keep an eye out for anyone scraping one. In the land of hurricanes most people don't have those around here anymore. Would be a good find if there was a scrap one somewhere

[uncledan]

I would never use top rail fencing for a Mega Tree that size... Asking for problems.  Check out this site.  http://www.magicchristmas.org/  I kind of tweaked the JUMP and Portable Hole from Walter Monkhouse.  18 ft + topper with no guywires.  Withstood 70+ mph winds with no issues

[Dcroc]

I used top rail for my 18' pixel tree, and it bent over in 20 mph wind.  Bent right in half.  I strongly suggest against it.

[GriswoldStyle]

Some frown upon the top rail - point understood.

The top rail honestly hasn't been an issue for my project but then again I don't have 10,000+ lights on the tree LOL I only have 1600 and will triple that weight this year so I am looking into other options. It has been used for the last 3 years but that being said, I'm wanting to upgrade *from* the toprail to something better. For those that use the rigid black pipe what is the average price around you? I saw it at Home Depot here yesterday and it's $50 for 10 ft. To me that price just seems a little high but that seems like the best option over the toprail. Looking for an affordable alternative that isn't overpriced but it seems like everything else is twice the price. 

The pole pin looks like it would be a good support mechanism rather than just the threads on the rigid black pipe so I sent the company an email asking them when they will become in stock again as it shows 18 people are waiting to be notified for it when it gets back in stock. Haven't heard anything yet but hopefully after the weekend they'll respond to me. 

[Mega Arch]

I use the same 8” pole-pin discussed above with 1-1/4” galvanized rigid. It’s in the electrical section. Was quite a bit cheaper than black pipe. Then a $1 can of flat black cheap spray paint and bamm...

Now, to insure the joint was as strong as possible, again, used the pole-pin. Also I cut the threaded portions off. That takes the weaker spots out. 

Good luck. 

[GriswoldStyle]

1 hour ago, Mega Arch said:

I use the same 8” pole-pin discussed above with 1-1/4” galvanized rigid. It’s in the electrical section. Was quite a bit cheaper than black pipe. Then a $1 can of flat black cheap spray paint and bamm...

Now, to insure the joint was as strong as possible, again, used the pole-pin. Also I cut the threaded portions off. That takes the weaker spots out. 

Good luck. 

Great idea. I didn't even think to check the rigid conduit while I was there. I will go price that at lowes today. Thank you for mentioning that.

[k6ccc]

As a price point, 2 inch rigid electrical conduit is $50 for 10 feet at Home Depot.  I had to buy a piece of that for a new service riser (upgraded from 100 to 200 amp service).