tent poles

[pobbie]

Anyone know of some place I can get poles with out paying $10 for shipping? Or of any materials I could use to make my own. I have been thinking of aluminium tubing or even small angle aluminum or arrow shafts(may not be ridgid enough)? anyone know about any problems with these?
Also how slippery is silnylon? some people say its not too bad others say its near impossible to sew. I also heard of a trick of putting seam sealer where you're going to sew to make it less slipery. anyone know if this really works???

[JRiker]

wal mart sells spare tent poles in their camping section. they're only about 8 bucks for enough for a two pole dome tent, and you can dissassemble the poles for the size you need. also, you can cut the poles and put 9mm shells (empty) on the edges to cover up the cut fiberglass

[dropkick]

Silnylon isn't any more slippery than most nylon weaves, but then nylon is pretty slippery.

Don't put on seam sealer early as all you'll do is make a mess of the seam and possibly jam up your sewing machine.

I just pin and iron my seams before I sew them and this works for me.

I've also used a walking foot before, I don't feel it's necessary but it helps, as it feeds the cloth from both the top and the bottom so you don't get any bunching.

If I was you I'd go to Walmart and get some of the bargain bin nylon to practice on before you start your project.

[Tipi Walter]

I wouldn't even mess with fiberglass poles. I made a set of poles for a Mt Hardwear Light Wedge tent, ditched the break-prone Atlas poles and found an old discarded dome tent with larger diameter alum poles. Cut them to size, polished off the ends, added shock-cork, etc and voila!! New beefier poles for my Light Wedge!!

Finding old junk tents is good since the poles on them usually are in great shape.

[yuppie_redneck]

Anyone know of some place I can get poles with out paying $10 for shipping? Or of any materials I could use to make my own. I have been thinking of aluminium tubing or even small angle aluminum or arrow shafts(may not be ridgid enough)? anyone know about any problems with these?
Also how slippery is silnylon? some people say its not too bad others say its near impossible to sew. I also heard of a trick of putting seam sealer where you're going to sew to make it less slipery. anyone know if this really works???


Ever see a cheap fishing pole for 6 bucks? Buy em, use em for hiking poles and tent supports.

Save the flex end for fishing when time and opportunity present.

Why sew the nylon>? Just spend 20 bucks at sportsmansguide and buy a pentagon tarp. Use that for your tent. (Or waterproof any old tent rainfly as long as it is big enough to cover your tokas.

[jrwiesz]

I wouldn't even mess with fiberglass poles. I made a set of poles for a Mt Hardwear Light Wedge tent, ditched the break-prone Atlas poles and found an old discarded dome tent with larger diameter alum poles. Cut them to size, polished off the ends, added shock-cork, etc and voila!! New beefier poles for my Light Wedge!!

Finding old junk tents is good since the poles on them usually are in great shape.

Tipi, I've been collecting all those broken folding camp chairs one sees in most car campgrounds these days. I have thought of using the fabric from these chairs as potential bottom and back fabric for making homemade packs, thus, having a stronger fabric in those high stress areas. Might be good also for use in the fabric for the strap/waist belt pieces.
I like your idea of keeping ones' eyes open in the trash heap at campgrounds for discarded old or broken down tents for fabric and parts.:cool: