Hi
New to the forum. I am thinking about trying to attract some Purple Martins.
I am looking for some plans for a steel pole with a winch and have not seen any listed. If anyone can tell me where I might find some I would appreciate the help.
Andy
Steel Pole Plans
Greetings,
Welcome to the forum.
Lots of good folks here to help you on your way!
I don't have any plans but here are a few pictures of one my homemade racks and you can get some ideas.
It's really pretty easy to build.
I built mine out of upset tubing to withstand just about anything and it's pretty cheap around central Texas...and bought a piece of pipe that slid over that about 7 feet long.
Cut off 3 foot for slider and used the 4 foot piece for a ground socket.
Set the socket 3 feet deep with a foot sticking out of ground.
Mount your winch so it will be about 3 feet off the ground when it's in the ground socket.
I had a piece of rebar going thru the ground socket near the bottom and cut two notches on the bottom of the pole so when it slid in, you could turn it a little and it would drop in the slots so it wouldn't turn.
I slid the slide down on the pole and welded a plate on top of the pole and welded the pulley assy to this.
I used a pulley rated for winch work.
Stood it up and welded the sides to the plate and then put a piece of square tubing up from that with a cross bar for perches.
Weld some 1x1x1/8 angle iron on the sliding part to hold whatever you are going for.
Bolt on some cheap 1" conduit for arms to hold gourds or just short mounts to mount a house.
I also used a slightly heaver 1000 pound ratchet winch with 5/16" stainless cable.
Gourds with SREH openings seem to be working well for me!
This beast approaches 25 feet to the top.
Looks like this finished.....
Welcome to the forum.
Lots of good folks here to help you on your way!
I don't have any plans but here are a few pictures of one my homemade racks and you can get some ideas.
It's really pretty easy to build.
I built mine out of upset tubing to withstand just about anything and it's pretty cheap around central Texas...and bought a piece of pipe that slid over that about 7 feet long.
Cut off 3 foot for slider and used the 4 foot piece for a ground socket.
Set the socket 3 feet deep with a foot sticking out of ground.
Mount your winch so it will be about 3 feet off the ground when it's in the ground socket.
I had a piece of rebar going thru the ground socket near the bottom and cut two notches on the bottom of the pole so when it slid in, you could turn it a little and it would drop in the slots so it wouldn't turn.
I slid the slide down on the pole and welded a plate on top of the pole and welded the pulley assy to this.
I used a pulley rated for winch work.
Stood it up and welded the sides to the plate and then put a piece of square tubing up from that with a cross bar for perches.
Weld some 1x1x1/8 angle iron on the sliding part to hold whatever you are going for.
Bolt on some cheap 1" conduit for arms to hold gourds or just short mounts to mount a house.
I also used a slightly heaver 1000 pound ratchet winch with 5/16" stainless cable.
Gourds with SREH openings seem to be working well for me!
This beast approaches 25 feet to the top.
Looks like this finished.....
Cheers,
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Are you wanting to build a house or a gourd rack? The size of house or number of gourds will dictate what size pole you need. It is better to go a little overboard and have a pole that you can trust will withstand the wind. The last thing you want is to attract martins and later have them leave or injured because the pole is not sturdy enough.
2026 HOSP 27
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
DARN Vern !! Will you please come down to Buda (by Austin) and build one of those for me !! thats awesome and looks REALLY strong. Windy days don't worry you.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
I don't want to pirate this post from what woodworks is asking here but I need to ask your Vern if you did those welds as well.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
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Guest
Thank all of you for your reply's! I'm trying to see how much this is going to cost. I already buy 5# of sugar a week for hummers.
Andy
Andy
-
DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Joe,
You are a very talented man! Very nice job on putting together such a nice looking gourd rack. Thanks for sharing the photos.
You are a very talented man! Very nice job on putting together such a nice looking gourd rack. Thanks for sharing the photos.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
If money is your main concern you will likely need to salvage around and DIY some stuff. If you buy quality martin housing and equipment it is not cheap. I built my own T14 and homemade pole and pulley system. However last year when I was going to build my own gourd rack I found it was cheaper to buy one, with the price of steal going through the roof. The pole I bought for my T14 a few years ago was $60. ($3 per foot, 21 foot pole, 3 1/2 inch galvanized). That same pole now cost $9.00 per foot for import steel and $12 per foot for US steel. And this was from my friend who owns a industrial construction company and he was selling it to me at cost.kwoodworks wrote:Thank all of you for your reply's! I'm trying to see how much this is going to cost. I already buy 5# of sugar a week for hummers.
Andy
2026 HOSP 27
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
-
Guest
Flyin-Lowe
Money is not my main concern. I just want to build a pole that I know is good. If you can recommend a pole to purchase I would appreciate you thoughts.
Thanks
Money is not my main concern. I just want to build a pole that I know is good. If you can recommend a pole to purchase I would appreciate you thoughts.
Thanks