my pivoting pole

defed · Tue Jul 26, 2022 12:20 pm

i know a couple ppl wanted to see my parallelogram pivoting pole (by ron seekamp), but i forgot who so i figured i'd post it separate.

it's just geometry where the pivot points of the 1" steel tube match the pivots points of the 2x post, so when it tips, the part holding the gourds maintains level.

yes i know there is a ton of poison ivy at the base. i hack it down a cpl times a yr, but there's a stump in the middle of it so i can't mow up close. lol

Martintown33 · Tue Jul 26, 2022 2:50 pm

Very nice design and ingenuity.. first pole I’ve seen like that, but works great! That’s all that matters.
Rob

MartinBoy14012 · Tue Jul 26, 2022 5:54 pm

Clever design, well done! Thanks for posting the pictures!

defed · Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:15 pm

i can't take credit, i got the plans from ron seekamp. saw it in a PMCA update. i have a new deluxe 12 rack on the way, i was going to replace this one outright, but decided to put it next to it and run w/ both for a little while longer. eventually, i will replace it w/ another deluxe 12.

i do need to repair the triangle at the top as it is plywood and rotting away. if that fails, the top section would come disconnected from the steel tube and flop over. the predator guard was my own design, lol, a piece of stove pipe. it doesn't wobble much because the base of the pole is pretty fat, but i figure any deterrent to climbers is better than nothing. i think a 2' diameter cone may be better but i didn't have any material around to try and make one. notice the counter weight at the base of the tilt pole. when i had the heavy t-8 on it, i had a tractor wheel weight and i could raise/lower it w/ 1 finger. i have much smaller plates on now and they help but it takes a little effort move it.

Jones4381 · Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:02 am

Fascinating design and the creativity to get it done. Thank you for sharing it as this connects me to my appalachian roots and reminds me of young days on granddaddy's tobacco farm.

Dave Reynolds · Wed Jul 27, 2022 7:46 am

... Defed .... That's the first thing I noticed.. Change the ply wood out, before you lose the gourds or it falls apart.. I like the design, and often thought of making one myself.. but with today's manufacturing it would be hard to compete, not price wise but safety wise.. Thanks for sharing the photos... Hope you had a great season in 2022..

Dave

dsonyay · Thu Jul 28, 2022 5:39 pm

I love it!

C.C.Martins · Thu Jul 28, 2022 6:29 pm

I like it too, love the work put into it. Id be hesitant to get rid of it too.

Dave Reynolds · Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:45 pm

defed wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:15 pm
i can't take credit, i got the plans from ron seekamp. saw it in a PMCA update. i have a new deluxe 12 rack on the way, i was going to replace this one outright, but decided to put it next to it and run w/ both for a little while longer. eventually, i will replace it w/ another deluxe 12.

i do need to repair the triangle at the top as it is plywood and rotting away. if that fails, the top section would come disconnected from the steel tube and flop over. the predator guard was my own design, lol, a piece of stove pipe. it doesn't wobble much because the base of the pole is pretty fat, but i figure any deterrent to climbers is better than nothing. i think a 2' diameter cone may be better but i didn't have any material around to try and make one. notice the counter weight at the base of the tilt pole. when i had the heavy t-8 on it, i had a tractor wheel weight and i could raise/lower it w/ 1 finger. i have much smaller plates on now and they help but it takes a little effort move it.

..
.
... defend ... The more I look at the photos, I think I would like to try and make one... Just for fun... Where can I buy a copy of the plans. I would build a small model, and then a full scale later..

Dave

defed · Thu Jul 28, 2022 11:15 pm

Dave Reynolds wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:45 pm

... defend ... The more I look at the photos, I think I would like to try and make one... Just for fun... Where can I buy a copy of the plans. I would build a small model, and then a full scale later..

Dave

i bought them from Ron Seekamp over 20 yrs ago...i think he was charging $5. i think he still may be around, but i'd imagine he's got to be in his 90's if he is. i still have them, i will see if i can take pics of them. or i can at least explain it.

it is pretty simple once you see how it works. the only thing critical is, on the base (part in the ground) the geometry of the pivot point and the steel tube just have to be the same as that on the triangle at the top. this is what creates the parallelogram and allows the top portion to remain level as it tilts.

i didn't take a front pic of the base, but it's a double 2x4 with a 2x10 (i think) going across, about 8' long. this is buried and then the single 2x4 uprights that create the pivot are attached to it. the post itself is a double 2x4.

Dave Reynolds · Sun Aug 07, 2022 9:25 am

.. defed .. The pictures look good.. Do you pull on the chain to raise and lower the houses.? Are the weights for a counter balance ? Copy of the plans would be great.. I'll keep looking on the internet for plans. If I can't find or buy some plans., I'm not to sure I could build one.. with out a lot of trail and error.. I'll send you my address and phone number if it will help.. Let me know...

Thanks,, Dave

Dave Reynolds · Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:14 am

defed wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 28, 2022 11:15 pm

Dave Reynolds wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:45 pm

... defend ... The more I look at the photos, I think I would like to try and make one... Just for fun... Where can I buy a copy of the plans. I would build a small model, and then a full scale later..

Dave

I bought them from Ron Seekamp over 20 yrs ago...i think he was charging $5. i think he still may be around, but i'd imagine he's got to be in his 90's if he is. i still have them, i will see if i can take pics of them. or i can at least explain it.

it is pretty simple once you see how it works. the only thing critical is, on the base (part in the ground) the geometry of the pivot point and the steel tube just have to be the same as that on the triangle at the top. this is what creates the parallelogram and allows the top portion to remain level as it tilts.

i didn't take a front pic of the base, but it's a double 2x4 with a 2x10 (i think) going across, about 8' long. this is buried and then the single 2x4 uprights that create the pivot are attached to it. the post itself is a double 2x4.

..
.
defed .. The pictures look good.. Do you pull on the chain to raise and lower the houses.? Are the weights for a counter balance ? Copy of the plans would be great.. I'll keep looking on the internet for plans. If I can't find or buy some plans., I'm not to sure I could build one.. with out a lot of trail and error.. I'll send you my address and phone number if it will help.. Let me know...

Thanks,, Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio

defed · Tue Aug 09, 2022 12:36 pm

Dave Reynolds wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:14 am

defed .. The pictures look good.. Do you pull on the chain to raise and lower the houses.? Are the weights for a counter balance ? Copy of the plans would be great.. I'll keep looking on the internet for plans. If I can't find or buy some plans., I'm not to sure I could build one.. with out a lot of trail and error.. I'll send you my address and phone number if it will help.. Let me know...

Thanks,, Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio

i do not pull the chain. since the whole thing pivots on 1 bolt, it's a bit wobbly w/ all the weight, so i hold the 2x's as i tilt it to keep it steady. the chain just holds it tilted at the proper height. the weights are for counterbalance to make tilting it easier. i could probably use a little more weight, but it's easy enough as is. i'll work on taking pics of the plans when i get a chance.

Dave Reynolds · Wed Aug 10, 2022 8:57 am

defed wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 09, 2022 12:36 pm

Dave Reynolds wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:14 am

defed .. The pictures look good.. Do you pull on the chain to raise and lower the houses.? Are the weights for a counter balance ? Copy of the plans would be great.. I'll keep looking on the internet for plans. If I can't find or buy some plans., I'm not to sure I could build one.. with out a lot of trail and error.. I'll send you my address and phone number if it will help.. Let me know...

Thanks,, Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
i do not pull the chain. since the whole thing pivots on 1 bolt, it's a bit wobbly w/ all the weight, so i hold the 2x's as i tilt it to keep it steady. the chain just holds it tilted at the proper height. the weights are for counterbalance to make tilting it easier. i could probably use a little more weight, but it's easy enough as is. i'll work on taking pics of the plans when i get a chance.

..
.
.. defed .. Thank you.. Will make a nice (Thinking) project..

Dave

Bird Brain · Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:45 pm

The wood will rot eventually.

defed · Sat Aug 20, 2022 8:51 pm

Bird Brain wrote: ↑
Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:45 pm
The wood will rot eventually.

LOL well yea, but so will everything. the post itself is treated and is holding up quite well for 20+ yrs, at least above ground, can't say what it's like just below the surface. the only thing i need to fix immediately is the non-outdoor grade plywood that i used for the top triangles. that is also 20+ yrs old....that's why i added the pieces of 2x on the plywood, to reinforce it. but now it's getting so bad i have to make new pieces.

Spiderman · Sun Aug 21, 2022 12:44 pm

Round Up will get rid of that poison ivy in a couple of spraying.

defed · Sun Aug 21, 2022 1:14 pm

Spiderman wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 21, 2022 12:44 pm
Round Up will get rid of that poison ivy in a couple of spraying.

i know, i have sprayed it in the past, but then it leaves a patch of bare ground. i've just been chopping it down every so often. it would be neater but there is a stump buried in that mess that keeps me from mowing closer, i need to see if it's rotten enough to chop out yet.

rwc · Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:36 pm

i would love a set of these plans . if you find a way to get them let me know please. thanks
new member had a house up for 3 years no martins. moved 1/2 mile down the road with a pond had 3 pair but i am only certain of one pair fledging 3.
putting up a new sk 16. but i converted to a six unit with 6x12 apartments closed off the top 4 and insulated the top. great set up . best of luck this martin season.

defed · Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:33 pm

rwc wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:36 pm
i would love a set of these plans . if you find a way to get them let me know please. thanks
new member had a house up for 3 years no martins. moved 1/2 mile down the road with a pond had 3 pair but i am only certain of one pair fledging 3.
putting up a new sk 16. but i converted to a six unit with 6x12 apartments closed off the top 4 and insulated the top. great set up . best of luck this martin season.

my apologies to everyone...i have yet to get around to trying to take pics of the plans. it's on my list though!