barrie0 Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 As title I am getting ***** off with my home made poles (extendable washing line props) and it is about time I bought some proper ones as mine are falling apart and are a bitch to get into the ground at this time of year . I have seen around 3 or 4 companies that make them but am wondering who's are the best ie lightness , build quality etc . Cheers all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn9914 Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 barrio i also use washing line poles and have the same trouble as you this time of year so come on guys/girls who's are the best and why i need to buy urgently before the rape is cut on my permision next week so who's do we buy and which sort cheers shawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 I would not buy the ones that you extend and then twist to lock. :< Within a year, the nylon internal thingy (its adjustable) on two of my poles wore so badly, there was no adjustment left. The other two poles went the same way after a year. As the metal poles themselves are not worn out, I have large rubber washers on the outside of the hide poles, to keep them at the height I require. The poles cost too much money to throw them away. When I bought an additional pole, I got one that had the screw in adjuster, similar to a fishing bank stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apbuild Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Small aluminiun poles for keep nets or rod rests, the type you can get from fishing tackle shops, spray them green. Cheap and functional. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn9914 Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 hi apbuild they sound ok but can you get them into hard ground, do they have a point on the end or a screw thread, can you get poles with a piece sticking out the bottom to press in the ground with your foot like my floaters have cheers shawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apbuild Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 If they don't have a spiked end, I simply hammer the end to a spike myself. Usually, they are about five foot long and are quite robust. Of course, you could always buy some purpose made poles from one of the well known suppliers. I am sure they would not cost the earth. If you are able to, pop along to a game fair or a country fete. If there is a supplier with a trade stand there, you could be in line for a little saving. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted July 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 I have already tried some bank sticks (fishing) but still having probs it's going to have to be some proper ones but I have duly taken on Cranfields findings . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted July 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 All sorted now Saw this advert on one of the shooting newsgroups and thought bargain so a 60 mile round trip got this little lot 20 rubber full bodied flexicoy decoys 4 pinewood hide poles 2 large nets 6 lofting poles with 2 cross members Pigeon magnet battery and charger manual flapper Although I can't see me using all those deeks or the lofting poles so may have to sell some in the future , got all this for a £100 quid Just found this on pigeonwatch the exact same as I have just bought , this kit must be doing the rounds http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...wtopic=8313&hl= minus the shell deaks and I did not want the trolley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Beasley Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 I would not buy the ones that you extend and then twist to lock. :< Within a year, the nylon internal thingy (its adjustable) on two of my poles wore so badly, there was no adjustment left. The other two poles went the same way after a year. As the metal poles themselves are not worn out, I have large rubber washers on the outside of the hide poles, to keep them at the height I require. The poles cost too much money to throw them away. When I bought an additional pole, I got one that had the screw in adjuster, similar to a fishing bank stick. Cranfield: Just to clarify something here to avoid some potential confusion. Both ours and Decos poles one's are marketed as "Twist Lock". I for one know that you are probably talking about the "other" company's poles which will slip after a while. I must stress that the twist lock adjustment system that we implement on our poles is no way affected by the amount of use or abuse you give them, or how many times you extend the pole. In fact if you manage to wear our twist lock adjusters out.....well, I haven't managed to wear any of mine out and there's no way you lot will even come close! There we go, just clarifying thats all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 My hide poles were purchased from Pinewood, but I am aware that there are other hide poles on the Market, with a similar locking system. I believe Ern had the same problems with his. It will be interesting to see which locking system the hide poles BarrieO got in his "job lot" have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
game_boy Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Can you not just go and cut down some hazel & cut to required length and put a point on the end. Take a mallet out with you and I would think that would be it. Well thats what I intend to do when I go out next. With the addition of a small nail banged in to hang the mesh on, in theory they should do the business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 game boy - you could do that mate in theory, but don't waste your time think long term, just buy a set of purpose made hide poles not clothes line poles not garden canes not cut hazel, preferably NOT with twist locks but find the type with thumb screw locks, try - N&S shooting suplies - great poles with thumb screw locks and nylon/composite kickers virtually unbreakable. Deako's have the same poles but with cast alloy kickers (might break in winter) and the dreaded twist locks. The problem with twist locks you can't tell by looking if they are locked and if the inner pole becomes stiff to move up and down you will spend more of your time twisting and untwisting, it is very frustrating as a friend of mine recently found out. I bought a set of hide poles from John Shooter ( Nppc) at the 1998 Midland GF which incorporate thumb screw locks, I have never given them any maintainence and I am still using them. Prior to those I used a set from Pinewoods great concept but the friction locks constantly wear out and you end up like Cranfield making a bodge job, the Pinewoods also bend just where the solid ground spike ends in the tube, even if you are careful, on hard ground they bend, I think Phil Beestlys are made on the same principle-solid ground spike. So to sum up look for thumb screw locks on telescopic lightweight two piece poles, incorporating swaged points and non-metallic kickers from N&S shooting supplies / NPPC? or WHY. Tip of the day : once your hide is constructed simply snag your net over the thumb screws to secure from the wind - no need to fiddle with clamps or zip clips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Half a dozen 6ft bamboo canes, 12 cheap bulldog clips, one old “Philips” screwdriver and a hammer. Hammer the screwdriver into the ground, push the bamboo canes into the holes and then clip the net to the canes. Unbelievably light to carry and only cost @ £1 for a dozen canes. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 It will be interesting to see which locking system the hide poles BarrieO got in his "job lot" have. Cranfield , when he showed me them yesterday they just slid out and in and had a nylon thing at the end with a screw on the end of the nylon bush ? to adjust them if they became loose . He also gave me 2 spare ends that you hang the net on as he got these from pinewood for £2 a piece so I suppose you could buy replacement nylon bushes as well ? . Anyway they are a hell of a lot lighter than the washing line props I had and at least they have spikes , the decoys are a lot heavier than my plastic shells but they don't half look the business and wobble around nicely on the sticks . The manual flapper is an ancient old thing , he reckoned it was probably antique but it looks like it will work well , the magnet is a heavy ****** with 6 ft arms so I reckon it won't get used that often but it's nice to have the option now and to be honest I can't see myself ever using the lofting clobber . Have also just ordered one of those pigeon shooters seat bags from deakos ? website so now with using the quad on the farm I can at last shoot with some decent clobber . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno 357 Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 (edited) I've tried the purpose made so called hide poles. They are just a more expensive version of a Argos/Wilkinsons cloths prop with pointy bit on one end and a kicker plate. And you pay around the £50 for the pleasure I made my own from the cheapo £2.99 cloths prop ones and are IMO better. All the bolts are stainless steel. These can be stamped hard into any of ground from rock hard to soft meadows. The spikes are adjustable depending on how soft the ground is, by simply extending the foot spike further out and locking back up in a matter of a couple of mintues NOW where can you get that for £2.99 a pole Jonno http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonno357/newfolder063.jpg[/img]"]<HidePoles> Edited July 18, 2005 by jonno 357 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 barrieO, congratulations you are now the proud owner of the aforementioned, accursed hide poles. Eventually, all the adjustment on that nylon thingy will disappear and they will just slide up and down (normally after you hang the net on them). Go out and but some large rubber washers to thread up the pole, to fix it at the required height. I guarantee you will need them, eventually. I wonder why the chap sold that lot to you so cheap ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Just been having a closer look at them Cranners and I can see what you mean , although they are tight I loosened off the screw and put a thin wrap of electrical tape around the bush and then it was nice and tight although not to sure how long the tape would last . And for my second experiment I have found some steel washers in the toolbox , put the washers between the nylon bush and screw head and hey presto even more length of the screw for adjustment . Though surely if you can get replacement plastic tops (for the net) you should be able to get replacement nylon bushes ? . May be worth me sending an email . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 I have no grievance with things that wear out, after reasonable wear and tear. These things wear out far too quickly. I believe it is a design fault. There are two main problems; 1) there is no way of telling if they are completely locked, or not. Often you are trying to adjust them, when they are partially locked, which can't do them a lot of good. 2) repeatedly hang a wet ex Army cammo net on them and that is a lot of weight for that little nylon thingy to cope with. You have to keep adjusting it, to tighten the locking facility, until there is no adjustment left. Then it just slides down and you reach for the rubber washers. I expect its possible to get a new nylon thingy, but one thing you can be sure of, it won't be free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Have just sent them an email and will post back if I get a reply . I can see your point on having to replace/fix the washers though . Another permanent fix for the poles would be to drill a hole through the large pole at the top and then drill a few holes at different positions along the inner poles and get a pack of hair pin cotter pins from say a countrywide store as they are only a few quid , line the holes up and slip the pin through and it won't move at all and never wear out . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 My that was a fast response 2 hours and at this time of night ? anyway here is the email Dear sir Hide pole bushes are £ 1.00 each + £ 2.00 P & P Order by phone only Regards Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim38curl Posted October 2, 2005 Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 I've tried the purpose made so called hide poles. They are just a more expensive version of a Argos/Wilkinsons cloths prop with pointy bit on one end and a kicker plate. And you pay around the £50 for the pleasure I made my own from the cheapo £2.99 cloths prop ones and are IMO better. All the bolts are stainless steel. These can be stamped hard into any of ground from rock hard to soft meadows. The spikes are adjustable depending on how soft the ground is, by simply extending the foot spike further out and locking back up in a matter of a couple of mintues NOW where can you get that for £2.99 a pole Jonno http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/jonno357/newfolder063.jpg[/img]"]<HidePoles> Well done Jonno, have been trawling through posts for ages trying to find a way of doing things on a budget, have been looking for easy to follow plans for a home made rotary device and any way of NOT paying loads of money for lengths of pipe ! Could you tell me how you made the spike, what from and how you fixed it to the prop. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Cheers, Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 I'm just hoping they will soon be selling those cloaks like wot they were wearing on the Lord of the Rings film, no more lugging cammo nets and poles about then !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 old rooster, I don't know how to break this gently to you............but the Lord of the Rings isn't real.................its all make believe. Sorry old Mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Another illusion shattered. First Father Christmas, then the Tooth Fairy and now Lord Of The Rings. I suppose the next thing you will be trying to tell me is that Eastenders isn’t real. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 (edited) Another illusion shattered.First Father Christmas, then the Tooth Fairy and now Lord Of The Rings. I suppose the next thing you will be trying to tell me is that Eastenders isn’t real. G.M. Sorry to be the breaker of bad news GM but it isnt real Edited October 3, 2005 by hawkeye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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