North Pole internal spacers

G

Glycerine

Member
I've been working on some North Poles for the yard this year and designed a 3D printed "internal spacer". The spacer will press fit into a 3" schedule 40 PVC pipe and a piece of 3/4 inch EMT conduit can be press fit into the inner hole. I plan to drive a ground stake or piece of rebar into the ground and slide the poles down onto them.
If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll get you the stl file.

north-pole-spacer.jpg
north-pole-spacer-1-small.jpg
north-pole-spacer-2-small.jpg
north-pole-spacer-3-small.jpg
north-pole-spacer-4-small.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nha6gdgu4spvway/north-pole-spacer.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wq07dxtap7d6ozx/north-pole-spacer-1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wykzna91ucs2phl/north-pole-spacer-2.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uon39rze09wfp3l/north-pole-spacer-3.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9dqnh3c4wlhcisu/north-pole-spacer-4.jpg?dl=0
 
Last edited:
Good idea.
We insert two "drain plugs" into the 3" schedule 40. The first, with its "ears" removed, tightly slides up inside about 10". We secure it with a screw from the outside. The second fits into the bottom. They are usually tight, but a screw holds them. Note that a 1/2" hole is drilled into the center of both of the drain plugs before inserting into the PVC. We put a piece of 1/2" rebar (approximately 2 feet long) driven into the ground about 13 inches and then slide the northpole onto it. The rebar passes through both holes, making for a pretty secure connection.

We have just short of 50 of these. They have worked for 7 or 8 years like this.

I will admit, your version is very neat.
 
algerdes said:
Good idea.
We insert two "drain plugs" into the 3" schedule 40. The first, with its "ears" removed, tightly slides up inside about 10". We secure it with a screw from the outside. The second fits into the bottom. They are usually tight, but a screw holds them. Note that a 1/2" hole is drilled into the center of both of the drain plugs before inserting into the PVC. We put a piece of 1/2" rebar (approximately 2 feet long) driven into the ground about 13 inches and then slide the northpole onto it. The rebar passes through both holes, making for a pretty secure connection.

We have just short of 50 of these. They have worked for 7 or 8 years like this.

I will admit, your version is very neat.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea too! I'm starting out with 8. Can't imagine close to 50!
 
Glycerine said:
Sounds like a good idea too! I'm starting out with 8. Can't imagine close to 50!
Click to expand...
That is the hazard of this hobby. You start out with one, then seven more, then ...
In our case, we line a parking lot with them. 24 up each side, spaced about 10 feet apart. Simple cup hooks at the top of the side and we stretch lighted garland from one to the next to the next.
Several years that garland lights were pixels. Lately we took the easy way out and put regular AC lights in the garland. But, then again, I'm getting away from your subject. Sorry. Christmas fatigue is already setting in.
 
algerdes said:
That is the hazard of this hobby. You start out with one, then seven more, then ...
In our case, we line a parking lot with them. 24 up each side, spaced about 10 feet apart. Simple cup hooks at the top of the side and we stretch lighted garland from one to the next to the next.
Several years that garland lights were pixels. Lately we took the easy way out and put regular AC lights in the garland. But, then again, I'm getting away from your subject. Sorry. Christmas fatigue is already setting in.
Click to expand...

No, I love to hear/see other people's ideas. The reason I'm doing the north poles is because my wife wanted some props that look nice during the daylight hours as well. I'm going to tell her about your garland idea, she'll probably want to do that too!
 
Just curious how you are attaching your Pixels?

Glycerine said:
I've been working on some North Poles for the yard this year and designed a 3D printed "internal spacer". The spacer will press fit into a 3" schedule 40 PVC pipe and a piece of 3/4 inch EMT conduit can be press fit into the inner hole. I plan to drive a ground stake or piece of rebar into the ground and slide the poles down onto them.
If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll get you the stl file.

View attachment 46201
View attachment 46202
View attachment 46203
View attachment 46204
View attachment 46205

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nha6gdgu4spvway/north-pole-spacer.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wq07dxtap7d6ozx/north-pole-spacer-1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wykzna91ucs2phl/north-pole-spacer-2.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uon39rze09wfp3l/north-pole-spacer-3.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9dqnh3c4wlhcisu/north-pole-spacer-4.jpg?dl=0
Click to expand...
 
rstehle said:
O.K., got it. I was thinking of something else entirely. Nice job!
Click to expand...

I figured that when you posted the link of the Boscoyo ChromaPole plates that you said you were using for yours. But those gave me a good "visual" of what I was thinking of doing and pushed me in the direction of 3d printing a solution. So, thanks!
(As a side note, I would also like to do some of the chroma poles, but one thing at a time. I'm slowly adding things each year. I'll get "there" eventually...)
 
I'd be interested in the stl file. I have some Christmas poles but don't have a good solution for the base.

Thanks!
 
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