Make a DIY flag pole using simple supplies available at your local hardware store! It’s difficult to find a quality porch flag pole at major retailers. You’ll find that building a front porch flag pole is quick and easy!

#flagpole #flagwaving #metalflagpole

With a few off-the-shelf supplies and a bit of specialty hardware, you can make durable and attractive mounting poles that will last many years and display your flag proudly and attractively.

The components of a quality mounting system are the base mount, flag pole/standard, rotating rings and clips, and finial. Sure, you can put up a wooden tool handle and cable tie your flag to the pole and call it good, but you won’t like the results. That’s because as breezes move and flap the flag, you will get a furled or wrapped up flag if you don’t allow the flag to swivel on the standard.

In this episode, DirtFarmer Jay shows you how to build a durable and quality system using ¾” EMT conduit, premium spray paint, aluminum swivel mounts, and a pole topper.

EMT conduit (also known as “thin-wall”) is made in both aluminum and galvanized steel. If it is available, use aluminum as it’s lighter. Our supplier didn’t have aluminum, so we bought galvanized steel. The standard is cut to 6’ (1.83 meters), so it’s still light enough to not break the mounting base.

CAN YOU USE PVC PIPE TO MAKE YOUR FLAG STANDARD? Yes, but it won’t work well long term. For this type of flag standard, where the pole is mounted horizontally, the flag will droop over time, unless a metal rod is put inside. PVC flag standards work well for vertical mounts and short-term flag displays but will get “sunburnt” over time. A good way to mount a vertical PVC flag standard is to vertically drive a 36” (about 1 meter) piece of #4 rebar into the ground with half of the bar out of the ground. Then slip the PVC pipe with the flag affixed to it over the rebar and you have a quick flag display!

We used the wood flag topper off our old flag pole and gave it a new life with a light sanding, 2 coats of brass metallic paint, and a top coat of exterior varnish.

For your flag topper, you can use finials that are designed for other uses, such as drapery pole ends and furniture. You’ll need something sizable enough to do the job, as well as having a tenon be about 13/16” of an inch to fit into the ¾” conduit. Fortunately, you can get a wood flag topper with a hole drilled in it that will allow you to slip the topper over the pole. At the time of filming, wood flag toppers are available at Gettysburg Flag Works:

https://www.gettysburgflag.com/hardwa...

The Aluminum Flag Pole Ring kit (includes 2 set-screw tightened rings and swivels, and flag clips) was purchased from Frontline Flags for $16. Follow this link to purchase a set:

https://bit.ly/DFJayFlagPoleRingMount...

While we weren’t able to find this product made in the U.S.A,. these aluminum rings are VASTLY superior to cheap plastic ones and worth the investment.

On our farm, we are proud to display Made in the U.S.A. American Flags made by Annin Flagmakers:

www.annin.com

We think it makes sense to have the workforce of the Country on display make the flag! Just sayin’. And, Annin has a wonderful FAQ section for flag etiquette and custom. Check it out!

Enjoy your new beautiful porch flag!