The Armour Archive

I am completely hopeless at building anything so I figure I would ask the experts on AA. I need to make some poles for a pavillion and I was wondering what's the best wood to use, what to use for the pins that go through the gromets and how keep the pins in the pole.

Thanks,

Usualy 2x2 poles from the big box hardware avoid big knots. Drilling holes in the end about 2" deap with a bit about 1/64 or so smaller then your peg. For pegs I use bar stock from the local fab shop. I know a few people also use steel spikes cut in half with a pair of bolt cutters. Usualy these spikes are used for hanging gutters and other applications they come about 10" long and about 1/4-5/16 diamiter.
Friction fit keeps them in place if you use a bit the same size as the rod a little gorilla glue does the trick to keep things tight.
Ridge poles and center poles are usualy laminated 2x4 with some type of splint for traveling. Most major tent dealers sell splints for standard lumber.

What kind of pavilion? Mine doesn't have any pegs or grommets. It's a center pole spoked wheel style 10-sided pavilion. I'm assuming you bought yours from a manufacturer?

Thanks for the tips. Its a regent pavillion that I got 2nd hand, it originally belonged to my 1st knight who has sinced passed away.

i use 2x2s planed down to octagons, painted with exterior house paint. for pins I use lag bolts that I cut the heads off to the proper length so they can't pull out. Get some 1/8th inch rubber and punch some grommets to prevent rain leaking in the grommets.

If your poles are going to be load bearing, do not use pine. Poplar!

No such thing as a load bearing pole in a tent.

Hard material will last longer, flat out. Pine will do fine to get your tent up. As far as posts for going through grommets I use round stock steel or aluminum, sometimes even re-bar. Re-bar has to be ground down on the outside though.

Drill a hole down the 2x2 and use some glue or even better epoxy. Hammer the stock material in however not to hard, Only enough to get it seated into the wood (You will hear a difference in the sound). After the wood dry's from natural aging the post wont ever come out.

Any more question's feel free to PM me anytime. Ive built my fair share of tents for me and my guild members.

For perimiter pole tents like regents I do what Jonathon More does. Painted pine 2x2's from the local HD or Lowes, maybe cut to octagons with a 3/8 lag-bolt and the head cut off. I get bolts with long unthreaded sections so they are smooth above the pole. I don't bother with rubber as I tie my ropes to fineals and the fineals shed water well around the gromet holes. If you get PERFECT 2x4's you can rip them to make 2x2's but odds are that knots will kill half of them and by the time you buy extra wood you could just buy 2x2's. Try to avoid the greening ones that are treating for decking. Bare white wood with small knots is best.

Tent on order hower is a spoked oval. Pole design for that is a different story all together.

Sean

I went with 2x4s ripped in half, then I rounded off the edges on a router table with a 1/4" roundover bit. They are strong enough for perimeters. For your one upright in the regent, I suggest you take about an inch of of a 2x4 and round the edges off, as well as the top.

Falcone