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POLES
& SUCH FOR
PAVILIONS
Preparation
is everything. If you are building your own poles you will need to purchase
pole stock (wood!) Look at the chart above to determine what you need for
your marquee. Use these dimensions only as a guide and a place to start. As
you read on you will notice we have filled in the dimensions for your
unique tent. We are going to describe how we would build your pole set, if
you choose different dimension lumber be sure to factor that into the
dimensions given.
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CENTER
POLE
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WEATHER LINES
(3/8")
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PERIMETER
ROPES (1/4")
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STAKES
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PERIMETER
POLES (optional)
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10' Diameter
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10'3"
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2@ 50'
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16@ 15'
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16 small
16 large
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16@ 5'9"
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13' Diameter
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10'9"
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2@ 50'
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20@ 17'
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20 small
20 large
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20@ 6'3"
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15' Diameter
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12'3"
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2@ 60'
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24@ 20'
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24 small
24 large
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24@ 6'3"
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18' Diameter
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12'3"
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2@ 60'
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28@ 20'
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28 small
28 large
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28@ 6'3"
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POLES
CENTER POLE: We use Douglas Fir for the stock in our main
pole system. Douglas Fir is stable, does not check or twist as much as some
soft wood and is very rot resistant. We use “4x4”s (measuring
an actual 3 ½” x 3 ½”). Pick them carefully at
your lumberyard remembering you only want to do this once and good poles
will cost as much as knot filled, twisted poles.
OPTION A) FOR A “QUICK”
UPRIGHT POLE:
Set your table saw to 2 ½” and rip your pole stock to
2½”x 2½”. Reset the fence and blade to rip the
stock to an octagonal shape. Cut the pole to length. Shape the pole top to
match the conical shape of your tent top. Drill a ½” hole
directly into the center of the top end. Cut a ½” piece of
round stock steel to 10”, radius the ends and place into the hole.
OPTION B) FOR A FANCIER UPRIGHT POLE:
Adjust your table saw to rip your stock to 2 5/8” x 2 5/8”.
When complete run your stock through a thickness planer to a finished 2
½” x 2 ½”. We like the look of poles with a
“stop” so set your jointer fence at a 45 degree angle and the
feed table to remove enough wood to make the pole octagonal after four
passes. BUT FIRST, figure where you would like the stop to be, usually 9 to
12 inches from the end. Run the stock into the jointer stopping at the same
point on each cut and lifting directly up from the table. CAUTION: this is
incredibly dangerous as it leaves the cutter blades exposed and ready to
take off a finger tip, etc. Pay attention, you will only need poles once in
awhile but you will need your fingers every day. Cut the pole to length.
Shape the pole top to match the conical shape of your tent top. Drill a
½” hole directly into the center of the top end. Cut a
½” piece of round stock steel to 10”, radius the ends
and place into the hole.
YOU CAN ESTIMATE THE DIMENSIONS OF YOUR
POLES FROM THE CHART ABOVE. BECAUSE EACH TENT IS UNIQUE, DO NOT cut your poles to final
dimensions before you receive your tent. Leave an extra couple of inches on your
center pole... much easier to make lumber shorter than it is to make lumber
longer.
SLEEVES: If you are using sleeves on
your vertical pole (to make it easier to transport) you may want to cut the
stock before you do all of the above. This will allow you to work with
shorter pieces of wood. Whether you have cut your pole before or after the
process, you will wind up with two pieces for your center pole. Fit a
sleeve to a pole piece to determine just how much larger your pole is than
the sleeve. Set your jointer to take the minimum off of each face of the
octagon. Mark the table so your cut is 6 inches on each face. Fit the
sleeve and repeat until the sleeve fits snugly. When you are happy with the
fit, leave the sleeve on one pole section and drill a hole to accept a nail
or screw to secure the sleeve in place.
PERIMETER POLES (OPTIONAL):
Douglas Fir is our choice.
“2x2” (measuring an actual 1 ½” x 1
½”). Hand pick them one at a time for poles you want to work
with and look at.
You need a bunch. Set up a system so you are not doing them one at a time.
First; cut each pole to the length we have given you. Second; drill a
3/8” hole in one end roughly 3” deep. Third; set up a router or
shaper table to cut the pole stock with a 45 degree chamfer bit. Starting
the cut about 9” from the end of the pole, chamfer the edge to a
point 9” from the other end. Repeat for each edge (4 times for each
pole). Cut 3/8” steel stock to 6” pieces. Radius the ends and
place one in each perimeter pole.
Yes, you may make a “quicker” set by eliminating all the
chamfering and leaving the stock just a “2x2” but it would not
be near as impressive.
ROPE
ROPES: Pavilions use a great deal of
rope. Most people are using ¼” manila rope for the guy lines.
It is important to note that all manila ropes contain oils to preserve the
fibers. It is therefore necessary to wash your rope in a bucket of
detergent (NOT SOAP). Detergent is designed to break down oils. Oil will
not only stain the canvas, but, once in the fabric may create a medium for
water to transfer from outside to inside. A five-minute wash is all that is
needed. Rinse well and dry. You will notice that the twist loosens, the
rope swells, and the length shrinks. Better now than later!
IF YOU ARE NOT USING PERIMETER POLES:
Cut each guyline into the length on the chart and whip each end (the bitter
end of any manila rope should be whipped to keep the rope from unraveling.
(Too much to explain it here, but any book on knots will show this easy
exercise). Tie an overhand knot in one end of each rope. Pass the untied
end from the inside of the roof through the grommet on the eave of the tent
to the outside. Pull the entire length of rope through until the knot seats
against the inside of the grommet. Pass the rope through one hole in the
dog bone and then back through the other and tie an overhand knot in the bitter
end. This will give you an adjustable loop on one side of the dog bone.
USING PERIMETER POLES:
Cut each guyline into the length on the chart and whip one end. Eye splice
the opposite end. (Or tie a loop in one end but an eye splice looks far
more finished.) Pass the rope through one hole in the dog bone and then
back through the other and tie an overhand knot in the bitter end. This
will give you an adjustable loop on one side of the dog bone.
WEATHER LINES: Tie (or splice) a loop
into every end.
STAKES
Stakes can be made out of any hardwood
but we are convinced you can’t beat metal stakes as they never break
and will drive into almost any surface. Make sure that you have more than
enough. Make your guy line stakes from 1/2" steel stock at least
12" long.
Setup
Instructions
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