Tent poles..

[Union Maid]

Ok so i have my lumber for the last 2 seasons, their fine and everything but someone told me that there was a mettle thing in the middle that lets u fold it when packin...i want to do this to mine, but how? am i makin sense?
thanks!

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Tent poles of the Civil War period were all one piece, however if modern convenience is what you seek, you can get hinged brackets of differing sizes to fit the lumber you're using at most home improvement stores like Home Depot. You can also look into metal sleeves which you can use to slide between halved poles, just make sure that they are thick enough to provide support without bending or breaking. You give up a substantial amount of strength when you use modern brackets and sleeves.

[Marc]

For one of the civilian wall tents I used a Barn Hinge for the center beam. Just pull the center pin to travel and when assembling put pin in place.

[reddcorp]

I made a ridgepole sleeve from 1 1/2"(inside dimension) square steel tubing about 24" so long. I found the right size tubing at a metal fabrication shop; leftover from a big job. You will probably need to cut, file,sand or rout your ridgepoles equally to fit snuggly into the sleeve. Nail or use a woodscrew to affix one end to the sleeve. The other, of course, will slide out for transport. IWorks for me.

Andy Redd

[BobSullivanPress]

I know of at least one manufacturer that makes nice and reasonably priced sleeves that a 2 x 4 will slide in. I purchased one from him several years ago after trying to find one and/or have one made myself. His price, including shipping, was way cheaper than I could find, and he understands the entire concept of sleeves for tent poles or ridge poles.

go here: www.tentsmiths.com (http://www.tentsmiths.com)

[Spinster]

Yep.

What Bob said. For ridgepoles, order a Tentsmiths's sleeve. You may have to chamfer your ridge if you have not already. This will help with wear on your tent as well.

I have not used a sleeved upright from Tentsmiths--simply because I have not needed to. I'm transporting 8 foot uprights for one set up, but I'm not trying to fit stuff in a car.

I've had sleeved poles and ridges from Blockade Runner--great stuff for many users, just did not stand up to the very heavy use I put gear through. These are a lighter gauge metal than the Tentsmiths.

For some folks the various hinges and pins work, I just don't find them stable in heavy wind. I've salvaged some good wood from such set ups over the years when a reenactor leaves the broken remains behind after an event though.

That thing Andy uses works too. Wind and rain of Biblical Proportions last month........

[Union Maid]

Thank you all very much for your help....

Mr. Lamoreaux, I know its dumb but it hadnt occurred to me that it wasnt period, but my only thing is, how period is it for my lady impresssion to be in a tent on the same plot as the army anyways ? Im not sure what to do, the only reason i was considerin it is im stuck havin to put all my crap in a compact car for a event this weekend...hmmm what to do..but i dont wanna justify farbiness....

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Thank you all very much for your help....

Mr. Lamoreaux, I know its dumb but it hadnt occurred to me that it wasnt period, but my only thing is, how period is it for my lady impresssion to be in a tent on the same plot as the army anyways ? Im not sure what to do, the only reason i was considerin it is im stuck havin to put all my crap in a compact car for a event this weekend...hmmm what to do..but i dont wanna justify farbiness....

I know many people who've done this for their tent poles, as it much easier to transport. Those are items that are rarely seen by anyone but you, so such would entirelly be your call. I'm not criticizing you in the slightest and I encourage almost anything that makes it easier to transport and attend events, as long as it isn't something glaringly wrong and out in front. I can see you're making many attempts in your learning process and I applaud that.

[flattop32355]

I know its dumb but it hadnt occurred to me that it wasnt period, but my only thing is, how period is it for my lady impresssion to be in a tent on the same plot as the army anyways ? Im not sure what to do, the only reason i was considerin it is im stuck havin to put all my crap in a compact car for a event this weekend...hmmm what to do..but i dont wanna justify farbiness....

We also do not have government wagons available to haul our full-length tent poles to us, so one is required to compromise in some ways to arrive at an event with the required materials.

One option is a roof rack, but it's not my prefered way. My ridge pole is a 2x2(rather than a 2x4) sectioned at the center and reenforced with bolts and thicker metal bands. I've been wanting to find a better replacement, similar to Mr. Redd's solution: I'll have to check a fabrication business.

The goal is to minimize the compromises and modern intrusions, as we cannot generally eliminate all of them. Failing that, the two people remaining in the hobby can debate which one of them is the more authentic. ;)