A pole skid bung!
I’m sure that many of you, like me, have managed at some time to lose the bung from the top end of the bottom pole section.
My son, a keen angler, gave me one of these devices.
A couple of photos will make more sense than a thousand words!
Ron, GW4EVX
In reply to GW4EVX:
of course I lost it - on OK/LI-023. Thanks for the hint …
73, Mario
In reply to GW4EVX:
Thanks for the idea!
73, Halvard.
In reply to GW4EVX:
Ron
I included a suggestion on this topic in a recent Radcom article. Basically I made a velcro flap using self adhesive velcro and insulating tape. This works well and has the significant advantage that there is nothing to lose as it is permanently attached to the pole.
Mine has been in use for several years and had worked well throughout.
73
Richard
G3CWI
In reply to LA1DNA:
‘…I went on some slippery pathes. It had been frost for some days and now it was raining a little. Suddenly i were laying strait out in the raod.’
That’s exactly how I lost mine Halvard!
I slipped on the ice and the sudden jerking movement caused the bung to shoot out like a bullet, never to be seen again!
73
Ron, GW4EVX
In reply to GW4EVX:
Thanks for that one Ron. I never lost a bung from the top of a pole yet, in fact I keep finding them when I do activations. The problem with me is the bottom ends keep getting smashed so I ordered a couple of those Pole End Bungs.
I did find a cheaper alternative and ordered some of these as well. Look at eBay item 310183425175 Pole Caps - Pole Bungs in sizes 30 to 38mm at 2 for 99p. I ordered four of each size to be sure as I have a stack of poles of various sizes with taped ends here.
Regards Steve GW7AAV who is nearly twenty pound lighter after reading this post.
In reply to GW7AAV:
I did find a cheaper alternative and ordered some of these as well.
Look at eBay item 310183425175 Pole Caps - Pole Bungs in sizes 30 to
38mm at 2 for 99p. I ordered four of each size to be sure as I have a
stack of poles of various sizes with taped ends here.
“This listing has ended. Item: Pole bungs - Pole Caps 30-38 mm”
73,
Walt (G3NYY)
P.S. My bottom pole cap - the screw-on one - has disintegrated into 3 pieces.
A temporary repair has been made more than once with Bostik, but it doesn’t last long.
In reply to G3NYY:
The quality of the poles is variable both between makes and between batches in the same make. I have a unused spare pole here and when I moved it the other day the bottom cap fell apart. It’s never been out of the shack and it’s failed! I think you’ll need a big cob of epoxy ockered over the end and it may stay together!
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to G3NYY:
P.S. My bottom pole cap - the screw-on one - has disintegrated into 3
pieces.
A temporary repair has been made more than once with Bostik, but it
doesn’t last long.
Walt, the ‘Pole skid bung’ is actually meant to be used at the bottom of the pole so will do the job for you.
Ron, GW4EVX
In reply to G3NYY:
Walt, if you want to play scrooge and be like me, a plastic milk bottle screw top might just be a force fit to your pole. I use one on the bottom of mine fixed with tape and while they eventually split, the replacement cost is zero and with spare bottle tops and tape taken up the summits I can effect an instant repair.
As for the top of my pole, like most people I too have lost the bung - on the way down Drygarn Fawr GW/MW-003 on 7th December 2008 if I recall correctly. Since then I have used the neck of a milk bottle taped over the outer of the pole using Gaffa tape and the screw top keeps everything in. Using red tops I can see them in low light conditions, so haven’t accidentally littered any summits.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18897403@N00/3234003302/
Now if anyone knows where I can get fluorescent yellow O rings to fit the elements on an SB5 SOTAbeam, that would stop the depletion of my O ring stock.
Gerald G4OIG
In reply to G3NYY:
In reply to GW7AAV:
“This listing has ended. Item: Pole bungs - Pole Caps 30-38
mm”
That will be because I bought them all, but he will no doubt have them in the free catalogue mentioned in the listing.
Steve GW7AAV
In reply to G4OIG:
'…if you want to play scrooge and be like me, a plastic milk
bottle screw top might just be a force fit to your pole. I use one on
the bottom of mine fixed with tape and while they eventually split…’
I am all in favour of saving money and improvisation but my suggestion was for a permanent cure rather than a temporary fix.
With due respect Gerald, if you are going to a lot of trouble and effort to carry your equipment over rough terrain to operate it at a remote location you don’t want to rely on bottle tops and sticky tape to keep it functioning!
Ron, GW4EVX
In reply to GW4EVX:
With due respect Gerald, if you are going to a lot of trouble and
effort to carry your equipment over rough terrain to operate it at a
remote location you don’t want to rely on bottle tops and sticky tape
to keep it functioning!
I totally agree Ron, but I would say that the solution at the top of the pole has lasted over a year and more than 70 activations and is as good as the day it was made. The bottom has been renewed twice in the last year and both times purely as a precaution and when I dismantled the pole after it had had a soaking. I have not exactly pampered the pole, especially as I often wedge it in rocks and use bungie cords to support it. My solution may not be particularly elegant, but it works for me.
Gerald G4OIG
In reply to G4OIG:
Bungie cords sounds good, I’ve been using duct tape, and as I won’t leave litter I often have to fish a sticky mess of used tape out of my pockets when I get home. I presume you have short ones and wrap them several times around a fence post?
73
Brian G8ADD
In reply to G8ADD:
I started out with 4 the same length Brian, probably around 90cm long - they were from a set that used to keep the cases on the car roof-rack years ago when I had a car full of kids and we went camping in France. Since they have been used for SOTA they have got worn, as I use them to strap the pole to rocks and fence posts which are often abrasive. Cutting out the weak sections, I now have 4 smaller ones of various lengths which I sometimes use in series to get around larger rocks. They are particularly useful when the inside of a summit shelter or a stone wall is used as the operating position.
73, Gerald
In reply to G8ADD:
Hi Brian,
I have always used Bungie Straps of various sizes since day one to strap my Pole to fence posts etc:.
The last ones I got from Mountain Warehouse.
Flexible and cheap and best of all lightweight!!!
73
Tony
I bought a pair of velcro straps off Richard (Sotabeams) when I recently bought the MFD, and I would say thay they are even better than bungie cords; lighter and more compact. Perhaps not so good for Gerald’s cairn, but particularly quick and easy round a fence post.
Richard
G0IBE
In reply to G3CWI:
Richard, great idea. The best point is there is nothing to keep in the pocket or take care of when the pole extends.
73 Ruda OK2QA
In reply to GW4EVX:
Just when you think you have the ultimate solution…
My Pole Caps - Pole Bungs in sizes 30 to 38mm arrived yesterday. These work great but are an absolute t*** to get off again.
My pole skid bungs arrived today and they are too big for the 6 and 7 metre poles I have and only just big enough for my 10 metre pole.
I might just wander in to the local fishing shop and see if they know of any slightly smaller and/or bigger versions of the same thing.
Back to the lids off the milk shake and insulation tape.
Steve GW7AAV
In reply to GW7AAV:
Apply a thin smear of Vaseline to the inside of the pole cap. Or alternatively, don’t push the cap on so far.
Andy
MM0FMF
