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Can't find aluminum tent poles for dome tents.

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ShadowTek

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Aug 18, 2008, 11:00:37 PM8/18/08
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I've had it with all this fiberglass pole crap. They splinter all the time
and they're heavier too. I wan't to find a source for aluminum tent poles
so that I can replace all the fiberglass ones in all my tents, most of
which are the 3 pole dome type.

I had a set of aluminum shock-corded poles for an old bivy shelter, and
that really helped with the tent's stabiliy. Not to mention the fact that I
had went through 2 or 3 sets of fiberglass before that, and the aluminum
poles still last to this day.

I've looked all over the place, but all I can find is the worthless
fiberglass junk. Anybody know of a source?

h...@nospam.org

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Aug 18, 2008, 11:44:41 PM8/18/08
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have you tried to find a metal shop and see if they can find you some
aluminum tubing and try making your own? A little bit of hardware
and some plastic caps you should be able to construct anything you
want.

Hal

bri90...@gmail.com

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Aug 19, 2008, 7:48:23 AM8/19/08
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I'm not sure if this would help, but I came across a site with what
seems
to be something that may help.

http://www.fibraplex.com/tentpoles.htm has carbon fiber poles with
shock-cord.

I would imagine that the carbon fiber poles would be more durable than
either
aluminum or fiberglass.

I hope this helps.

Wally

Daniel-San

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Aug 19, 2008, 9:41:51 AM8/19/08
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"ShadowTek" wrote ...

http://www.polesforyou.com/

Two orders from them, both perfect.

-Dan


Borderline

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Aug 19, 2008, 12:45:25 PM8/19/08
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I know someone that had the same problem with his dome shaped screen tent.
He replaced all the fiberglass rods with copper tubing. He bent them to
shape with a tool meant to bend pipe, flattened the ends of the tube with a
hammer, drilled a hole in the flat places and connected them with quick
install/remove pins. I'm sure similar could be done with aluminum tubing or
conduit. Conduit can usually be picked up pretty cheap at scrap yards but
might be too heavy.

ShadowTek

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Aug 19, 2008, 2:40:16 PM8/19/08
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"bri90...@gmail.com" <bri90...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:23378b7f-82e6-4946...@e53g2000hsa.googlegroups.com:


> http://www.fibraplex.com/tentpoles.htm has carbon fiber poles with
> shock-cord.
>
> I would imagine that the carbon fiber poles would be more durable than
> either
> aluminum or fiberglass.

Yeah, I'd love to have carbon fiber poles. But their prices are
rediculously high.
http://www.fibraplex.com/tentpoles2B.asp

Aluminum is the only affordable alternative that I know of.

ShadowTek

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Aug 19, 2008, 2:50:10 PM8/19/08
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"Daniel-San" <qnaoeha...@tznvy.pbz (Rot13)> wrote in
news:l2Aqk.18289$cW3....@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com:

://www.polesforyou.com/
>
> Two orders from them, both perfect.

I came to that website when I was searching, but when you try to get any
online pricing information, they just tell you to call the number of fill
out a form. I just left that site because when I see things like that it
usually means that the site (and probably everything else abou the
business) isn't very well maintained, or it usually means that the prices
are very high, and they want you to invest more of your time in whole
ordeal so that you'll just get frustrated and pay whatever you have to just
to not have to full with the situtation any more.

But I'll go ahead and fill out their form and see what the say, and how
long it takes for them to get back to me.

Thanks.

ShadowTek

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Aug 19, 2008, 2:56:10 PM8/19/08
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"Borderline" <r0...@SPAM.ca> wrote in
news:FMCqk.18826$hx.1777@pd7urf3no:

> I know someone that had the same problem with his dome shaped screen
> tent. He replaced all the fiberglass rods with copper tubing. He bent
> them to shape with a tool meant to bend pipe, flattened the ends of
> the tube with a hammer, drilled a hole in the flat places and
> connected them with quick install/remove pins. I'm sure similar could
> be done with aluminum tubing or conduit. Conduit can usually be picked
> up pretty cheap at scrap yards but might be too heavy.

Yeah, lol . I kinda want something that will roll up straight with my tent
and is at least no heavier that fiberglass poles.

Besides, aluminum makes me slightly paranoid about drawing fingers from a
lightning strike. And considering the greater conductive nature of copper
over aluminum, that'll probably keep me from ever being able to get to
sleep during a thunderstorm. lol

ShadowTek

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Aug 19, 2008, 5:28:43 PM8/19/08
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Sum Ting Wong <sumti...@privacy.net> wrote in
news:rpvla49spcfah0f1b...@4ax.com:

> http://www.polesforyou.com/

Awww, their site is worthless. The pricing lists are all empty, telling you
to call a long distance number, and the online form is buggy, saying that
the captcha code entered is invalid.

None4You

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Aug 19, 2008, 7:15:20 PM8/19/08
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"ShadowTek" <FA...@EMAIL.ADDRESS> wrote in message
news:Xns9AFFB1CD8807Bp...@85.214.90.236...


I found some here too . About a third of the way down.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Category___7157__250


None4You

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Aug 19, 2008, 7:16:43 PM8/19/08
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"None4You" <None...@nospam.cya> wrote in message
news:1vCdnbB1tvOVyTbV...@centurytel.net...
> http://www.eastonpoles.com/upgrade.asp


None4You

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Aug 19, 2008, 7:20:33 PM8/19/08
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"None4You" <None...@nospam.cya> wrote in message
news:86CdnWRsJrnGyTbV...@centurytel.net...
>http://www.fibraplex.com/


None4You

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Aug 19, 2008, 7:22:06 PM8/19/08
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"None4You" <None...@nospam.cya> wrote in message
news:BsCdnVf53OHdyDbV...@centurytel.net...
>http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm#TENT%20POLES


ShadowTek

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Aug 19, 2008, 7:45:56 PM8/19/08
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"None4You" <None...@nospam.cya> wrote in
news:86CdnWRsJrnGyTbV...@centurytel.net:


> I found some here too . About a third of the way down.
> http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Category___7157__250

Campor's descriptions of the pole's diameter and material are very poor on
average. Half of the stuff on that page says almost nothing on the
individual product's page.

I sent Campmor an email eariler explaining to them what I am looking for.
Hopefully someone can take the time to respond with some actual product
stats so that I can determine if those are the right material and diameter.


> http://www.eastonpoles.com/upgrade.asp

Awww, that site is bogus too. Its links just take you to an archery
website.

ShadowTek

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Aug 19, 2008, 8:31:24 PM8/19/08
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"None4You" <None...@nospam.cya> wrote in
news:nO6dnYq6m-EAyDbV...@centurytel.net:

>http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm#TENT%20POLES

Ahh, finally. Thanks.

snoot rosignor

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Aug 19, 2008, 11:47:38 PM8/19/08
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"ShadowTek" <FA...@EMAIL.ADDRESS> wrote in message
news:Xns9AFEEA11E686Ep...@85.214.90.236...

I too love camping in lightning storms, they should make aluminum clothing
for us hard cores.


ShadowTek

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Aug 20, 2008, 12:00:47 AM8/20/08
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"snoot rosignor" <sn...@toot.com> wrote in
news:dqydnchGmIDmCDbV...@posted.gcicommunications:

That's the main reason I would prefer the carbon fibre poles. But it would
probably cost about $150 just to outfit my 3 pole dome tent with those.

y_p_w

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Aug 20, 2008, 12:17:45 PM8/20/08
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On Aug 19, 8:47 pm, "snoot rosignor" <sn...@toot.com> wrote:
> "ShadowTek" <F...@EMAIL.ADDRESS> wrote in message

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/generic/9080/

This is but one example. I found more.

http://www.knightsedge.com/p-123-chain-mail-shirt-hauberk-riveted-aluminum.aspx
http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/aluminum-chainmail-shirt-9575.html

Seriously though, there is some silver in many of the new
antimicrobial fabric treatments. Possibly in some of the anti-fungal
treatments in tent fabric.

zoomie

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Aug 20, 2008, 10:55:15 PM8/20/08
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On Aug 18, 11:00 pm, ShadowTek <F...@EMAIL.ADDRESS> wrote:

Tent poles? I know not these tent poles of which you speak. :D

My Shires Contrail uses one Leki, the other stands ready to shoo
racoons.

Zoom

ShadowTek

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Aug 20, 2008, 11:16:03 PM8/20/08
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zoomie <goodma...@gmail.com> wrote in news:bd202e3e-4539-4156-b4c0-
100eb6...@34g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

> My Shires Contrail uses one Leki, the other stands ready to shoo
> racoons.
>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy-howell/515178416/

That looks like a decent tent for ultralight distance backpacking, but I
prefer a much larger tent. I like to be able to get ALL my gear inside with
me, and still maybe have room to invite a few visitors inside on a rainy
day.

Message has been deleted

ShadowTek

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Aug 21, 2008, 1:33:48 AM8/21/08
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sill...@yahoo.com wrote in
news:npspa45s7m5ff4p3d...@4ax.com:

> The Rainbow 2 is great for that. Sleeps three in a pinch.

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/tentdetail.cfm/TT1950

That looks decent; only 2.5 pounds and a good amount of space. But $260 is
a bit more than I'm willing to pay for a three season tent.

ro...@dxz7.com

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Aug 24, 2008, 7:09:37 AM8/24/08
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I had to chuckle .. and I know the feeling
My tent has two 9' poles for the center and a dozen permiter poles.
All steel .. oddly I did not get killed when a T-Storm came by. :)

y_p_w

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Aug 25, 2008, 2:23:31 PM8/25/08
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Finally came up with this in a web search.

http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm

Easton aluminum tent poles. Seems a bit pricey, but I guess it's full
retail while most tent makers buy in huge quantities. You'll probably
need mostly sections with inserts (except maybe one section per
assembled pole), several end tips, and maybe a tubing cutter. You
could probably determine the sizes you need. If you need 3 poles each
180 inches long in the .340" (about 9 mm) tubing, I'm thinking it's
going to be around $70+shipping.

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