Pole for Offset Bird Feeder

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My friend and customer Chuck wanted a sturdy pole to hold a bird feeder bracket.  The problem is that for some reason the arm of the bracket was three feet long, so it would apply a moment load to the pole.  The other problem is that he wanted to mount the bracket 6-1/2 feet high so that people could walk under the bracket without hitting it. The first step was to make a SolidWorks model of the pole.1. Concept Model

I find that my mister is great for keeping the part cool while taking heavy cuts.2. Mister to keep part cool

I needed to cut a slot in the pole.  To fit the pole in the room where my milling machine is located I had to rotate the waist of the Bridgeport and extend the ram as shown below.3. Offset waist of Bridgeport

4. Slot milled

I used my lathe to chamfer the end of the pipe.  I know that the chamfer doesn’t require the accuracy provided by the lathe, but I have a lathe and this is a very fast operation.5. End chamfered

Smith Oxyacetylene TorchMiller Dynasty 200DXLincoln SP-250 MIG WelderClausing/Coldchester 15" Lathe16" DuAll Saw15" Drill Press7" x 9" Swivel Head Horizontal Band Saw20 Ton Arbor Press BridgeportLincoln LE  31 MP & Lincoln 210 MP
Reply:6. Loose parts are made

7. Tack welded the tap plate

8. Tap plate welded out

9. Tip welded to tube

10. Cross plate welded

Smith Oxyacetylene TorchMiller Dynasty 200DXLincoln SP-250 MIG WelderClausing/Coldchester 15" Lathe16" DuAll Saw15" Drill Press7" x 9" Swivel Head Horizontal Band Saw20 Ton Arbor Press BridgeportLincoln LE  31 MP & Lincoln 210 MP
Reply:11. Tip painted

12. Cross plate painted

13. Cap installed on end

14. All done

Smith Oxyacetylene TorchMiller Dynasty 200DXLincoln SP-250 MIG WelderClausing/Coldchester 15" Lathe16" DuAll Saw15" Drill Press7" x 9" Swivel Head Horizontal Band Saw20 Ton Arbor Press BridgeportLincoln LE  31 MP & Lincoln 210 MP
Reply:That's just beautiful. I really enjoy posts like this.  As a fledgling wannabe weekend warrior, these give me goals to shoot for.  Also reminders that just because something seems simple it doesn't mean I should take any shortcuts or not go 100% to make it well.Yeswelder MIG-205DS(3) Angle Grinders at the ReadyJust a hobbyist trying to improve
Reply:Awesome.I would have had to try it out as a javelin before painting...
Reply:Watch out for the squirrels, little buggers are always swinging off my wife's feeder trying to ge in.


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