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Mike OMelia
 Post subject: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:27 pm 
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I was in Lowes the other day and I found these fiberglass poles used to hold reflectors at the ends of driveways (avoid ditches, etc). 48" long. Rubber cap on one end. 5/16" diameter. Over in the hardware department, I found matching rubber ends for the other end. Total investment per rod, ~$2.25.

I plan to go back and buy the whole box of them.

(appologies to providers of same product at $5 a rod, but what can I say? The folks that made the most money during the Gold Rush(es) were the provisioners, always kind of bothered me)

Mike
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Chansen
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:41 pm 
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Been there, done that. I saw the same post about 7/8 months ago so I ran out and bought about half as many as I thought I needed. I didn't want 48" so I figured I'd cut them in half and get twice as many 24"... well after you nip off the reflector they are more like 23" each and waaaaayyy too stiff. I used them for the back braces but it was kind of scary how much pressure there was. When one would pop off WATCH OUT! They would probably work ok as 48" or even 36", just don't make the same mistake I did. I then went to Into The Wind per Todd Stock's suggestion. These 48" rods can be cut down and are just about perfect.

http://www.intothewind.com/shop/Repair_ ... -16_FG_Rod

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SkyHigh
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:42 pm 
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slackkey_mike wrote:
I was in Lowes the other day and I found these fiberglass poles used to hold reflectors at the ends of driveways (avoid ditches, etc). 48" long. Rubber cap on one end. 5/16" diameter. Over in the hardware department, I found matching rubber ends for the other end. Total investment per rod, ~$2.25.

I plan to go back and buy the whole box of them.

(appologies to providers of same product at $5 a rod, but what can I say? The folks that made the most money during the Gold Rush(es) were the provisioners, always kind of bothered me)

Mike


Is there a reason why you just don't buy rods from one of the kite stores? I think it comes out to less than a $1 per rod. Matter of fact, I got like 100 of them and each is less than 60 cents... if my math is correct.
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Rod True
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:04 am 
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I still wonder why people pay for go-bar rods at all when you can use scrap pieces of hardwood. Go to a flooring store and see if they have any pieces of maple flooring in 24" lengths kicking around. Cut them to 1/4" wide and you have your go-bars really cheap.

I have about 4 dozen which I got from my neighbour when he was putting in new maple flooring. Didn't cost me a thing and they work just fine. Now David's isn't bad at $0.60 a piece. Getting closer to free anyway.

Those driveway reflectors have been talked about before. Seems that they are to thick as Christian has mentioned.

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Mike OMelia
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:37 am 
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Ooops! Nothing new under the sun. OK. I'll check out the Goodwin rods. Thanks for the tips.

http://www.goodwindskites.com/merch/lis ... fiberglass

http://www.goodwindskites.com/merch/lis ... nylendcaps

Mike (Todd, thanks!!)
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SkyHigh
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:12 am 
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ToddStock wrote:
There is a tradeoff between force applied and ease of use. Most folks find that the 3/16" rods are about right for a 24" rod length and 1/4" rods for a 32" to 36" rod. The driveway reflector rods are a little stiff for a 24" deck, but work fine for the higher ones. Goodwin sells 72" x 1/4" rods for $1.32 per for 24 or more, so cost per rod is down around $.75 with ends caps. If you can buy a driveway reflector rod and put end caps on for less than that, go for it.

FWIW, Goodwind will cut rods to length for a small charge.

On the wood rod or dowel issue, it's a preference thing...I've used dowels, hickory scraps, and glass rods, but prefer the glass.


OH man! Only if I knew they have cutting service. I just hate fiber glass. Got too much of that stuff putting insulations on Aircraft walls.
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SkyHigh
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:54 pm 
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I just found out that the they charge 25 cents per cut.
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Bill Greene
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:43 pm 
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Location: Kings Mtn., NC, USA
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Might be worth it though...fiberglass eats up a bandsaw blade (if you're using that to cut them). Don't ask me how I know this. gaah

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Mike OMelia
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:25 am 
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Well, I finally got mine on order... 24 of the 72" x 1/4" glass rods with end caps. It says right at the top to use a dremel cutoff blade to cut them. My guess is thats what they do also.

Mike
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Michael Dale Payne
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:58 pm 
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I buy mine and have been for at least 5 years from the other big box home improvement store. I pay just $2.00 per 48" length and get the reflector free (whoopee) I get the plastic caps for free through a friend that builds custom closet fixtures. I have bought through the on line kite suppliers but after shipping I don't save anything and I can pick them up locally so for me it is a why bother. I do have to say I recently was given a bunch of 3/16" x 3/4" wide fiberglass flat bar and cut them into 24" long strips. I like them better for brace clamping but like rods better for almost every else.
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Mike OMelia
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:33 pm 
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Michael, I think thats how this thread got started....

Mike
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Kim
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:40 pm 
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Cut ur rods with a fibre disk in a dremel, too eazy.

Cheers

Kim
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Lillian F-W
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:24 am 
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I used a hacksaw on the ones I got from Goodwinds. Four, maybe five strokes and I was done. Set up a little jig and was done in less than 10 minutes. Wear gloves. I was dealing with invisible slivers for days.

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Bobc
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:21 am 
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I wrap masking tape in a few places to make up a bundle of a doz or so and I swipe of the chop saw. :P

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SteveCourtright
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:50 pm 
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I will tell you why I like the fiberglass (kite) rods, they glow in the dark! Seriously, they are nice and narrow, and stiff for their cross section, so one can fit a lot of the rods with some serious pressure in a small place. I believe, on a cross sectional basis they exert more force than wood ones. But I have no objective data.
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Guest
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:10 pm 
ever thought about using bamboo?
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Mike OMelia
 Post subject: Re: Go-Bars (improv)
PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:21 pm 
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You can use anything you want, I spose. My "deck" is my bench and cabinets (above). See no need build a rig... I saw another good maker use the same thing.

You may need to order different sizes of plastic tips for the bamboo.

Mike
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