From: scott@bell.b17a.ingr.com (Scott Bell)
Subject: Re: grass net construction
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 13:06:59 GMT

In article <Eegse3m00iUzQ2aXxb@andrew.cmu.edu>, "Mark J. Marsalese" <mmbx+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
    I previously blurted:
|> >    Sorry, guys, but PVC was definitley(sp?) not intended for use as support
|> >    poles, even if it's lightweight, fairly durable, and easy to work
|> with. >            
|> 
|> >    It's original use was for plumbing/water piping systems ONLY.
|> >
|> >     That's why it doesn't stand up too good to side-tension, such as a net 
|> >    pulling on one side and guy lines pulling on the other. The pipe will
|> >    eventually bend or snap unless you have reinforcement along the
|> side of the
|> >    pipe. Exposure to sun also makes the bending/sagging happen even faster.
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

        This is definitely debatable( sun exposure ). I've seen it happen to 
        other nets/heard from others about it, so that's where the info comes
        from.

|> >    
|> 
|> I must disagree w/ Scott here because I have constructed a net with PVC tubing
|> and a store bought net and mine seem to hold up quite well, and it only cost me
|> $10 for the poles (<about>) Even after a few games the center still stays 
|> extremely close to 7'11 5/8" (<I've never seen it under this height, then again
|> I've never tried to perfectly measure it.>)  Where are you fastening the
|> support
|> ropes? The tension on my net hardly ever slackens (<noticably>) unless
|> it is set
|> up wrong.Also my poles use 1 1/2" PVC piping(sp?) which is divided into two 
|> sections. One of the sections has a rounded 1"x1" piece of wood inserted into
|> it. The second and top piece fits upon it, not loosely, but not tightly. Like 
|> this:
|> 
|>      ---------------------________   -----------------------
|>      _____________________--------   _______________________
|> 

       Just as specultaion, this design probably puts the tension on the wood,
       so the PVC part is not under as much tension at this point( pure,
       unadultered specutlaion, remember? ;) ). Good idea.

    < Outdoor net design nuked for bandwidth space... >
 
|> The only problems I have is that the poles are indeed bending as our friend 
|> Scott says, but despite that the net keeps its tension, but this is only one
|> summer, perhaps next things will change...

     Maybe better clarify the PVC application part I stated earlier: PVC CAN be
     used for net poles. There are some companies that cast their poles using
     PVC material, but the PVC piping you may buy from your downtown hardware
     store is probably the kind to be used for plumbing work. I've seen it
     used for everything from mailboxes to chairs( yep, chairs! ), but that was
     not it's original purpose. There ya go.
|> 
|> 
|> For clarifications and/or changes you 
|> may or may not be able to reach me at:
|>                                          E-mail address
|>                                         
|>                                          mmbx@andrew.cmu.edu
|> 
|> 
|> 
|>            Life is a joke.                          ~/mark
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
     So Bush and Clinton are trying to be stand-up comedians?!? ;)
     Back to volleyball...

  Get Vertical!
  Scott
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
| Scott Bell                               |                           | 
| Intergraph Corp. - Mapping Sciences Div. | "Dreamin' takes you       |
| M/S IW17A2  Huntsville, AL  35894-0001   |  nowhere -                | 
| scott@bell.b17a.ingr.com   (Internet)    |  It's time to play."      | 
| uunet!ingr!b17a!bell!scott (uucp)        |                           | 
| W: 205-730-1776                          |    - Kenny Loggins        | 
|        #include <std_disclaim.h>         |                           |
|                                          |.vbguitarsbikesweightsrock.|
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_