From: scott@bell.b17a.ingr.com (Scott Bell)
Subject: Re: grass net construction
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 13:20:45 GMT

In article <2452@tymix.Tymnet.COM>, stonek@rollout.tymnet.com (Ken Stone) writes:
|> In article <1992Sep8.131218.24314@software.org> facemire@Software.ORG writes:
|> 
|>   my pole construction deleted
|> 
|> >
|> >Last year, I too, had the same desire, and I too selected 2" PVC as a means to
|> >construct an outdoor system for under $40 or so (excluding the net).  I also
|> >had the desire to have this system collapsable, so I used PVC male/female screw
|> >joints to piece the two sections together. However, there were two problems that
|> >somebody spiked a ball into the net during warmups and BOTH of my PVC poles 
|> >SNAPPED at the joints.  BUMMER!
|> >
|> >So, a PVC system *might* be reasonable for a net system, but I'm going to have to
|> >investigate aluminum or something.  Maybe it was just the screw joints that caused
|> >the system to fail.  I'm confident that having a PVC system without some form of
|> >telescoping would probably do the trick (if you could get around the tension 
|> >problem).                                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> >^^^^^^^^^                                              
|> >Just thought that I'd give you my PVC experiences...
|> >
|> >Jeff Facemire
|> >facemire@software.org
|>
|> 	We do have a sag in the middle but it is minimal.
|>      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
|> -								      -
|> - ken stone                 stonek@antares.tymnet.com                 -
|> - btna san jose, ca     but stonek.probably@the.racquetball.courts    -
|> -     								      -
|> 

     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.
     
     Now where is that lightweight-galvanized-super-duper-under-25-clams net pole
     I saw in the National Enquirer?!? ;) ;)

     Good Luck on the construction,
     Get Vertical!
     Scott

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| Scott Bell                               |                           | 
| Intergraph Corp. - Mapping Sciences Div. | "Dreamin' takes you       |
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