turtlelady's Bamboo Stand

**shumway** · 06-24-2011, 12:25

If you decide to drill and bolt, I should suggest an alternative to bolts. I don't know the correct name, but what I'm thinking of is like a bolt with no threads, and with holes through the shaft. Like the pin that holds trailer hitches together, but smaller in diameter. That goes through your ridge pole then an R-clip is inserted into a hole to keep it from falling out. I use these on my take-down rack in my pickup. Home Depot has them in the fastener aisle.
These look like they would work great too.

**turtlelady** · 06-24-2011, 12:37

Shumway -- Thank you for your suggestions and illustrating links. I hate to add the small bits like nuts and bolts that can get lost, and which sometimes my arthritic hands find hard and painful to manipulate. Maybe just a pin made of stiff wire that is taped to the pole and drops through the holes would work.

**shumway** · 06-24-2011, 12:49

A big cotter pin would be perfect for that. It already has a loop in one end where you can tie a string. And they are stiff enough that you wouldn't have to worry about it bending.

**Jazilla** · 06-24-2011, 14:44

The fence rail I have doesn't taper on the ends. Its 1 1/2 fence rail. I had siliconed the connecting piece inside of one of my pipes. If you look at the connector there is a grove in the center. It split at that grove. I am sure I can easily fix this problem with larger pipe over the splice instead of inside the splice. Ill let you all know how it goes.

**turtlelady** · 06-24-2011, 15:24

Jazilla -- Hmmm. It is amazing to me that the connector split. Thank you for the heads up on this possibility, and the expanded explanation of the circumstances of your fail scenario and the materials you used. Good luck with your redesign. I look forward to seeing pictures. "Tapered!" I have been trying to think of that descriptive word for weeks. Duh! Joyfully, Turtlelady

**hppyfngy** · 06-24-2011, 16:58

Folks what kind of cordage are you using for lashing? Mine stays outdoors so I thought I'd use sisal as it holds up well in weather and grabs the bamboo very well. After a couple of weeks though it loosens up to the point I have to take it down and redo the lashing. Not such a hassle but...

What do think works best?

**shumway** · 06-24-2011, 17:06

I used parachute cord for the lashing and the leg limiters. Amsteel for the hang loop.

Not that there's anything actually wrong with sisal cordage, but I'm leery of it. I think it's from all the slivers and blisters I got from learning to splice it back in my navy days.

**Alamosa** · 06-24-2011, 18:10

Originally Posted by hppyfngy

Folks what kind of cordage are you using for lashing? Mine stays outdoors so I thought I'd use sisal as it holds up well in weather and grabs the bamboo very well. After a couple of weeks though it loosens up to the point I have to take it down and redo the lashing. Not such a hassle but...

What do think works best?

If I was lashing something to stay outdoors, I would use bailing twine that the farmers use to bail their hay. It is great for lashing in the first place (used it many times) and given that it is made to sit out in the weather, I would not expect it to loosen or degrade much over time.

**hppyfngy** · 06-24-2011, 19:00

Originally Posted by Alamosa

If I was lashing something to stay outdoors, I would use bailing twine that the farmers use to bail their hay. It is great for lashing in the first place (used it many times) and given that it is made to sit out in the weather, I would not expect it to loosen or degrade much over time.

Bailing twine is sisal isn't it? Oh, do you mean that poly twine?

**shumway** · 06-24-2011, 23:30

I never thought of using poly twine. I have 5000' roll of it left over from a cable install I did a while back. Maybe if I build a second stand I'll try it.