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View Full Version : How to make a home made Disc Golf Tone Pole Target.


puaahunter
December 21st, 2009, 11:35 PM
i've searched the internet and disc golf forums looking for examples of home made tone poles, looking for inspiration to make one for my back yard. i've appreciated some of these links that i've found here (http://www.disctrips.com/galleries/unusual-pins/1.html) and here (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1299). However, the most inspiring tone i've heard from a tone pole target met my ears at Lucky Mud DGC in Skamokawa, WA. Ol'Bob (the resident groundskeeper/DG pro) was kind enough to offer some direction on the NWDiscGolfNews Forums right here (http://www.nwdiscgolfnews.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3643&highlight=tone+pole). taking all of these things to heart, and wanting to proceed in the cheapest manner possible, what i'll list below are my plans. a how to video follows.


1. i planted a 2' long 1 1/4" diameter threaded pipe in a 2' hole filled with cement. i left 8" exposed. make sure it's plumb up and down, straight as an arrow.

http://holzgrove.com/host/DG/pipe.jpg

2. on that, i screwed a 1 1/4" coupler so that i can use this planted pipe for something else in the future if i want to.

3. on to the coupler, i screwed a 4' long 1 1/4" pipe for the main height of the target

4. on to the 4' tall pipe, i screwed my special custom made cap. it's a 1 1/4" cap with a hole drilled through the center of the top. through that hole is a 1/2" bolt that's 2 1/2" long, secured with washers and nuts. this bolt was then sharpened to a taper on the ends on which the weight of the target will rest.

http://holzgrove.com/host/DG/inside.jpg

http://holzgrove.com/host/DG/tip.jpg


5. on this whole assembly, i placed the target. the target is a ~60 cu ft compressed air tank with the bottom cut off and the top valve cut off. the brass fitting was left in the top of the tank to be placed on the post. i rested this tank on the post and the weight of the tank holds it in place.

http://holzgrove.com/host/DG/tonepole.jpg


here's a quick video of the assembly and the final product:
rWFnaYNGiYE

Ol' Bob
December 22nd, 2009, 10:34 AM
What is that, an F sharp?


Sun's out today. Maybe I'll get that pic of my pole. (It's an E flat.)

puaahunter
December 22nd, 2009, 10:45 AM
What is that, an F sharp?


Sun's out today. Maybe I'll get that pic of my pole. (It's an E flat.)



close... my guitar tuner is picking it up as an E, just a tad sharp.

could you video yours so we can hear the sound difference?

i look forward to seeing your pictures.

Ol' Bob
December 22nd, 2009, 11:06 AM
Geez, I don't know how to do that. It just occurred to me, I haven't any way to download an image to my Linux from my Cannon. Any computer guyz/wominz want to help me out. Free disc golf and Vortex IPA for your time.

The Ombudsman
December 22nd, 2009, 11:38 AM
The best Tone Poles I have ever heard are the ones made by a guy named Chainsaw in Humboldt. He makes them in his metal shop. I don't have the recipe yet, but I am sure I can get it from Skwid Larvae. These tones have the purest sound I have heard in a tone pole and even if the disc barely scrapes the pole it resonates for a long time. Visually they are very nice as well, with a bright silver color and nice yellow bands.
318
And yes, I did make this 65 footer!

puaahunter
December 22nd, 2009, 12:02 PM
The best Tone Poles I have ever heard are the ones made by a guy named Chainsaw in Humboldt. He makes them in his metal shop. I don't have the recipe yet, but I am sure I can get it from Skwid Larvae.


sounds great! i'd love to see some more design ideas!

The Ombudsman
December 22nd, 2009, 01:27 PM
I just got off of the phone with Skwid. He tells me that Chainsaw uses fire extinguishers as his tones. They are hung slightly different from the ones Bob makes. He will try to get me some better pics and specs in the next few days.
He also tells me that the Bigfoot was originally set for the weekend of February 20th, but it will be moved to the 13th and 14th to coincide with the long holiday weekend.

erp
December 22nd, 2009, 02:16 PM
Depending on your distribution, it should just work when plugged in to USB (then look in your file manager if an icon doesn't appear automagically on the desktop...) if you have a slot for the card in your computer it should work the same way...




Geez, I don't know how to do that. It just occurred to me, I haven't any way to download an image to my Linux from my Cannon. Any computer guyz/wominz want to help me out. Free disc golf and Vortex IPA for your time.

Ol' Bob
December 22nd, 2009, 02:39 PM
I just assumed that since the Cannon came with software for Mac and that other OS only, that it wouldn't work. I'll plug it in and see if it sees it. The Cannon CD didn't work so I just gave up.

Ol' Bob
December 22nd, 2009, 03:08 PM
Okay, so I plugged the camera in and the only way I could find to see it was with the Image Viewer app. When I clicked on 'Open File' and Cannon appeared, and I clicked on that, it just told me:
The folder contents could not be displayed
Cannot change to folder because it is not local
After I click OK, the Cannon thingy disappears until I turn the camera off and back on.

TreeLove
December 22nd, 2009, 07:10 PM
OMG, Don't TELL me you are referring to the same "Squid". The insane guy whom our groupmate threatened to literally pound into the ground (thankfully) about every 3 holes during The Heave a couple years ago? Advanced Master from NorCal?

cefire
December 22nd, 2009, 07:53 PM
Thanks for putting up that video and awesome looking pole!

olydiscgolf
December 23rd, 2009, 09:57 AM
I've always thought that old propane tanks would make good tones. They are roughly the size of the chains and are easy to find at any junkyard.

Ol' Bob
December 23rd, 2009, 10:13 AM
I'd say it would be a good idea to fill any propane tanks completely full of water before attempting to cut or drill them.

olydiscgolf
December 23rd, 2009, 10:15 AM
I'd say it would be a good idea to fill any propane tanks completely full of water before attempting to cut or drill them.

?????

Ol' Bob
December 23rd, 2009, 10:18 AM
Burn baby, burn.

Just knowing the tank is empty of pressurized gas isn't enough to insure to me that it's not going to be flammable.

Filling it with water back through the valve might not be easy (unless it is one of the old vented tanks), but it would insure that any flammable gases were displaced. If anyone has any other ideas to make drilling or cutting a propane tank safe, do tell.

Bruce
December 23rd, 2009, 11:49 AM
Argon will work in place of water as well. Though seeing as how I work in a welding shop...argon is easier for me to come by.

olydiscgolf
December 23rd, 2009, 12:51 PM
Couldn't you just unscrew the whole valve assembly? No pressure= No gas.

Ol' Bob
December 23rd, 2009, 12:54 PM
I suppose I could do the same thing with carbon dioxide, but I'd rather use that to push beer.

Ol' Bob
December 23rd, 2009, 12:56 PM
Couldn't you just unscrew the whole valve assembly? No pressure= No gas.

No pressure = gas at one atmosphere.

Ever tried to unscrew a valve from a propane tank. Let me know how that goes. I have a friend who is a scrapper and he can't seem to get them out.

I asked him about it because I have a crap-load of the old style tanks that they won't refill anymore. I thought I'd just change over the valves. They must glue them in when they make the tanks.

puaahunter
December 23rd, 2009, 01:39 PM
Ever tried to unscrew a valve from a propane tank. Let me know how that goes. I have a friend who is a scrapper and he can't seem to get them out.


i tried really hard to unscrew the valve on mine. it was pretty much impossible!
that's why we just cut it off flush at the valve.
it still left the inside of the valve to rest my tapered bolt on- a good solution all around!

Jet
December 25th, 2009, 10:50 AM
Just curious how the neighbors like having a tone pole nearby? What is their reaction?

puaahunter
December 25th, 2009, 10:00 PM
Just curious how the neighbors like having a tone pole nearby? What is their reaction?

they are really friendly, understanding neighbors.
i only toss at it during the day, and not everyday at that.

we also have three little boys that are constantly tearing around our backyard running a muck too.

they're good people.