What Says US Patriotism more than Raising an American Flag Everyday at an In-Ground Flagpole

Since the US flag was first flown, flagpoles have experienced many significant changes. Flagpoles were only made from wood prior to the industrial revolution. Although there are some Rustic-themed companies in the US that still do this craft, most American flag poles for sale makers use stronger materials to produce longer-lasting flagpoles.

Carpenters would hand-saw down straight trees and create the first flagpoles. These trees were then shaped through whittling and finally sanding to a smooth surface. For preservation, the poles were rubbed with animal fat for several days. This ensured that the wood was completely saturated. If properly maintained, these poles will last more than 50 year. These flagpoles were beautiful, but because they were directly installed into the ground, they can become rotted at the base.

The use of steel tubes and masts from ships as flagpoles began at the turn in the century. Older wooden poles were becoming less common. In the years after 1929’s stock market crash, and during World War II’s rapid industrial expansion, items such as steel shafts for pile-drive and cargo booms aboard large ships were used as inspiration by a growing number of flagpole producers. This type was the most popular in the industry for more than twenty years. This was the next stage in the evolution and perhaps the most familiar of all these everyday inspirations. Aluminum was the new material for flagpoles. Aluminum is today’s most popular flagpole material.

Aluminum can have many distinctive characteristics that allow it change at the molecular levels, creating different products for different applications. 6063 is an aluminum alloy that is most commonly used to make flagpoles. This alloy is extruded pipe, tube and must be made in accordance to ASTM B241, the “Aluminum Alloy Semi-Semless Pipe” and “Aluminum Alloy Extruded Tube” standards. To achieve the toughest form of this alloy, most poles are hardened by heat treatment. This temper rating provides an incredible level of minimum stress at approximately 25,000 pounds per inch, and an allowable design strain for tubes of 18,000lbs per inch.