Pole for Offset Bird Feeder

[Don52]

My friend and customer Chuck wanted a sturdy pole to hold a bird feeder bracket. The problem is that for some reason the arm of the bracket was three feet long, so it would apply a moment load to the pole. The other problem is that he wanted to mount the bracket 6-1/2 feet high so that people could walk under the bracket without hitting it. The first step was to make a SolidWorks model of the pole.

1. Concept Model


I find that my mister is great for keeping the part cool while taking heavy cuts.

2. Mister to keep part cool


I needed to cut a slot in the pole. To fit the pole in the room where my milling machine is located I had to rotate the waist of the Bridgeport and extend the ram as shown below.

3. Offset waist of Bridgeport


4. Slot milled


I used my lathe to chamfer the end of the pipe. I know that the chamfer doesn’t require the accuracy provided by the lathe, but I have a lathe and this is a very fast operation.

5. End chamfered

[Don52]

6. Loose parts are made


7. Tack welded the tap plate


8. Tap plate welded out


9. Tip welded to tube


10. Cross plate welded

[Don52]

11. Tip painted


12. Cross plate painted


13. Cap installed on end


14. All done

[Metjunkie]

This is what I've always liked about your posts, Don. Whether it's a simple or more involved job, you show the steps and why you build things a certain way. You're a big reason why I like this forum.

[Don52]

This is what I've always liked about your posts, Don. Whether it's a simple or more involved job, you show the steps and why you build things a certain way. You're a big reason why I like this forum.

Thanks, I try to show enough so that viewers can figure out what they are looking at and the steps that I took to accomplish the job.

[ryanjones2150]

How do you like that kool mist setup? I’ve been looking at that one or the Noga model. I have some hardened axles that I have to cut some splines on soon and I think I’d like some coolant flowing.

[Don52]

How do you like that kool mist setup? I’ve been looking at that one or the Noga model. I have some hardened axles that I have to cut some splines on soon and I think I’d like some coolant flowing.

I really like it. I use it with a water soluble coolant that will work with all metals, which I leave in the mister. I just move the mister to the DoAll saw, the lathe or the Bridgeport as required. The nozzle on the magnetic base is handy.

-Don

[Don52]

My friend and customer Chuck sent me a picture of the installed bird feeder. I still am not sure why he required a three foot cantilevered bracket to support the bird feeder, but his wife is thrilled with it.

15. feeder installed

-Don

[Meltedmetal]

But why did they put a ladder for the squirrels under it? It does look good though.

[Don52]

But why did they put a ladder for the squirrels under it? It does look good though.

You are correct, it does look like a squirrel ladder.

-Don