[SCA-Dance] Maypole

Huette von Ahrens huette_aliza at yahoo.com
Tue May 2 04:51:59 EDT 2006



--- Tom Vincent <tomrvincent at yahoo.com> wrote:

    
>   One inch wide ribbon would not be sturdy enough or
> wide enough for use on a Maypole.  You'd want at
> least 2-3 inches wide and thick enough not to tear
> apart on the first use.

Gee gollies, I have been using the same 1 inch wide
ribbon for fifteen years now and have never had any
breakage.  I don't know where you get your ribbon,
but I got mine from the Los Angeles Garment District
for 30 cents a yard.  I got all sorts of colors so
that it looks very colorful.  I recently made a
similar
maypole for another group.  The ribbon price has 
risen to about 50 cents a yard.  The ribbon was
secured through an eye ring screw and I attached a
floral wreath to the top.  Such a wreath can be
made or purchased from any floral supply or candle
shop or craft store.
>    
>   As I mentioned, I found the whole set for $125, so
> that's not much of a price difference, thankfully!
>    
>   I'd price PVC, if I were you.  It's more than
> that.  I was concerned about the sturdiness of a
> thin wooden pole (plus the necessary connectors). 
> Some connector problem with PVC.  Having a designed
> system that can be adjusted for kids and adults is
> very handy.  Avoids construction hassles, too.

I use wooden closet poles about 2.5" diameter.  
12 foot long and in one piece.  I carry mine on
my roof rack, but back in the days when I had a 
subcompact I have carried it diagonally from the front
passengers window through to the back driver's side
window and just attached red flags on both sides.
The pole I recently bought cost me $12.  It can
be purchased from a lumberyard or Home Depot.
I wood-burned my original one.  But that doesn't
need to be done.  A plain one or a painted one
would be just as good.
>    
>   I'm not about to ask people to lug around a
> concrete block!  Having a base that can be filled --
> and, more importantly, emptied -- with sand or water
> is infinitely more practical and mobile.

I use a portable hole that I purchased from a local
SCA merchant.  I had to line the inside rings with 
felt so it wouldn't scratch the wood.  It has been 15
years since I purchased it, but I believe it cost me
$10. The group I made the poll for had their own
portable hole.  I have also found that for places
where portable holes can't be used, someone made
me a wooden stanchion to hold the pole, but it isn't
as good because it doesn't keep the pole in one
place.  It isn't difficult to find someone to hold
the pole, but I prefer to do the maypole outdoors.

>    
>   I'm fine, thanks.  

I am glad you are.

> Just get a bit tired of sharing
> information only to have someone else either see it
> as an opportunity for 'oneupsmanship' or bitch about
> it without providing a better solution.  

But that wasn't what I was doing.  I didn't have time
earlier to write a long post about how to make a
cheaper maypole.  All I had time for was to comment
that the product you so thoughtfully posted was pricey
and a similar pole could be made for much less money.
Now that I am back from my trip, I have done so here.
And it was always my intent to do so.

Not the
> first time I've seen it.  Sometimes it seems like
> the simple courtesy of a thank you is too much to
> ask for.

Well, thank you for the information.  I am sorry 
that you only provide information to garner thanks.
I provide information to inform and that is the
my only motivation.  No misconstruing of my 
motivations is necessary or asked for.

Huette
Caid


"While I dance I cannot judge,
I cannot hate,
I cannot seperate myself from life.
I can only be joyful and whole.
That is why I dance."
--Hans Bos

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