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Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:16 am
by BambulanceMan
Howdy folks! I want to pick your brains on a potential project. I welded up a clothesline for the wife and she loved it. Only prob is my land constantly shifts here in Texas with every rain. The poles eventually sag no matter how deep or how much concrete. What say yall to a above ground clotheline? Like is it possible to make a base to it that will prevent the poles from falling over that can be moved? If it's metal I can weld it, so all ideas are welcome.


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Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 2:47 pm
by TraditionalToolworks
BambulanceMan wrote:Like is it possible to make a base to it that will prevent the poles from falling over that can be moved?
Springs! Have you tried attaching heavy springs on each end of the line?

Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 3:27 pm
by BillE.Dee
I have the same problem up here in PA. The clothes poles keep moving, especially after a six pack and a trip on the mower. Had to end up buying a new clothes dryer to match the new washer.
I don't know what to tell ya about the ground down yonder. If ya got a tree nearby and the house would get ya by better than the poles.
gramps.

Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 3:40 pm
by LtBadd
A vertical pole with a 24" diameter weighted base

Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:41 pm
by Poland308
Use a concrete base 6x your diameter of post. Then sink down 10 ft. Set your post in the concrete.

Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 3:06 pm
by BambulanceMan
Poland308 wrote:Use a concrete base 6x your diameter of post. Then sink down 10 ft. Set your post in the concrete.
Whoa yea 10 feet would do it. I think I set mine 4 feet deep


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Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 3:20 pm
by Poland308
We get deep frost here. Needs to be at least 8ft in Iowa to avoid frost heave.

Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:28 pm
by BambulanceMan
Thanks for the ideas guys.


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Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 8:42 am
by l8trdude
I have the same problem, but have learned a few tricks. Over the years ground movement has split the concrete for my fence posts, it looks like someone dropped a watermelon. It happens during droughts, since no frost line to worry about here. My big ugly satellite dish post has stood plumb for 30 years. The key is to dig a bell shaped hole, at least 3 feet deep. Then imbed some rebar into the concrete to keep from cracking. For a moveable line could be bolted to this base. I’d put it low enough to mow over.

Re: Above ground clotheline?

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:51 pm
by CAVEMANN
You can use a large diameter plate on the bottom, bury it fairly deep. This same method has been used to winch vehicles in sand where there's nothing to connect a winch cable to, bury the spare at a 45 degree angle and winch away.