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Ohio

Is a 5/8 Galvanized bolt big enough for a 4x4x16 tripod or would you use something like a 3/4 inch or bigger bolt instead to hold the three legs together at the top?

Thanks,
Brooks

8/26/2007 6:44:43 AM

Jericho Vermont

Brooks,
I use a 3/4 for mine. If ya get a chance to talk to Bart he would be able to help. I got my design from his website.
Looks like with the size of your pumpkins this year you might want to use inch and a half. LOL
John

8/26/2007 7:21:06 AM

Rexburg, Idaho

I use 1/2" rebar and it works okay. It has bent the rebar a bit. It holds 850# pumpkin just fine. I would think that a 5/8" bolt is plenty.

8/26/2007 7:44:29 AM

Ohio

lol John, I just hope I get a chance to use my tripod on them! Ha!

8/26/2007 9:25:53 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

A half inch bolt held my 222.5 just fine last year :-)

This year, if my fruit doesn't rot before weigh-off day, I may need a 5/8" bolt.

SAFETY NOTE: Last year I learned the hard way that it is a good idea to use something to keep the legs from sliding out, causing the tripod to collapse. My solution was to but an eye bolt into each leag and attach them with rope. This probably won't be an issue on soil or grass. But, it is on concrete or the road that my pumpkn fell on :-( .

8/26/2007 12:23:19 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Brooks,
I'm having a tripod made from 2.5 inch pipe, much lighter, easier to move.
Tom

8/26/2007 1:09:42 PM

San Jose [email protected]

the sheer strength for a 5/8 bolt has got to be many thousands of lbs per sq inch, i am pretty sure it will not break, but it depends on how much slop there is as to how much it will bend

use big heavy washers on the ends, and tighten as much as you can while still being able to move the pivot

8/26/2007 3:04:16 PM

Ohio

THanks guys!

8/26/2007 4:40:02 PM

Jefferson, Ohio

Anyone have pics or plans for a tripod? I tried the "search" didnt come up with much , yet thks

8/26/2007 4:54:39 PM

Ohio

One more thing I have been wondering about on a lifting ring, what do you think the smallest ring you can get away with without putting alot of pressure on the sides of your pumpkin from the straps? Whats usually the size of the 0-ring(I guess you would call it) that your straps attach to that go down to your pumpkin.

I have a 0-ring(used for lifting stuff for fork trucks) that is 11 inches wide with 4 chains hanging off it, the chains are only 3 chain links long so there is a littler play there and they are hanging off each side of the ring. I'm going to try to do something with this if its wide enough.
The lifting device I used the last three years is huge and heavy, I just want something smaller to work with and something that wont cave my pumpkin in just in-case I drop it a few inches on it,lol.

Heres the lifting ring (square) I been using, I will say that there is no pressure on the sides of the pumpkin with using one this big http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=43173

8/26/2007 5:15:35 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

try this link for a great tripod design:
http://www.mindspring.com/~toftness/

8/26/2007 6:57:23 PM

Ohio

A great design from a great guy, aint that right Bart?,lol

8/26/2007 7:14:14 PM

San Jose [email protected]

brooks that looks like a great, i have only been to one weigh off but the least expensive, coolest idea i have seen is an old steel rim off a car, drill holes and put S hooks in it.

Think of your pumpkin as an egg, very hard to crack by squeezing it, but better safe than sorry, dont squeeze it if you dont have to

8/26/2007 9:56:32 PM

Indiana

Brooks,
I use a 48 inch ring that seems to work really well. It held the 1370 rose pretty well, and didnt seem like it would put much pressure on the punkin.


Tom

8/26/2007 11:15:16 PM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

What material are you all making your rings out of? What do you think is the lightest material to make the lifting ring out of? Maybe it isn't so much size, as weight.

8/27/2007 10:20:30 AM

Wallingford,CT

I can't take the credit...I got my instructions from Andy Wolf. All I did was put together a presentation on my website to share Andy's design. Thanks to Andy

8/27/2007 8:39:27 PM