Friday 11 May 2007

Fibraplex Pole

I collected the custom-made Fibraplex pole from the Sorting Office this morning. I'm looking forward to a windy weekend to try it out.

By shortening the length of the pole sections, I should now be able to pack the pole in with the tent, and should (depending on other considerations) be able to pack the whole compressed Exped drybag across the length of the Atmos pack.

Fibraplex poleFibraplex pole Hosted on Zooomr

10 comments:

John Hee said...

another one with wonky Atko poles - glad its not jus tme then
;-)

AktoMan said...

There was a bend for sure, but a wonk has now developed at one end.

I'll straightening the distortion out before I forget.

Anonymous said...

Will be really interested in hearing how you find these new poles. Did you end up specifying shorter pole sections (and presumably higher number of them) rather than the stock 7 sections, 18" length that Fibraflex usually supply? (Presumably just replicating the normal Akto configuration).
Phil

Lighthiker said...

Looking at the picture it seems that the original poles are bent whereas the Fibraplex ones aren't....True...I would assume that you need to have a arch shaped pole to set the Akto properly up.

Anonymous said...

I have an Akto and yes, the poles came with a slight curve. Am not sure whether that is done in manufacture or just as a result of pitching (and presumably test pitching when it is manufactured). Mine don't (at present) have a "wonk". As carbon fibre is fairly stiff I'm interested in how these poles stand up to real life use and being stressed - they'll have to bend and will having a larger number of sections (and thus joins) have a detrimental effect?
Go to it AktoMan!!
Phil

AktoMan said...

Manufacturers details (from the revised order):
11 section pole, 316mm sections, 101g.

Being a sad git, I threaded the pole through the Akto in my living room, and it created the arch with no problems. It'd be a bit silly if it didn't ;-)

The 'ferrule' connector is much longer than on the original metal pole sections.

Info from manufacturer can be found at:
http://www.fibraplex.com/tentpoles.htm

AktoMan said...

As to the original pole - I can't remember if there was a curve in the central section when I got it. If I had to put money on it, then I'd say that there was, and if not, then there certainly was within a few pitches.

As to the 'wonk', well, that was definately last weekend's winds that did that.

I'll look at advice before straightening the section. I don't want to weaken the pole when attempting to 'de-wonk' it. Or take it to a plumbers ;-)

John Hee said...

I managed to introduce my particular wonk due to inaccurate pitching on the first night's use. But the wonk never got any worse after that. As yet.
;-)

AktoMan said...

Mine was probably caused by my too-short guying last weekend.

Not sure if Simon had the same problem. His guying was better, but his tent was in a more exposed position than mine.

AktoMan said...

Update:
http://aktoman.blogspot.com/2007/05/glenshee-190507.html