Hiking/trail work pole

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Tue Dec 22, 2015 10:50 pm

So I have seen the limitations of using a trekking pole to dig in a hole or try to pry a rock that tumbled. I am not wanting one of those "survival staffs" that are like a Rambo knife; but a pole or staff that is light enough to take on hikes, to be used as a trekking pole and able to move debris. A steal rod would be great, able to move heavy objects, take serious abuse, but ungratefully too heavy. Would an aluminum round bar, 1" or larger to be actually useful. Cut about 4' and a thick rubber tip added to one end and the other doing a grip setup. Hole drilled, 550 wrap or grip tape. Thoughts?

Post by **Dave1965** » Tue Dec 22, 2015 11:04 pm

Get a tobacco stick and sand it

richief · Post by **richief** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:15 am

Get a thick Shillelagh. I brought one here, tough stuff, blackthorn I think.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:20 am

I don't know if a wooden staff would hold up, the abuse I will be inflicting will not be normal for it. I want something I can use as a pry bar and move material. This while being a staff to help navigate obstacles on the trail.

Post by **Whootsinator** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:31 am

I don't believe you're going to find anything that will fit all of your requirements. Anything long and strong enough to be an effective pry bar for a rock too large to move yourself isn't going to be practical to take hiking. Walk across your yard with a spud bar and see if you really want to take it along for a hike. Even made of aluminum at roughly half the weight, it's not going to be a pleasant experience, and just round aluminum bar might not be strong enough to do what you want. Remember the longer the bar the stronger it has to be or it'll flex more under use.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ssracer02 · Post by **ssracer** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:01 am

Whootsinator wrote:I don't believe you're going to find anything that will fit all of your requirements. Anything long and strong enough to be an effective pry bar for a rock too large to move yourself isn't going to be practical to take hiking. Walk across your yard with a spud bar and see if you really want to take it along for a hike. Even made of aluminum at roughly half the weight, it's not going to be a pleasant experience, and just round aluminum bar might not be strong enough to do what you want. Remember the longer the bar the stronger it has to be or it'll flex more under use.

kinda what I was thinking. Unless you had something completely exotic like a staff made from carbon nano tubes or something.

It's kinda one of those where you can have light weight, strong or affordable but it can only be two of those.

Post by **irishrob** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:18 am

Don't know how well these would hold up but Cold Steel several made out of black Polypropylene.
http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/91WAS/ ... STICK.aspx

Post by **PDM** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:20 am

irishrob wrote:Don't know how well these would hold up but Cold Steel several made out of black Polypropylene.
http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/91WAS/ ... STICK.aspx

Well, at least you know it can take care of any rubber snakes you come across

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:48 am

Seen a ColdSteel staff snap. Guy smacked one of the tough guy upright sparring dummies. That was a few years ago, and I was still stationed at Hood.

Yesterday while we were out exploring, it would have been really nice having some thing to pry open old fridge doors, pull up a half sunk tire and break apart a bunch or refuge that has collected due to rain. Also, every Eagle Scout Project always ends up with some kind of trail work. To have something strong enough on hand to help with the refused removal of a large rock would be great.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:51 am

ssracer wrote:
Whootsinator wrote:I don't believe you're going to find anything that will fit all of your requirements. Anything long and strong enough to be an effective pry bar for a rock too large to move yourself isn't going to be practical to take hiking. Walk across your yard with a spud bar and see if you really want to take it along for a hike. Even made of aluminum at roughly half the weight, it's not going to be a pleasant experience, and just round aluminum bar might not be strong enough to do what you want. Remember the longer the bar the stronger it has to be or it'll flex more under use.
kinda what I was thinking. Unless you had something completely exotic like a staff made from carbon nano tubes or something.

It's kinda one of those where you can have light weight, strong or affordable but it can only be two of those.

I'd prefer lightweight and strong. The affordable is do as much of the work on it myself.

Post by **PDM** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:54 am

What about something like carbon fiber round stock?

Post by **guncrank1** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 11:21 am

Nylon round stock
Small pry bar for your pack

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 10:45 pm

Would that nylon bar hold up to repeated use? Is that similar to a PVC pipe?

Post by **son of liberty** » Wed Dec 23, 2015 11:25 pm

Buy a fiberglass shovel handle and cut to desired length, still cant help but think a stick of osage or ironwood would be my choice.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 12:06 am

Ironwood, real ironwood from Africa yeah, but what I find locally is just that oil compressed Brazilian stuff.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 12:17 am

How would a pvc tube with an aluminum or steel pipe that fits very tightly inside.

Post by **guncrank1** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 8:29 am

Nylon is what we use for shaft /bearing in slaughterhouse . Stronger than PVC

Post by **guncrank1** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 8:30 am

ballscutoff1978 wrote:How would a pvc tube with an aluminum or steel pipe that fits very tightly inside.

If you must it would work but not as a pry bar.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:31 am

I see the wood staff's snapping. There has to be a plastic stronger than metal easily in production today. Does anybody know of a material facility that sells to the public. Might have to go and ask questions till thy kick me out or till I figure out my build plan myself more.

Post by **Whootsinator** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:40 am

It might be possible to build a suitably strong and light material, but I think it would have to be very specifically designed and created for that from the start and I don't think it would be cheap. I don't believe you'll be able to cobble something together out of lesser materials, and I don't know of anyone making what you're looking for.

A carbon fiber tube with a super strong foam core, maybe titanium or aluminum foam.

Post by **Frailer** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:45 am

I think you just need to man up and hike with a pinch point bar. $25 at Harbor Freight. Problem solved.

If you're not strong enough to carry it around...you will be soon enough.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:56 am

Whootsinator wrote:It might be possible to build a suitably strong and light material, but I think it would have to be very specifically designed and created for that from the start and I don't think it would be cheap. I don't believe you'll be able to cobble something together out of lesser materials, and I don't know of anyone making what you're looking for.

A carbon fiber tube with a super strong foam core, maybe titanium or aluminum foam.

Cobble something possibly to figure out the design I am wanting yes. As for the materials, I don't plan on the final project to have the small budget. I do see this phase as the introduction. Explore what materials are available to a layman and to inquire what if anybody else has had a similar idea.

Post by **guncrank1** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 12:19 pm

I guess you need a picture

Post by **guncrank1** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 12:22 pm

1 inch polypropylene rod

Post by **guncrank1** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 12:24 pm

Notice that 1 inch plastic deflected to floor , where 3/4 stainless round stock did not.

Kentucky Armory Club