Protecting scaffolding poles in the ground ?

[CompoSimmonite]

What do people recommend for protecting new (ie Chinese or Indian ) scaffolding concreted into the ground ?
Obviously the part enclosed in the concrete should be OK as no worse than rebar. I was thinking of maybe a length of tube over the pole as a former and then pouring a sloppy mix of fine concrete for the aspect that will be below the surface. Above ground galv primer then exterior gloss.
Is it worth painting the part that would be enclosed in concrete ?

 

[123hotchef]

scaffie poles are normally galvanized anyway so I wouldn't bother protecting them with anything

 

[BrokenBiker]

What do people recommend for protecting new (ie Chinese or Indian ) scaffolding concreted into the ground ?
Obviously the part enclosed in the concrete should be OK as no worse than rebar. I was thinking of maybe a length of tube over the pole as a former and then pouring a sloppy mix of fine concrete for the aspect that will be below the surface. Above ground galv primer then exterior gloss.
Is it worth painting the part that would be enclosed in concrete ?

i dont suppose it could hurt to paint it before it gets concrete

 

[Kent]

Going to be hard to take the scaffold down if you do that

 

[123hotchef]

plasma cutter will do the job

 

[cumbriasteve]

I used a scaffold pole for a clothes line, placed in concrete and it eventually collapsed after around 20ish years.

It had appeared to rust through from the inside approx 200mm above ground level and when it snapped a fair bit of water came out even though the top had been capped.

So the lifespan was fairly good and had it been greased inside by pulling a heavily greased rag through a few times, or filled with concrete then I suspect another ten years at least would have been got.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

With my carport I drilled holes through at a point I knew would be above ground level. A nail was then temporary put through the holes and a tight fitting plastic plug pushed from bottom of pole until it reached the nail. Builders foam (with gun - not aerosol) then backfilled from plastic plug to ground end of pole. Idea is that part below surface is sealed so no condensation / water ingress. Part above ground can drain through the drilled holes.
Wonder if filling with hot roofing bitumen would be worth while ?

 

[123hotchef]

The concerete probably eats into the galv over time

 

[gordon stephenson]

I always thought that scaffolding Poles were Polish people that do scaffolding, they are "scaffolding tubes" fellas.

 

[BrokenBiker]

just out of interest, what is the application for these?

 

[arther dailey]

concrete as usual ,do not use fines it will be weaker ,pour gallon old used motor oil in(in the pole) after concrete set,cap top of pole ,job done. Arther

 

[CompoSimmonite]

just out of interest, what is the application for these?

I'm terracing the back garden but also want a 3' fence on top of the approx. 2'-3' high terracing. Built up soil won't be supportive enough for concrete fence posts so they would have to go into the pre terraced ground and that will mean them being awfully long / heavy. Scaffolding will be lighter to install and I can then attach timber cross members with saddle clamps so fence panels can be attached.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

It had appeared to rust through from the inside approx 200mm above ground level ....

Same with all the tubular lamp posts in our road, they had to be replaced at about 15 years old. Corrosion reminded me of how the sills of my 1963 Mini-van looked by the time it was five years old.

 

[pedrobedro]

I used a scaffold pole for a clothes line, placed in concrete and it eventually collapsed after around 20ish years.

It had appeared to rust through from the inside approx 200mm above ground level and when it snapped a fair bit of water came out even though the top had been capped.

So the lifespan was fairly good and had it been greased inside by pulling a heavily greased rag through a few times, or filled with concrete then I suspect another ten years at least would have been got.

Ours is capped and has been in over 30 years with no apparent ill effects, no proofing measures apart from painting the outside.

 

[bigegg]

Bitumen paint (car underseal?) on the outside, about 12in above ground line.
Fill the post with tar, bitumen or concrete with last two inches filled with sealer or tar/bitumen
I have a 30year old washing line pole made exactly like this - it's still solid

 

[roofman]

unless your expecting to live untill your 120 turn your worries to something else more deserving

 

[tomsutton529]

What about some heat shrink over the outside of the tube to stop the lime in the concrete having a go, then fill the inside with expanding foam to prevent condensation and cap the top to stop the rain.

I have seen some of the industrial type heat shrink stand up to some serious abuse and harsh environments so stopping some lime should be no problem.

 

[cliff366]

Chances are it won't rot in the concrete it will rust above ground

 

[Maker]

What about some heat shrink over the outside of the tube to stop the lime in the concrete having a go, then fill the inside with expanding foam to prevent condensation and cap the top to stop the rain.

I have seen some of the industrial type heat shrink stand up to some serious abuse and harsh environments so stopping some lime should be no problem.

I think I've seen heatshrink caps for wooden fence posts to seal them and prevent rotting underground, I don't think there's much point if they're galvanized though.

Edit;
Found a link. It can't hurt to get some big heatshrink and try it.

 

[Bsmith]

Make sockets to put the pipes in so you can easily change them? I put sockets in concrete for our washing line posts so they could be lifted out for grass cutting.