Setting a basketball pole?
Question:I've been using quikcrete's fast setting concrete to try and set a bastketball pole. But its not holding the pole very well. I'm using it for that Derek Jeters hit-a-way and after a few hard swings the pole comes loose. The hole I dug is about 14inches by 14 inches, then place the pole, pour dry mix and add water. I've tried 3 times already. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Answers:
mix it in a wheel barrel or something before you put it in the hole and jd is right bigger deeper hole
did u let the cocrete set good should wait at lease 2 days before using it
Is the fast setting concrete you are using all powder, or does it have small gravel in it? If it doesn't have gravel in it, you are using a product that is not intended for what you are doing. You also have to wait for the concrete to fully cure before putting added stress on it. for the basketball goal, I would use a piece of Sonno tube about 2.5 to 3 feet long and set a sleeve in it a size larger than your pole. After it is cured you can slide the long pole into the sleeve. If your concrete is coming apart that easily, it really sounds like you either have the wrong product, you are using it too soon, or you are using too much water and and letting too much paste come to the top.
make the hole less wide and more deep. Think about digging a hole with a shovel. the deeper the shovel is in the ground, the tension on the handle is greater. Apply this concept with your basketball pole. The deeper it is in the ground, the harder it will be to come out.
Big JD is correct. Dig much deeper - my bball post was 3 feet deep. The weighted leverage is a ratio - simliar to a bike seat post.
Also, ensure the surrounding area is the proper "seat" for quickcrete. Too loose soil or "pourous" soil will not hold up as well. Gravel can help as a place holder and I beleive there are special "buckets" that you would place in the hole, then quickcrete it.
A good formula is to bury 1/3 of the height you want to be above ground. If you want a 6 ft pole then bury 2 ft. total length of the pole would be 8 ft.
Use a post hole digger and dig the hole deep enough, insert the pole and plumb. I mix the concrete in a wheel barrow and pour it in the hole and around on all sides. I use a stick to make sure no air bubbles are in the concrete. I let it cure for a day before I hook anything to it. I also use the quikcrete and mix it to a peanut butter constitency. good luck
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