For the last several years I've been using some home made flags which for the most part have worked fairly well. Plus I've made up a wind probe, which Dale53 is familiar.

  But GWarden and I have been discussing getting some boughten ones. Next Saturday we'll be going to visit a guy who makes them and looking over what he has. Here's his web site.

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  Since neither of us know all that much about "store bought" flags, I'd like some opinions on them, and maybe some web sites for flags that you've found to be satisfactory.

PETE

Cat,

  Know what you mean about the flags going every which direction. Happens all the time on our 200 yd. range, and I hear it's about the same at EG.

  What both GWarden and I have been using is probably very similar to what you remember. Two pieces of surveyors tape attached to a crude swivel.

  The swivel we have, I think, is part of the problem. I personally don't think it's quite sensitive enuf to wind direction as those on the web site mentioned above. Tape works great tho.

  Plus the staffs aren't quite high enuf to get into the air currents the bullets will be passing thru. Many times I've seen flags set at the same distance, but different heights, blowing in different directions.

  Thus the asking for input on what others have found to be good, and maybe something we should be looking for so we don't go throwing good money out the window. Considering the price per flag and stand of the above you don't want to be buying several of them and then find out they're not good enuf, or there's something better for the same money.

PETE

Keith,

  Now that was funny. Between the time I read your message and went to reply the site went dead on me.

  Anyway. Great post! Just what I was looking for. Wouldn't mind making my own flags either, being the stingy sort to.

  But was at a loss as to where to get that corrugated plastic that looks like cardboard. Anybody got any idea besides a plastic company or sign shop. Not sure if we have either around here. Maybe something like a hobby shop, or an art supply store. Probably be pretty expensive from those places to but about all I can think of that might have the stuff.

  OK on the two vane type. A .22 bench match I went to this past Fall had both double and single vanes in about equal numbers, but very few of the daisy wheels. Like the idea of the double vanes not oscillating past the wind. I didn't notice this at the .22 match as the wind was pretty steady, but have noticed this effect at our matches where the wind is constantly changing directions. Sometimes just as you're breaking a shot.

  Yes, I have a lathe so making the adjustable slides on the shafts would be no problem. Was thinking of maybe making the vane supports and pointer shafts out of arrow blanks. What do you think?

  What did you use as pivot points? Some kind of bearings?

  The big problem now would be making adjustable poles. Any ideas on this??

  Yeah! Send me a picture of that Hog Pan Wind Indicator. Sounds intriguing! All sorts of visions are running thru my mind on that one. If it's not to large a file, and you don't mind, I can post it in a following message linked to my web site.

PETE

Cat,

 The guy is going to meet us at the Des Moines Gun Show out at the fairgrounds, and when we're done looking he's gonna take us to his place. Good thing to as I'd have to get out the map so I could find where he lives.

 Thanks for the offer of the ball bearings. I'll certainly take you up on that if we can resolve the adjustable pole thing. I've got one idea, but it's not to elegant, so.......

 I'd like to just throw money at these flags but at $59.00 apiece (probably need at least 4) for a double vane flag and pole, or $61.00 for the same with daisy wheel, I'll want to make them if I can.

 Yard saleing? We call it "junking" up here in M'town.  

PETE

 

Cat,

 Yeah, we've probably exchanged emails on other Lists/Forums. Haven't changed ny signature since the day I started on the web so if you remember that...... it's me!  

  When I saw in your signature "winery", if I got some ball bearings from you I was going to ask you to send me a bottle of wine to. But guess if you rework DC motors, the wine must be a hobby.

 Not to sure what size ball bearing I'll need since I've never tried building anything fancy in the way of flags. Just have to wait and see what comes up.

 For those interested here's the web address of an article on making the wind flag poles that's in the CBA archives, and written by Ed Doonan...... a heck of a nice guy and shot a few CBA matches at his Wind Hill Range near Aledo Ill. Was sorry to hear of his passing.

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 As Ed mentions in his article, these poles are kind of crude but serviceable for the type of flags he made up, which are mentioned to. I happen to have some pieces of PVC of the right size and they might work, altho as I mentioned in my last message..... not very elegant!

PETE

Ed,

  Thanks! Another good idea, altho I think around here anything more than an 8ft. in length on the pole would be more than sufficient. All of the ranges I shoot at are level and about the only hgt. differences would be if we wanted to extend the flags up high enuf to get close to the trajectory. Some games tho, like .22 benchrest will only allow you to extend your flags no higher than the bottom of the target frames.

  Man! Where do you have to use 35 ft.?  I don't think they would need that at the Wind Hill Range where they have one pretty deep ravine running across the range between the 100 and 200 yd. berms.

I like you idea tho, but one question. What do you use to keep these poles from falling over? A ground spike, stand, or....?

PETE

Forrest,

  Well, I was gonna say I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. But guess that's no where near long enuf! 

PETE

Pete -
Got lucky today.  Have 10 bearings, good shape.
1.574 OD 
0.669 ID 
0.472 thk
Send me your mailing address (PM) and they're yours.

Consider something like a tube into which these could be mounted (in the ends) that would affix to the vanes.  That would allow a post from say .750 turned down a bit that could be assembled by dropping the assembly down onto the post.

Thanks,
Tim K