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Formula/chart for making pole pockets?

GoodPeopleFlags

GoodPeopleFlags

New Member
I'm looking for an easy way to figure out how much extra banner material I need to leave for pole pockets. In the past, we've usually ordered banners when a pole pocket was needed. When we didn't do that, I would grab a pole, wrap some material around it and figure it out that way. But now that we're printing banners in-house, this is something that's going to come up more often. I'm wondering if there is a chart or formula on how much extra material to leave for various pole sizes.
Thanks!
 
bob

bob

It's better to have two hands than one glove.
BlueFishDesigns said:
I'm looking for an easy way to figure out how much extra banner material I need to leave for pole pockets. In the past, we've usually ordered banners when a pole pocket was needed. When we didn't do that, I would grab a pole, wrap some material around it and figure it out that way. But now that we're printing banners in-house, this is something that's going to come up more often. I'm wondering if there is a chart or formula on how much extra material to leave for various pole sizes.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Familiarize yourself with the concept of pi [3.14159265...]. The circumference of the pole is pi*D where D is the outer diameter of the pole. Thus the material needed for a pole pocket would be pi*D + hem width. Even at that it will be a little tight, if it were me I'd be prone to add another 1/4" +-, depending.

Or you can do it empirically. Just wrap the material around the pole and see how much is needed to accommodate the pole and the hem. Add this number to the pertinent dimension of the banner. Not rocket surgery.
 
Letterbox Mike

Letterbox Mike

New Member
Bob is right, 3.14 x o.d. of pole, plus some for slack, plus material for hem. If it's a 2" o.d. pole, we'll add 8.25" of material roughly (about 6.25" for the pole, about .5" for slack and 1.5" for the hem). If the pocket is to be part of the banner and not extend beyond the actual live area of the banner, we'll divide the amount of material for just the pole (in my above example 6.25") by half, then add slack and hem. I usually add at least a half inch for slack, sometimes a little more.
 
GoodPeopleFlags

GoodPeopleFlags

New Member
Thanks. That helps. I suck at math. I can't play blackjack in the casino unless the dealer tells me what my cards add up to. :Big Laugh
 
Letterbox Mike

Letterbox Mike

New Member
BlueFishDesigns said:
Thanks. That helps. I suck at math. I can't play blackjack in the casino unless the dealer tells me what my cards add up to. :Big Laugh
Click to expand...

lol, It's alot easier to play blackjack when they do the math for you, I can add them up pretty quick but not as fast as some of the pros and then you hold the game up, so I just let them tell me!

Do the math for various sized poles and make yourself up a chart with most of the more common sizes so you don't have to keep running through it over and over.
 
J

John L

New Member
Pole pockets should be sloppy or else you will be hating life on the installation. I would use the allowances on that chart as a minimum.
 
Craig Sjoquist

Craig Sjoquist

New Member
Good handy chat indeed ... thanks and yes John L is very correct even at those allowances if long I'd be having open areas in pockets just to make it easier to slide the pole in
 
SignManiac

SignManiac

New Member
Every sign shop should keep Astroglide in their tool kit for those really difficult insertions in banner pole pockets.
 
P

psbc2009

New Member
Pole Banners

I have seen some with the edges hemmed and some not. What is the preferred method? If not hemmed does it hold up as well?
Also what would you tell a customer is a reasonable life span of a pole banner? I know there are many variables but just looking for some verbage to put with pole banner orders. We have had customers complain after banners have been up for 2 years straight - sping, summer, fall, winter.
We had verbally told them this is the worst conditions a banner will face and not to expect them to last beyond 12-18 months straight use.
I consider them fairly short term but wondering what the pros think.
Thanks!
 
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