![]() Set the pipe in place and check plumb with the level. Throw an inch or 2 of stones or gravel in the hole for drainage. I also coat the threads and the insides of the pipes near the fittings with grease to retard the rusting process. You'll need 2 pipe wrenches (your paint finish will be marred a little in this step). Join the 2' and 8' section of the pipe together using the threaded couple. When you're ready to install the pipe in the ground, round up your tools to mix the concrete and a level so you can plumb the pipe. The bolts sticking thru the pipe will act as anchors and ensure the pipe stays in place. I use this technique to ensure the pipe won't turn loose after it has been set in the concrete. Find 2 or 3 old 3-4" bolts laying around in your shop and drill holes in the lower 2/3 of the 2' section of pipe to allow them to pass thru. You'll want the coupler a few inches above ground. Find a spot for the pole and use a post-hole digger to dig a hole about 20" inches deep. Wait 24-48 hours until the paint has hardened. Spending some time here and doing it right will result in a finish that will last for years. You may also need to use a clean wrap with some mineral spirits or thinner to get the coat of oil off of the pipe before painting. Prime with a quality primer allow to dry and coat with several light coats of finish paint. Lightly sand the pipe and fittings, 6" PVC pipe, arched flower pot hangers, and squirrel baffle. Find a local welding shop who can weld the arched flower pot hangers onto the side of the pipe near the top of the pipe as shown in the photo. You could just bury the entire 10' section. This was I can take the top section down for maintenance or repainting in the future. I did so because I buried the 2' section, then used the female-female threaded coupler to attach the 8' section above ground. Note: you do not necessarily have to cut the 10' into 8' and 2' sections. ![]() Buy the components from your local hardware store. Since the pole is made of cast iron, they're not going to be able to chew threw it and drop it to the ground (until such time as they learn how to use a hacksaw). But since this is the ultimate feeder, I added the 6" PVC pipe. The smaller squirrels might make it inside the pipe, but they will get as far as the baffle on top of the PVC and be stopped dead in their tracks. The pipe is too big for them to climb around it. Since they have no way to jump onto the feeder, they are going to try and climb up the pole. Most importantly, the feed pole has to be located far enough from a tree or other structure as to prevent squirrels from jumping from there to the feeder pole. Don't waste money on so-called squirrel proof versions. A squirrel baffle (the semi-spherical dome shown in the pic). 4 3/8" x 3" galvanized bolts plus one nut each. 2 steel/iron flower pot hanger hooks available from most garden centers. One threaded 1-1/2" cast iron pipe cap to cap the top off for appearance and to keep moisture out. One threaded 1-1/2" coupler to join the 2 sections of pipe together. Cut into one 2' section and one 8' section threaded on both ends of the 8 footer and one end of the 2 footer. One 10' section of 1-1/2" cast iron pipe from Lowes. ![]() To date, not a single squirrel has defeated the design and made it to the feeders. It uses commonly available 1-1/2" cast iron pipe for strength and durability 2 commonly available garden flower pot hooks to suspend the feeder and a 6" PVC pipe and commercial squirrel blocker to prevent the little terds from climbing the pole. So, finally after revision X, I have the ultimate design which I am all too happy to share with you. I've seen them easily scurry up a piece of 1-1/2" pipe I thought would be too small for them to climb. ![]() I've even had them go into beaver mode and try to topple a 4x4 post that held the feeder after I put a piece of stove pipe around it to prevent them from climbing up. I've had them chew through the wire that suspended the feeder so it crashed to the ground. I've gone through at least a dozen only to learn that squirrels are both persistent and smart. If you're like me, you subsequently resorted to your own designs. You've no doubt purchased several feeders which were advertised as squirrel-proof only to discover that they were anything but squirrel-proof. While I was once fortunate to witness one brave bird go into attack fighter mode and dive bomb one squirrel that was gorging himself and drop the offender to the ground, most tweeties are defenseless against the furry horde. They can purge a large bird feeder of seed within 24 hours. They love sunflower seeds and as soon as they spot a bird feeder full of them, they converge and attack without mercy. They aren't content to feast off of the abundance of nuts that the forest provides. They're tree-bound rats with long trails. If you're a song bird lover, you probably share a common experience: squirrels.
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