What's the proper way to fly a vertical flag

[OW]

My old (Glory) flag (3x5) flew nicely - for 4 years, and finally got ragged.
I think I just got lucky about its flight - by not thinking about it.

My wife got me a new 3x5 American flag for my birthday.
I fly on a pole with a clear tube spacer between - 2 slip rings.

I dont fly it from rope.
It seems I over meticulated it and stretched it too stiff.
I have no cupping in the wind.

I did try to google but haven't hit on this subtle question.

Should I losen it an inch to cup a little?

You guys know anything about this?

Happy Spring,
OW

[devilmaster]

so let me see if I got your explanation straight. the hoist side of the flag is stretched between two slip rings, and you have a plastic spacer between the two slip rings on the on the halyard....

http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/images/flag_diagram.gif

If this is right, then why the tube spacer? it would take one nasty wind to pull the bottom ring spacer up. the weight of the flag will keep the rings spaced apart properly, and if it didn't, i would just add lead weights to the bottom ring.

I still think i'm missing something here though.

[Sean Malone]

...

I still think i'm missing something here though.

Vertical vs horizontal. :confused:

[Mr. Toad]

The blue part with the stars should be to the upper left, horizontal or vertical.

[Ankf00]

if you have the blue part w/ the stars in the bottom left, tony soprano will shoot you dead.

[devilmaster]

on ship, if the flag is upside down, its an SOS signal.

If its upside down in the hands of the Marines, it means the Jays are in the World Series. ;)

[rosawendel]

...

[OW]

it is simpler than that.
I have a pole that holds a flag too taught

pole ------- plastic - spacer - "casing" surrourding a dowel - that the slip rings are held at each top and bottom
with slip rings top and botttom of the spacer

I'm thinking the flag should be CUPPED a little

Like grab air

[OW]

I wish I could draw

But basically

the flag is too taught

Should a flag fly cupped a little!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????
(to carry a sail)

like 1-2 inches "short" from a 3 foot vertical

[nrc]

I think I get what you mean but I don't understand how your current arrangement is preventing proper cuppage. We used to just have a pole with a pulley at the top and a rope with a hook in the grommets at the top and bottom of the flag. Just as shown in devilmaster's diagram. Snug the rope down, tie it off, and you're good to go.

Of course now we just have a bracket on the front porch, so we get no cuppage at all, just dangle. :gomer:

[devilmaster]

I wish I could draw

But basically

the flag is too taught

Should a flag fly cupped a little!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????
(to carry a sail)

like 1-2 inches "short" from a 3 foot vertical

I get that the flag is too taught. What i'm having a hard time with is your description of the pole arrangement.

are you talking about this?
http://www.flagguys.com/img/scout2kit1.jpg

or could you possibly take a photo of your setup?

[dando]

it is simpler than that.
I have a pole that holds a flag too taught

pole ------- plastic - spacer - "casing" surrourding a dowel - that the slip rings are held at each top and bottom
with slip rings top and botttom of the spacer

I'm thinking the flag should be CUPPED a little

Like grab air

Yeah, I have one of these poles as well...picked it up @ Wally World a few years back. Ours has some slack in it. Your pole looks like this?

http://www.hardwareandtools.com/5-Foot-Flag-Pole-Aluminum-With-Ring-60731-by-Valley-Forge-Flag-6173553.html

Sounds like your flag is a bit short or the spacer is too long. I fly a 4' x 6' on ours w/o any issues.

-Kevin

[High Sided]

i use never furls, you can adjust the space for any size flag on a pole...
http://www.neverfurl.com/Products.html

[KLang]

I use these: Tangle Free Spinning FlagPole (http://www.americanflags.com/6tafrspfl.html)

Works great.

[OW]

Devilmaster's
picture is VERY similar to mine except I hand made it.
the slip rings work perfect and it doesn't furl (wrap)

Dando's
comment "spacer is to long" is getting towards answering my question
in addition he adds that "ours has some slack"

The main reason I care is (even though I love my new "High Wind" construction) - ..

It appears to "SNAP!" more than my old one. I overdid the new spacer (too long) It seems too taught that causes the SNAP.

I guess my "getting to the" real question here is
Do you think that a slight CUPPING will smoothen the flow and reduce the SNAPPING? Rope drawn flags IMO must natrually cup more - thus smoother waving.

Silly I brought this up hah?

OW

[dando]

Do you think that a slight CUPPING will smoothen the flow and reduce the SNAPPING?

Yes. Try 'snapping' a towel that isn't wound tightly.

-Kevin

[OW]

DANDO
BINGO !!!!

End of Thread

That's what I'm talkin'n about!!!!!

You guys know.....

[OW]

Epilogue:

Took an inch off the spacer (on the 3x5)
Flys more...., smoother...., and doesn't snap nearly as much.

Who da thunk?