Since the US began flying flags in 1776, flagpoles went through many drastic changes. Atlantic Flagpole used to be made entirely from wood, even before the industrial revolution. Although there are some Rustic companies in the US, they still use this technique. But most flagpole producers today use more durable materials that will last longer.
Carpenters would hand saw down straight trees to build the first flagpoles. These trees would then need to be shaped by hand sawing down straight trees. After using animal fat as a preserver, the whole pole was rubbed for several hours to ensure that it was saturated with fat. These poles could last up to 50-years if maintained properly by an experienced craftsman. These flagpoles looked great, but were easily damaged by ground rot.
As early as 1893, steel tubes were used to replace the wooden processed poles. Following 1929’s stock market crash and the expansion of industry during World War II saw steel shafts and masts used to drive piles and cargo booms mounted on large ships become the inspiration for many flagpole manufacturers. For over 20 years this type of smooth-edged, tapered steel pole dominated the industry. These are the commonest of the everyday inspirations for the flagpole. Aluminum was the latest and greatest material for flagpoles. Aluminum has become the dominant material in flagpole manufacturing.
Aluminum has many distinguishing features that allow it can change at the molecular scale, creating new products for different applications. 6063 is the most widely used aluminum alloy for manufacturing flagpoles. This alloy is an extruded or tube-formed aluminum alloy. It must be produced according to ASTM B241, “Aluminum Alloy Stemless Pipe and Seamless Tube.” These poles are usually hardened or aged by heat treatment to obtain a temper rating T6. This is the hardest form. This temper rating produces an astonishing level of minimum strain at 25,000lbs per square in, and an allowed design stress for tubes that is 18,000lbs/square inch.