Casting Volley Ball Poles
The axle can be removed so people don't trip over it during play. And one axle can be used to move many poles.The axle is made of a T steel fence post. Picture 5 shows a pipe sleeve around the T fence post. The sleeve has a 1/2 inch bolt tapped into it that is welded in place. I found that 3/8 bolts bend. The T post should have been shorter. The wheels are at an angle because 1/2 inch bolts were used instead of 5/8 -- the second axle had 5/8. The second image of picture 5 shows splitting the pipe sleeve if the diameter to too small to go around the T post (like 1-1/2 inch well pipe). It's probably best to have the 1/2" bolt tapped and welded in place before splitting the pipe.
The pins on the axle sleeves fit into holes cast into the concrete by inserting conduit pipes into the tire in holes cut into the tire. Picture 4 shows that the conduits should be roughly parallel. If the pipe sleeves on the axle are allowed to wooble the conduits can be a little off parallel.
In the past I've used salvaged 1-1/2 inch well pipe for the pole. It's getting harder to find. In the sets made in 2020 2x4's were used for the poles. The first set regular 2x4's were used. The second pair used green treat 2x4's. Holes were drilled in the 2x4's with rebar inserted to keep the 2x4's anchored in the concrete I'm not sure what the prices of these items are in 2021.
When casting the poles it's a good idea to have the resulting pole to have space under the center to cut down on wooble. The plywood circle when casting does this and possibly adding 3 3/4" feet on the bottom ot the plywood gives extra space under the center. The 2x4's are simply attached to the plywood circle with a 6 inch or so 1/4" lag screw. Picture 3 shows that plastic (a garbage bag) was used to keep the concrete from sticking to the plywood circle.
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