Chinese Pole

[Lee Nelson]

So folks, got some people in my circus learning how to Chinese Pole but without a Chinese Pole. I want to get them a Chinese Pole.
Anyone know how I go about that? Can I order one? Should I get one made and if so does anyone have ideas that could give me some pointers like width of pole, to rubberise or not, if rubberised how does one rubberise something?
Any help appreciated.
Takk
Lee

[le pire]

http://www.fedec.eu/datas/files/m5(uk).pdf

Tech spechs on page one.

I had two built.

you'll have to get them made. This is not an off-the-rack item. It's basically a steel pole. You DONT want aluminum. It bends and sways, and because of this the "Tornado" and other high impact moves are not possible.

We taped the pole like a trapeze and that doesn't really work. It's not a bit grippy. Steve Santos from Simply Circus had this "genius" idea and taped the poles with some kind of tape that they put on the injured legs of horses and that was not only a fail it was a mess to get the off the poles.

I played on a pole in California that was coated with neoprene. Rubber makes moves where you lock in using your body or legs easier. A LOT easier.

Trained with Bill at New England Center for Circus Arts and he had this red goo that he had from back when he was in Cirque du Soleil that he would occasionally let me put on my hands that would make them really grippy.

Some performers use resin to make the poles grippy. The problem with resin is your clothes stick to the pole better than you do.

[Lee Nelson]

thanks Etienne
that is so so so very helpful.
Do you have any idea how one would coat a pole in Neoprene. What sort of factory would do this?

[le pire]

I have no idea.

The neoprened pole I played on was built by CdS and they have their own machine shops and salaried techs and engineers. CdS can spend $15,000 on a single pole without blinking an eye.

I looked into buying a sheet of neoprene (it's like $300 usd for a huge roll) with the idea of gluing it to the poles with a high grade adhesive.

[Isabella]

I don't know if it's the same kind of neoprene, but my partner Todd makes masks from liquid neoprene that hardens when it dries. Want me to ask him where he gets the buckets and you can find out more from the company that sells it?

[le pire]

Isabella,

I'd like to know about that too!!!

[RiffRaff]

How about this stuff?

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xg3/R-202196703/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

It also comes in spray form.

[le pire]

riff,

I tested some stuff like that, and it's meant to coat things more as an insulator against electricity and can't take the beating that circus equipment takes. It peels right off.

Even if your doing a simple move like sitting on the pole you have 140 lbs of your own body weight focused on two points and pulling down down down.

[le pire]

i can't believe i just typed "sitting on the pole." Face palm.

[Moira]

Here is a source in Montreal.

http://www.cirkart.com

[Isabella]

Neoprene is from Chicago latex. The info there is
Chicago Latex Products Division of:

Spartan Adhesives & Coatings Co.
P.O. Box 395

Crystal Lake, IL 60039

Phone #: 815-459-9680 Fax # 815-459-8560

I'd call and ask, but I'm in Croatia

Have fun!

Allison

[Lee Nelson]

takk babe!!!!