Art Project help - guywires

[Ninja Nemo]

I'm working on an art project, the main structure of which will be a 30' open air square. The square will be formed by fabric hanging from guy-wires running between each of the four corners which will be 8' tall poles. There will likely be an extra pole or two between each 30' span for support.

Regarding the guy wires, I'm planning for them to support both the load of the fabric and to hold the shape of the structure. My issue is, I'm not sure how to anchor / secure the guywires to the poles themselves, and then to the ground so that they provide sufficient support for the structure (esp considering that the fabric will probably catch some wind). I'm thinking that two guywires will meet at each corner (one per side), and then be joined by a single cable which will run diagonally down to a stake. Does that sound like it would support the load from all directions (given proper gauge wire)? I know its hard to imagine without a picture so I'll post one up once I can sketch it out.

Thanks for any help / advice you might have.

[trilobyte]

I'm giving this a nudge over to the Q&A board, since the Preparation board is a better fit for general project questions. The 2013 event boards are a better spot to announce your project/camp/vehicle. You may also want to look around the Shelter & Camping board, since there may be some info in one of the structure/shelter threads that helps you with your project. Good luck!

[some seeing eye]

(Couch) Bob is an expert in these type structures. I rig shade cloth similarly, 25x25. I have not found the diagonal guy to work alone. 2 guys per corner in line with your main cables would be a better solution. Long eyebolts through your poles is a strong solution. I'm not an expert on earth anchors. A more rigid structure made from shade house fittings and chain link fence pipe is another solution which should span 15' holding your drapes and would give a perfectly straight top line.

[theCryptofishist]

If Bob shows up. He hasn't been around for a while.

[Ninja Nemo]

Thanks some seeing eye. Re: the eyebolts, do you have 4 eyebolts per pole for your shade cloth rigging (2 for the structure, 2 for the guywires)? I was planning to use eyebolts for the cable running between each pole but was concerned that adding two more eyebolts for the guywires would have a negative effect on the integrity of the pole.

[some seeing eye]

I think a total of 4 per pole would be fine. I would use eyebolts not screw eyes. I'm assuming you are using something like 4x4's sunk in the ground.

[Ninja Nemo]

Ahhh, I'm actually planning to use steel poles instead, hence my concerns regarding the holes. I think I'd have some significant issues getting 4x4's into the playa without heavy equipment. I'll have to look around for past project with a similar design and see how they handled the issue.

[TomServo]

T-Posts? Not as thick as a 4x4, but just as strong. We broke a 4x4, using it as leverage, to pull a T-post. Pullers and jacks are cheap! So are post pounders

[FIGJAM]

Check your PM NN!

[Oldguy]

Ask a farmer or county agriculture agent about stringing, pulling, and anchoring wire fencing; corner bracing and fence stretching too.

[EspressoDude]

T stakes with cyclone fence top rails as posts. Then you can use cyclone fence hardware to attach guy wires. 2 guy wires per post. Look at photos of center camp structure for cabling ideas.

[Ninja Nemo]

Thanks everyone. What's the fascination with T stakes? I see them mentioned in multiple threads re: rigging art projects, typically with U bolts. What type of benefit does it provide me versus rebar pounded 1' in and a 4x4 or chain link / cyclone fence post atop said rebar? They both seem to need guy lines (and I'll need them regardless) but I've never used T-stakes so I'm curious.