My pole is starting to BOW!

Dancing Paws started this discussion · 10/19/2011

OMG, I can't catch a break! I wanted to try out spinny on my pole. I noticed it was all wobbly, so I took it down, readjusted everything and put it back up again and it is still all wobbly. I took a step back and looked at it. It looks like it is slighlty bowed in the direction that I favor for spins! I know it can't be warped from me over tightening it cuz it just slipped on me! I make sure not to over tighten it! Has anyone else noticed any wobbliness with their pole? It's so weird.

32 replies

JeHanne · 10/19/2011
That sounds really dangerous. Do you have a magnetic level to check the pole? I check mine from time to time, I will slide the level around the pole making sure all is level.
Dancing Paws · 10/19/2011
It's my B pole. It starts bowing right at where top hand would be when I push off into a spin (like a revese grab). I think the only reason my A pole isn't bowing is because I literally JUST replaced it.
JeHanne · 10/19/2011
Can you snap a few pics and contact X Pole? I'm sorry there is something up with your pole. Maybe someone here has experienced that behavior too and can offer some help. Contact their customer service though... that just aint right. : (
PoleDollqld · 10/19/2011
Oh no, have you had it long? I agree with JeHanne, contact them & im sure they can replace it.. Is it new? Boo :(
Dancing Paws · 10/19/2011
I got it in January. I'ave had a bunch of problems with this pole. I am getting so frustrated. When I got it I ended up with a rotated and stripped B pole. Recently I had a bubble form on my A pole that I got replaced. I had to have 3 joints replaced. Now I have this.
PoleDollqld · 10/19/2011
Wow, must be giving it a good workout :) A bubble? Did they replace it for free? I think there is a warranty, for defects & things, maybe its still covered?.. Hmm, hope you get poling soon!
Dancing Paws · 10/19/2011
Yeah, they replaced it for free. The bubble was forming where the joint notch was in my A pole. Here is a video of what I am talking about. I took a level to it. I am going to send it to x pole. https://www.studioveena.com/videos/upload/4e9fa343-76ec-4aa9-8f2e-7c190ac37250
Dancing Paws · 10/19/2011
The thing is, I've been neglecting my poling a lot, so my pole hasn't been getting whole lot of use, so the fact that it is bowing is REALLY disturbing. There was a whole month where I didn't even touch it because I was so sick. I use my pole, maybe, once a week, but I use it on stationary all the time.
PoleDollqld · 10/19/2011
I couldnt see the video :( ... Yeah, a pole is an expensive toy, so you wnat it to last.. but its also just metal lol!! Ive had it happen before too, after 2 years, but only cos i constantly launched myself at it ( im 100kgs, so thats no small force :P )
Dancing Paws · 10/20/2011
Hmm, that's weird. Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DizG9CQZFus
JeHanne · 10/20/2011
Definitely get the video to them... once the item is no longer level wouldn't that mean it is no longer safe? I hope they make this right for you quickly. I had an issue with a x joint stripping and I had to buy a replacement joint. There is one part of the finish on mine that looks a little odd but has not broke into a true bubble. I am sure you are beyond frustrated by now. Be safe and let us know how things go.
Dancing Paws · 10/20/2011
I really am frustrated. I truly think that even if they replace the pole piece, that in a few months I will need another pole piece because the same thing will happen. The poles are very thin metal, and the torque of our bodies on THAT thin of metal is bound to warp the metal. I was not surprised when I had the pole rotate on my joint when I first put the pole together. I was not surprised when the bubble formed in the metal from the joint pin, and I am not surprised now. Am I frustrated and mad? Hell yes, cuz I paid $400 for this, not knowing that this was what I was going to go through. I seriously feel like crying. My only other option is to find someone to sell this pole to then invest in a PS star stage.
PoleDollqld · 10/20/2011
@JeHanne, i hope its still safe, cos i still use :P It works fine, just rotates in & out a bit but totally stable - touch wood! hehe. I did see your link & i think just let them know, if they helped out before, they might again? If you ask no question, then you get no answer- know what i mean? I read that the 'bubble' joint is from too much tightening? Kind of like putting a car jack inside the pole horizontally & winding & winding it, unti the force is too much? It makes sense but i think i get so nervous about it being too loose, that i do it any way :P Letus know how you go!
JeHanne · 10/20/2011
PoleDollqld, I'm a total chicken... that's why I would be afraid of it. I agree with you totally regarding the ask no question get no answers. Would be great if they give us some more stretch variety. We are pole dancers after all... if that doesn't indicate a quest for flexy... I dont know what would. ; ) Thanks for the bubble tip. Mine isn't an exact bubble as much as a portion of the surface coating looking like it is wearing or about to peel. I can't describe it exactly but it looks cosmetic. Interesting re the winding though.... I probably do over tighten... hmmm. Sensualscimitar, You know the very FIRST time I assembled my pole... FIRST spin the Xjoint stripped. It took forever to get it out of there... I was really upset by it. On Alethea's facebook I read where she put a photo of the PS star and called it essentially unsafe. I do not own one and can not speak from experience... maybe check out her opinions and other people's reviews? I was considering a LilMynx recently to get some more variety and see what a different finish would be like. Totally superficial reason... because I like the colors too. Heard some good and not so good reviews about them too. $400 is serious money for equipment. Let us know what you decide on and what you find out about that not being level. Maybe you got a 'lemon' pole. Regardless of the 'whys' or 'whats' its just a crummy situation. Hope things look up and soon!
chemgoddess1 · 10/20/2011
First off when you level your pole it needs to be level on 2 planes, not just one. What I mean by 2 planes is check the level where you had it and then move the level about 90 degrees and check the pole again. I am not sure if this is written in the XPole directions but I know it was in my original LM instructions. Second, if your pole is off by just a hair it is going to be more extreme at the 2 ends...I did not see you take the level all the way to the ground, just saw you taking it up.
amy · 10/20/2011
is the pole warped even when it's down? i've seen poles bow over time just because of use-- all the PS permanent poles i've seen have a bow in them (especially visible if you put them on spin mode and just rotate them quickly with your hands).... but i've also seen them bow because of overtightening.
Dancing Paws · 10/20/2011
Chemmie - what I didn't include in the vid is that it starts to level back out towards the top of the B pole again. I did check the bottom of the A pole. It is level there. I did make sure to check all the points to make sure. It is the pole itself. When I turn it, you can see it is wobbling. Amy - That's how I noticed this with my pole. I spun it real fast ans saw the wobble. I've only had my pole for 9 months, and it hasn't had a whole lot of use, so should it really have developed a bow that quickly and from that little of use? I've honestly been using my pole less than once a week, and there was an entire month that it went unused when I got really sick. JeHanne - Was Alethea talking about the old star version? or was she talking about the new 3.0 version? I know PS has updated a lot of the features of the stage to fix a lot of the problems they were having with it. I've been talking with a few girls that say it is really sturdy now.
Dancing Paws · 10/20/2011
Oh JeHanne, I do have a LM ss pro-lite, but I can't use it bc I live in an apartment where I can't screw into joists. :( That is why I am looking into geting a stage (and with this x pole issue I am not getting an x stage.)
amy · 10/20/2011
the bow can also develop from overtightening: if you keep forcing the pole itself to be longer, but the distance from ceiling to floor is constant, then the pole is forced to bow out because it has no other way to relieve the tension you are forcing on it. we noticed that one of the xpoles we are using suddenly became very bowed-- we reset it, loosened it, and noticed that the bow was immediately reduced.
Veena · 10/20/2011
Just a note to everyone with pole issues......Anytime you a problem with a pole make sure you contact the company. They need to know about issues so they can look into it and make changes. I think we all want quality dance poles and that can't happen if we don't let the companies know about problems. 😉
Dancing Paws · 10/20/2011
Amy - I really really don't think I am over tightening my pole. I barely tighten my pole to the ceiling, then turn it about a 1/2 turn or so until it doesn't move if I shake the pole. My pole slipped about a week ago b/c I am so paranoid of over tightening it and damaging my pole. My dome shows no sign of puckering. I took my pole down and put it up again and the problem wasn't fixed. Veena - I have contacted x pole, and I am waiting to hear what they say. They won't be back until the 25th. Hopefully they can fix this. I was hoping to hear that this was normal from the girls on here. I am seriously worried about using my pole.
amy · 10/20/2011
=( sorry just read your original post.
JeHanne · 10/20/2011
It is on Aletheas facebook page > Wall Photos. There is a picture of it and then a whole lotta discussion. It may be an older model since The post was made on Nov 27, 10 and it says Star Stand Alone. To summarize one of the biggest complaits with the product was if you did a spin against the threading you would unscrew the pole. There was a lot of discussion and everyone was very respectful regarding the content. I personally have no opinion on the product since I have had no experience with it. I have an X pole and I love it. I was upset when the joint stripped and feel a better design could prevent that... however... I am still happy with the product. I understand your situation though and I would be very unhappy if I was in your position. When I pay money for a product... I expect it to be defect free and work as expected. It would be great if there is something they could do for you. Getting you a new pole would be a real nice way to help you try the product and see if your experience is better. Could you screw into the joist to get your LM pole up and then cover it with compound/putty or something like that when you left?
Dancing Paws · 10/20/2011
I originally thought of screwing in my LM pole, but I have maintenance come in periodically, and I do not want them seeing it and saying something to the manager. I am too afraid to risk it since they would charge me a lot if they found out.
Platinum Stages · 10/21/2011
The version of the Star Stand Alone that Alethea was referring to is our old Star Stand Alone version. We've updated the model and enhanced the Star Stand Alone to be more stable. Our products have always been safe and we continue to improve the technology behind our products ensuring the quality and safety that we stand behind. We are a U.S. based manufacturer and all of our products are made in the USA. Unlike other companies that manufacturer their products overseas, we are able to respond directly to any potential issues. We encourage you to try the latest version of the Star Stand Alone pole for yourself. Please feel free to call us with any comments, questions or concerns. Thanks! Erica Verner mailto:[email protected] (949) 574-7133 Phone (866) 85-POLES Toll Free http://www.platinumstages.com/ 1582 Monrovia Ave Newport Beach, CA 92663
Platinum StagesPlatinum Stages Online Pole Dance ShopOnline retailer providing dance poles, stripper poles and podiums to be used in studios, homes and nightclubs. We offer permanent and portable options.

Load more replies (page 2 of 2)