You can buy iron standards or bases, and of course the whole apparatus, for high jumping and pole vaulting, but it is a simple matter to make a pair of uprights that will answer the purpose satisfactorily (Fig. 270).

Before beginning work read carefully Marking, Rule, Square, Saw, Plane, in Part V., and look up any other references.

Take two straight sticks 10' or 12' long and about 2 1/2" square. Taper each piece with the plane until about 1 1/2" square at one end. Make each base of two pieces of board about 4" wide and perhaps 3' long, as shown in Fig. 270, or halve two pieces of plank (see Halving). Mortise the larger ends of the posts into these bases as shown in Fig. 271 (see Mortising').

Before fastening the posts to the standards, mark a line along the middle of one side of each post. On this line lay off feet and inches from the bottom and carefully bore a quarter-inch hole through the posts at each of these points (except, of course, those near the ground) for the pins which are to support the cross-bar or cord (see Boring). Then fit the posts in the mortises and brace them by three braces each. The ends of the braces can be cut at a mitre and screwed in place, or the blacksmith will make iron braces for a small sum (Fig. 271). Finish like the other apparatus already described.

Vaulting poles should be round, very straight-grained, from air-dried (not kiln-dried) stock of light, strong wood, as spruce, free from knots or 3.ny cross-grs, ined, weak spots. The thickness should of course depend on the length, but should not be less than 1 1/4" for an 8' pole (which is quite short), and the pole should taper toward each end (see Rounding Sticks).

Fig. 270.

Fig. 271.