i bot a used free standing basketball net but the base is so rusted out the net is tilted forward and too low. I still have the base - can I just cement in the pole? The base is 43x31’ and one of those black plastic ones you fill with water. (no holes in it so the water stays in fine) the metal pipe is 3" in diameter by 90" length. The length of the pipe plus the backboard is 113" (not sure how much it weighs exactly)
if that’s not a good idea could I make my own cement base for the pole? what dimensions would it have to be?
I don’t want to put the pole inground; it has to still be portable.
"I still have the base - can I just cement in the pole?" If you’re using the word “cement” as meaning glue - probably not. If there is a hole in the plastic base and you’re thinking of filling some empty space with mortar mix to embed the pole - maybe. A better material might be a quart of Bondo auto body filler from Walmart which is an acrylic glue filled with mineral powder.
If you made a base from concrete it would be heavier than the water base but still should be ~ 43x31" for the same stability and 5-6" thick for structural integrity. With some type of reinforcing wire in the concrete maybe 4" thick. A big hunk of concrete is NOT going to be easily portable…
I’m a bit confused because you’re using the word base for both a black plastic tank that holds water and a part that is rusted out. Pictures would help.
If you’re just using concrete/mortar to secure the pole to the black plastic tank, I imagine that would work as long as the concrete is thick enough around the pole to hold together. I’d splurge on a high strength concrete instead of getting the cheapest mix at HD.
Do you always use it in the same place? If so, a concrete base in the ground with a suitable sized hole would do it.