What are Pole Base Forms Made From?
As a precast concrete producer, you need smart, efficient production methods and the right forms and materials to maximize your plant’s performance. Durability, efficiency, and ease of use should be your top priorities.
By Olivia Schaub | March 4, 2025
The Ground Work
Short on time? Here are this article’s key takeaways…
Steel Pole Base forms include essential tools like rebar jigs and conduit magnets, reducing labor time and ensuring consistent results, whereas plastic forms require additional workarounds.
A steel vs. plastic form comparison shows that steel offers better longevity, efficiency, and reliability in most cases.
While plastic forms may work for low-volume projects, steel forms last for decades and provide a higher return on investment.
Steel Pole Base forms are the optimal choice for producers looking to scale their business and maintain high-quality standards.
Durability, efficiency, and ease of use should be your top priorities. When selecting forms, you have the option to choose between plastic and steel. Read on for a review of the advantages and disadvantages of these two form materials.
What comes with the forms?
Before we dive into the comparison, it’s important to understand the equipment included in each Pole Base form order. This includes the form itself, a rebar jig for constructing rebar cages, conduit retainer magnets for keeping interior conduit in place during pouring and curing, a lifting plate for moving completed bases, and a rollover donut for palletizing bases. Plastic forms can usually be found as singular purchases from local concrete suppliers or some online suppliers and do not typically include additional components.
Rebar Jig
Rollover Donut
Lifting Plate
Conduit Magnet
Why steel is the best form for pole bases: A side-by-side comparison
Steel Light Foundation Forms
DURABILITY - Strong and durable steel is matched with sturdy base platforms, so you’ll create top-notch Pole Bases. Our current producers especially like the removable form attachments, which make building custom pole bases exactly to project specifications a piece of cake. Pole Base forms also last decades, ensuring a healthy return on your investment.
PRICING - While Pole Base is likely the more expensive option, you can request a quote directly from our Pole Base team and receive answers to any questions you may have. Your investment in Pole Base is supported by a team of engineers, marketers, and business development professionals, ensuring seamless production, effective market positioning, and sustainable business growth.
FINISHED PRODUCT - Completed Bases are consistent with project specifications and cured in controlled settings to ensure finished base strength and aesthetics. Magnetic conduit retainers also keep interior elements in place, so installation is plug-and-play work when your expertly reinforced bases arrive at job sites.
JUDGING THE FIT - Pole Base steel forms are an excellent fit for precast concrete producers who handle many light pole base orders and would like a consistent and efficient way to provide exactly what their customers want while setting their business up for an additional healthy stream of income.
FORM STORAGE - Since they’re made exclusively with high-grade North American steel, Pole Base forms are heavier and require machinery for moving around a production facility.
Plastic Light Foundation Forms
DURABILITY - Plastic forms don’t feature additional height brackets to customize the finished base height, so you’ll need to buy multiple forms to meet the specifications of your projects or cut forms. Plastic is also subject to warping over time and will need replacing more often, leading to additional work on your part, sourcing and purchasing more forms. Plastic forms do not come with helpful tools such as a rebar jig, conduit magnets, lifting plates, or rollover donuts, so you’ll need to figure out additional methods for building your rebar, keeping conduit in place, and lifting and palletizing your completed bases.
PRICING - Plastic forms are cheaper than their steel counterparts. You can find pricing on plastic forms through your local concrete products supplier or an online retailer.
FINISHED PRODUCT - Though using a plastic form results in a seam-free base, finished base quality is subject to more surface imperfections. Producing high-grade, ready-to-install bases will be challenging without tools such as conduit retainers to keep things in place.
JUDGING THE FIT - Plastic forms might be the right choice for precasters who only receive a handful of light pole base orders a year and don't possess the desire or capability to make it part of their overall business.
FORM STORAGE - Plastic forms can usually be moved without the help of machinery and stacked for easy storage. A 24" dia x 8 ft. form weighs only 40 pounds.
Choosing the best forms for pole bases ensures your business produces high-quality, durable solutions that keep clients coming back. Would you trust a plastic knife to cut your ribeye? A plastic beam to support your roof? There are certain instances when the use of plastic can be advantageous, but in the case of your precast light pole foundation forming system, the difference is pretty clear. Steel forms provide superior longevity, efficiency, and ease of use - making them the top choice for serious precast producers.
Contributing Expert
Olivia Schaub
Olivia’s journey at Aster Brands began on the Pole Base sales team, where she mastered the Aster Brands sales methodology. With a strong foundation in sales and expertise in technical, business, and creative writing, she now excels as a Copywriter, crafting engaging and strategic content. Outside of work, Olivia cherishes time with her growing family, enjoys getting lost in a good book, and loves working on her own creative writing projects.