For a cheap short pole, I bought a 2m length of electrical conduit (£1.75) cut it to the size I wanted, heated-up one end to accept a Gardiner Quick-LoQ resi neck. The other end (handle end) I heated-up, and pushed the offcut piece of conduit to about 5" inside the main pole.
I now have a 'modular', short, light, cheap pole for awkward/narrow spaces...all for £1.75
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