Guys, why all the bother in finding old masts etc when you will find that mast won't fit any of the fittings. Standard Ali tube is plentiful and cheap and local. On line and shipping usual gets it to your door in a few days in either 2.5m or 5m lengths.

No you don't need any fancy paint or such on it or if you do for aesthetic reasons then get it locally powder coated, it lasts and is tough and dead cheap and again local.

Carbon or glass as a spinny pole is no stronger than Ali and in many ways more prone to breakage when bounced into by the flying crew. An Ali pole will bend and deform but won't just shatter.