Big_Bubbles Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 anyone got any plans for makin a home made portable or ladder out of wood... im in shop class right now and i need some plans.... it would be greatly appreciated thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand When I was in shop class we could not make a treestand. Liabilities were the issue. For the price of treestands and especially when stores clearance them at the end of the season, maybe buying one would be better. If you still want to build maybe do an internet search and see what you can find. Jesse Hunting on the web had some guys showing their homebrewed stands, maybe contact those guys over there. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinsonovagun Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand I would never make a wooden stand. I've got several I welded up, but never a wooden one. I've even used electrical conduit, which is light stuff and some might question it, but I trust it. Don't think I'd trust wood for more than a year. I've just about come to the conclusion that it's easier to buy 1 or 2 $40 Gorilla hang-ons every year until your collection is built up. Bass Pro usually has them for that price during one of their sales each year. Not a bad stand for the money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand [ QUOTE ] I've even used electrical conduit, which is light stuff and some might question it, but I trust it. [/ QUOTE ] I would never trust electrical conduit to hold my body up in a stand 12 to 15 feet up!!! I have too many loved ones at home to be taking chances. I went out and bought a well built production stand and feel safe in it!! I don't like taking chances! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn57 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand All my stands are homemade but i only use steel. I have never sat in a wood stand because I dont trust them, that and i dont think they could hold all 270 lbs of me up safely! Plus the steel stand will last much longer and are easier to take to the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand Here is a stand I built 2 years ago out of 1 1/2" angle iron. I didn't have plans, but here's what I did. Cut 4- 6' sections of angle Iron and 2- 8' sections Mine has a 16" inside spread on the top and bottom sections the middle section is slightly shorter. The ladder rungs are about 14" apart on mine. Over lap he sections about 8-12" and drill throgh both legs with 1 hole at the top and one at the bottom of each over lapping section. Bolt all 3 section together befor you do anythig with the ladder rungs. I use wing nuts to make things easier. You can also weld the bolt on to make tighning the wing nuts easier, but it will make assembling the stand a little harder. Befor you do anything with the rungs lay out your ladder legs. Make sure the middle section is on the same side of the angle iron with the top and bottom sections. Inside or out doesnt' relly matter as long as both sides are the same. Mark the ladder legs so that your ladder rungs ae level and square on the ladder. Cut enough sections for ladder rungs for th top and bottom sections. Make sure that everything is square and then weld on the bottom rung and the top rung. Make the bottom rung about 4" from the ground and leave 3' on the very top so you'll have room to make your seat. When the top and bottom rungs are welded on you can now measure for the rungs in the middle section. They will be a little shorter or longer than the rest depending on where the legs are (outside or inside) You can now weld on the remainder of the ladder rungs. Do this while the legs are still bolted togther. It will be a little harder but this way you know everything is straight. Take the top section off and bend the 3' section down at about a 100 degree angle. This will allow you to sit level with the ladder out about 6' from the tree at the bottom. Weld a cross beam about 6" from the bend and another about 12" from the top part. Then weld a brace from the back side of the top sectong down to the bottom rung of the top section. At this point you need to decide if you want to sit on that section or if you want it to be a foot rest. If use it as your seat then your legs arent going to have much room. To make that your foot rest make a rectangle about 2x3' or however big you want it and weld it on the ladder about 8" from the back side. Now build another one or you can also use 2 more peices of angle iron and build a base to put a metal swivel like they use on fishing boats. These are great if you want to be able to turn without making noise, and you can get a cheap fishing boat seat with a cushon. Finally get two more peices of angle about 4" each put a "T" on the end of one and a small y and the other. The end with the T will attach to your stand about 1/2 way up and the end with the small y will go against the tree. Now drill a hole through both peices while they are together so they fit good. Slide them down about 2" and drill one hole through one of your original holes. When youv'e done this now put a bolt through one hole, bolt them together. Repeat this proses about 5 or 6 times so you can adjust it for different angles and tree sizes. Good luck if you have any questions PM me. If you need more pics. I'll go out and take some more close ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand I believe there's a lot of plans on the internet if you Google it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand i remeber my first climbing treestand. It had a plywood floor to it and thin metal strapping under neith that crossed like and x, no climber peice I had to use my arms...man how bad did i want a deer..any deer crazy!! It was traded from my buddy for an old bow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAbowhunter86 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand [ QUOTE ] i remeber my first climbing treestand. It had a plywood floor to it and thin metal strapping under neith that crossed like and x, no climber peice I had to use my arms...man how bad did i want a deer..any deer crazy!! It was traded from my buddy for an old bow [/ QUOTE ] These stands are nuts. I have used them before and wow it is a work out. Sorry dont know about wooden stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vagobbln Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] i remeber my first climbing treestand. It had a plywood floor to it and thin metal strapping under neith that crossed like and x, no climber peice I had to use my arms...man how bad did i want a deer..any deer crazy!! It was traded from my buddy for an old bow [/ QUOTE ] These stands are nuts. I have used them before and wow it is a work out. Sorry dont know about wooden stands. [/ QUOTE ] Sounds like my first one - an old Baker climbing stand. I can't remember how many times that rickety old thing let loose and I ended up kissing and hugging bark all the way down to the ground. Anyway, I love my baby's daddy to much to get in something like that now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand yeah it is a baker...hahah tree stands have come a long way since then. I forot how much that treestand used to move around and drop all of the sudden . better through that thing in the trash its out in the shed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand Oops, missed that wood thing. In that case. I woudn't go more that 10 feet up and only use treated lumber. I would make the ladder 24-30" wide and make the floor 3' long and make your angle around 95-100 degrees. Anything more and it won't be strong enough. You'll need to put braces on both sides from about 8" from the back side of the floor down about 3-4" feet on the ladder. Put a floor joist in the front, 18" and about the same place as your back braces. Use 3/4" pressure treated lumber for the floor and cut out a curve that will sit against the tree. The stands like this that I have seen and used have all had a umberella type chair in them some have had 2 legs screwed down to keep them from moving. Use a 10-12 foot rachet strap and go around the tree and atatch the strap at the point where the down braces meet the ladder. Make sure that the strap not only pulls the top of the stand into the tree, but also the bottom of the stand into the ground. This will give maximum stability. I would use 4" glavinized decking screws if available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoytguy08 Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand i'm sure u could find some plans on google, i don't prefer to hunt homemade wooden stands but i do have a couple i hunt out of yeach year, but i replace the platform each year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand Wooden ladder stands can be plenty safe if you use quality wood, treaded prefered, but a good sealing outdoor paint can make new 2x4s last a long time. Ket to this is to paint EVERY surface before assembly so the rot does not occur between pieces where it naturally would over exposed surfaces.. I would also very strongly suggest screws and bolts over nailing any wooden stand together. I also would not go over 12 feet high with it, if wooden, merely because its a bear to get up on the tree. LOL I make 99% of my stands out of steel but did have a wooden ladder stand for years I just retired... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillLearnin Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand With the price of steel these days it is just as cheap to by the $70 ladder stands at wally world than spend $80 on 1" square. Granted it is thinner walled tubing but hey it makes it that much lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand All our stands with the exception of my climber are homemade, but they are all welded steel stands. Have seen some good plans for wooden stands in here before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand Thats true Shawn, Not to mention the hybrid ladderstand some of us make by adding 1/2 sheet of 3/4" PT Plywood to the top of an old metal ladderstand that we buy for $10. After I was done adding the simpson strongties underneath the platform for the 2x4 braces that were drilled and muffler clamped to the ladder on the other end...it took a game cart to get it into the woods and 3 people to put it up in the tree! That sucker was heavy enough that it sunk down to the first rung on the steps by itself when we put it up Shot my first bow deer out of it though...worth all the time playing around with it and every penny I spent in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OHBUKMSTR Posted May 6, 2006 Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand Wood Is not all that bad for making tree stands look at all the wood tree stands over the years for example in a galaxy far far away the ewoks made villages in the trees all wood how sweet would that be!!! and what about tarzan and or george of the jungle?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODH Posted May 6, 2006 Report Share Posted May 6, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand I make all my stands myself, but I use square stock steel and have a secure weld on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bowhunter2114 Posted May 7, 2006 Report Share Posted May 7, 2006 Re: homemade tree stand [ QUOTE ] I've just about come to the conclusion that it's easier to buy 1 or 2 $40 Gorilla hang-ons every year until your collection is built up. Bass Pro usually has them for that price during one of their sales each year. Not a bad stand for the money... [/ QUOTE ] Thats what me and my brother did. We now have about 8 hang-ons and a Nice Climber. I am going to buy one more climber this year so each of us have one. They are nice for hunting state property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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