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Can you build a 1.3 pound stick

On my stick I put a grade 10.9 5/16 bolt on the step and a washer and flange nut inside the tube to prevent the pulling through. That adds weight and a lot of strength to that area. The flange bolt inside the tube helps prevent movement like the flare of the rivet should.
I am sure what I did is stronger but it is also much heavier.

With the @ImThere steps the stress from step trying to turn, is against the side of the tube. With the Kong design it is against the rivet.
I like the fact that the Kong steps can be easily made but I am still looking forward to how they stand up to their testing. And they are cheaper.

I think all of our designs will not be as strong as a helium stick and maybe not as strong as a Dan's stick. Less weight means more risk and more likely to fail.

The shear strength on those rivets is less than 1000 pounds. I believe the shear strength on my bolts is around 5000 pounds.
Over time metal fatigue will occur and force is increased if you jump on a stick.

I am going to continue to use a small cam cleat on my bottom stick and see if I get another failure . But I will be sure to have two half hitches on the other side of the cam cleat. Small cam cleats stack better.

I may try titanium bolts to lighten up some more without sacrificing strength but increasing the cost. Is that worth it - probably not.
I will probably redesign the versa button to use 5 mm amsteel which is still rated at over 4000 pounds strength compared to 6 mm amsteel.
That will save almost one ounce...

Welding would be great... If I was confident in my welding or if I got a friend to weld the stick I would do that.

Once the Kong steps are tested I may buy some aluminum angle and make some of their steps too.
I like how I can make them at home and of course they cost less.
 
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FayetteKong said:
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20ftup said:
We can post some more pics after we test everything independently. We wanted to test the his diy versa button first. Now we are going to test the step without the slot in the back. The rivets are 3/16 high strength aluminum rivets that you can order online
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Have you tested the sticks yet. If it works well I will order some aluminium angle.
 
Ontariofarmer said:
Have you tested the sticks yet. If it works well I will order some aluminium angle.
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We’re going to finish up the sticks tonight then test. Everything looking good. I actually want to test just the rivets with no bolt connecting the step and stand off to see what they can handle. I DO NOT recommend this it’s strictly for testing purposes


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We finally got around to finishing them they work great. We had to remove some more material from the step to get the total stick weight with 6 ft 1/4 amsteel right at 1.3 that with 3/16 1x1 angle aluminum would like to see if 1/8 thickness would work wouldn’t have to remove as much material. Kong said he’ll post pics soon and an updated sketch.


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20ftup said:
We finally got around to finishing them they work great. We had to remove some more material from the step to get the total stick weight with 6 ft 1/4 amsteel right at 1.3 that with 3/16 1x1 angle aluminum would like to see if 1/8 thickness would work wouldn’t have to remove as much material. Kong said he’ll post pics soon and an updated sketch.


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Good deal. Have you had them on a tree yet?


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I would love to see your finished product and how you got it so light.

From what I figure, I cannot figure it out, so my curiosity is killing me.

My weight calculations

Your 1/16 aluminium tube 2 feet long no holes.... 250 g
Your standoff... assume lone wolf.... for 2 standoffs... 180 g
Your versa button.... maybe 15 g
Your rope.... 6 mm amsteel 60 g
Your 3/16 one inch angle is 136 g for a nine inch piece no holes.... times 2 = ???

1.3 pounds is 590 g.

Weight without the steps is 250+180+15+60+??? for steps= 505 g so the steps have to weigh 85 g for 2... yet 3/16 one angle with no holes or removed material will weigh over 260 g for two.... Did you end up putting holes in the stick or is the stick less than 2 feet. I like the simplicity of the angle.
All that does not include bolts or rivets.

What is your secret and what am I missing. Just take a picture with your cell phone.

Can't wait to understand.. Thanks Ontario.
 
Yes we had them on the tree work great. We are just finishing up cutting the steps down on the rest of the sticks. We had to remove more material off the steps to get them down to weight. Like I said before I would like to see if you can use 1/8 thickness so you don’t have to remove as much material. the 3/16 plenty strong enough in our test. We only working on them at work and not allowed cell phones in building should have pics and updated drawing soon.


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20ftup said:
Yes we had them on the tree work great. We are just finishing up cutting the steps down on the rest of the sticks. We had to remove more material off the steps to get them down to weight. Like I said before I would like to see if you can use 1/8 thickness so you don’t have to remove as much material. the 3/16 plenty strong enough in our test. We only working on them at work and not allowed cell phones in building should have pics and updated drawing soon.


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Click to expand...
Sweet! good news
 
Ontariofarmer said:
I would love to see your finished product and how you got it so light.

From what I figure, I cannot figure it out, so my curiosity is killing me.

My weight calculations

Your 1/16 aluminium tube 2 feet long no holes.... 250 g
Your standoff... assume lone wolf.... for 2 standoffs... 180 g
Your versa button.... maybe 15 g
Your rope.... 6 mm amsteel 60 g
Your 3/16 one inch angle is 136 g for a nine inch piece no holes.... times 2 = ???

1.3 pounds is 590 g.

Weight without the steps is 250+180+15+60+??? for steps= 505 g so the steps have to weigh 85 g for 2... yet 3/16 one angle with no holes or removed material will weigh over 260 g for two.... Did you end up putting holes in the stick or is the stick less than 2 feet. I like the simplicity of the angle.
All that does not include bolts or rivets.

What is your secret and what am I missing. Just take a picture with your cell phone.

Can't wait to understand.. Thanks Ontario.
Click to expand...

No secret tubing weights 250 stand-offs 176 amsteel 40 diy versa button 10 steps are just a hair over 60


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I'm going to have a chance to see Dan's sticks tomorrow. Unless I fall in love with them and want to have babies with them, the king kong sticks will be my choice for sticks.
 
Babshaft said:
I'm going to have a chance to see Dan's sticks tomorrow. Unless I fall in love with them and want to have babies with them, the king kong sticks will be my choice for sticks.
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I think I will be like G2 and get everything. I will try my sticks Kong sticks and Dan sticks. Then decide what is best.


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