Awesome writeup Matty. Thanks for the detailed info!
justsomedude said:So yesterday I went out to rig a couple of last minute trees.
I was about 3/4 mile back and a couple hundred feet up on a ridge after cutting a path with a Machete.
Found the last tree I wanted to do and my DRILL BATTERY DIED
I got out the manual drill....
I find that it is easier for me to start the Drill two handed drilling above my head.
About halfway through, I move up one step and finish drilling and remove the drill from chest level.
It was a tall tree too. I went about 25'.
Hope that one pays off. Overlooking a Ridgetop trail that had a really active line of Rubs last year.
1simplemann said:Matt, You got a pic of that platform? Very interested in your method.
I just happen to have some 5/8 auger bits. I also have the luxury of being able to leave my bolts in the trees. Owner doesn't mind. Your platform idea intrigues me though. I'm not paying $250 for half a treestand (LW Assassin). I'm guessing that's why it's not made anymore. No one else would pay that kind of money either.Matty said:I'll have to dig out the platform and take a pic for you guys. I really only use the platform for all day sits, which I usually only do during the rut, so it's still stored away with colder weather clothes and everything else rut related. lol
As for the 5/8" bolts, they would be great, except the only hand-drill that I know of on the market now is for 3/8" bolts. Now you could get a 5/8" "wood auger" drill bit and make a depth collar for it, and make a handle for it. Then you'd be in business with the beefier 5/8" bolts. I just take one set of bolts everywhere though, so I don't worry about having a lot of them, I never leave them in a tree. So the 20 I have will hopefully last me a lifetime.
As far as bending the bolts, I know a guy that has used the 3/8" bolts and he's about 6'6" tall and over 320 pounds... :shock:
If they don't bend for him, they shouldn't bend for the rest of us that are sized more like "kickers". lol
What they did do though was elongate the hole as he stepped on them. So he has to drill at a steeper angle so the bolts don't end up facing down when he steps on them. Some trees are hard enough for him to use bolts, some aren't. The wood tree gives before the bolt, so that's comforting to know.
There are softwood trees that do that under weights as low as 160ish#'s. The trick is the same, drill into the tree at a steeper angle.