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HOMEMADE PLATFORM FOR PRESETS

Allegheny Tom said:
I converted the chain to an Amsteel whoopie sling. This seems to work really well. 3 pounds lighter and no noise factor.
I will still keep chain on a few of them but I'm really liking this version.
Now I need some 1/8" Amsteel to make a short whoopie for a trap door prevention cord. It will run from the support post up to the platform.

I think with a little softening of the teeth, these might actually be legit for public land. This test of the whoopie was on a hickory tree and it didn't really penetrate the bark. I imagine these could be made so they don't do any more tree damage than some climbers.
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I’m probably having a brain cramp, but my mind is telling me that a cord from the support post to the platform would still introduce the risk of a trap door effect. Couldn’t the support post fold up and under the platform, which would still dump you?
 
mtsrunner said:
I’m probably having a brain cramp, but my mind is telling me that a cord from the support post to the platform would still introduce the risk of a trap door effect. Couldn’t the support post fold up and under the platform, which would still dump you?
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Highly unlikely, probably totally impossible.
The angle in which the support rod is set just couldn't collapse upward unless the chain, or rope or strap failed.
Hard to exactly put into words in a post but trust me, the rod ain't coming up. It could conceivably collapse downward (although in hundreds of hunts on these, I've never had a rod slip downward) but a simple 1/8" Amsteel whoopie sling will remove any chance of that.
But like any platform or ros that we use...Always be tethered in with no slack before stepping onto any type of foot support.
I've spent almost 30 years hunting off of this design and have never experienced the slightest glitch. These are extremely safe.
I love my Predators but if there was a 3 pound version of this diy stand, my preds would be in the classifieds.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
Highly unlikely, probably totally impossible.
The angle in which the support rod is set just couldn't collapse upward unless the chain, or rope or strap failed.
Hard to exactly put into words in a post but trust me, the rod ain't coming up. It could conceivably collapse downward (although in hundreds of hunts on these, I've never had a rod slip downward) but a simple 1/8" Amsteel whoopie sling will remove any chance of that.
But like any platform or ros that we use...Always be tethered in with no slack before stepping onto any type of foot support.
I've spent almost 30 years hunting off of this design and have never experienced the slightest glitch. These are extremely safe.
I love my Predators but if there was a 3 pound version of this diy stand, my preds would be in the classifieds.
Click to expand...

Yeah that makes sense. There might be a 3# version soon. I have been emailing with Matt at OOAL about something similar to the Rut Roost, but lighter. I currently use the seat from an original LW stand (think Klemz) without the vertical post. I just use leverage to keep it from collapsing. I use this as a ground seat only at this point. I think something like this with the pivoting support bar under it would be great.
Obviously, always tethered with no slack.
 
Real nice!.... now that's one I'm gonna try making outta carbon fiber! I really like the concept!
 
Micneador said:
I made three treehopper tree suite knock offs from steel last season. Used one for mobile hunting and the other two for pre sets. Think they cost me ~$20 in material that made two complete platforms with some scraps for the third left over. Used expanded metal I had off an old hang on stand.

If you can weld its a viable option IMO
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I did similar - I think the materials for each was like $30 at Lowe's/Home Despot prices.
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Allegheny Tom said:
I have several of these with a slightly different build (I dont have pics of those).

As I said, these are really over built. The solid plates in the pics are what the teeth are welded to, and the plates are bolted to the platform.
The reason we did it that was the "logistics" of the guy who welded for us...think " government job" at his regular job. He didn't want to handle the platform at his job site but he would weld the teeth to the plates.

The stands could be a pound lighter if the teeth were welded directly to the platform...the way my other diy stands are.

We've used chains on most of our older versions and we just welded a hook directly onto the platform. My buddy thought a clevis would be better than a hook. I'm torn on that. Each has their attributes.
I would bet that these could be further lightened by another 5 pounds by using webbing, amsteel, or other rope. I did have some I made in the 1980s and I used old lap style seatbelts from a junkyard. They worked really well. These days there are a lot more sources for webbing, buckles and other suitabl hardware. This off season I will try swapping the clevis for a hook, and then use amsteel with a timber hitch. I am optimistic that will work well and these will be 100% quiet and half the weight.
The platform material is scrap from catwalks from my old plant. When they closed the place they were sending those to the junk...I snagged a bunch. They make great platforms.
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Tom,
I like your design. I've seen the idea year's ago but that was a plywood version. What is you platform's dimensions? I've been toying with idea of permenant platforms for years. This thread has renewed my interest in the project. Hunting private land where you can have preset trees w/ steps and platforms already set is just the ticket for getting in and setting up quickly and quietly. Our trees are all pegged or have ladders but no platforms so we still have to set the platform for every sit.
 
1simplemann said:
Tom,
I like your design. I've seen the idea year's ago but that was a plywood version. What is you platform's dimensions? I've been toying with idea of permenant platforms for years. This thread has renewed my interest in the project. Hunting private land where you can have preset trees w/ steps and platforms already set is just the ticket for getting in and setting up quickly and quietly. Our trees are all pegged or have ladders but no platforms so we still have to set the platform for every sit.
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They are all 12" wide simply because that is the width the platform material is manufactured.
The length of them varies based on the length of the material that was available to me at the time. Some pieces were longer and I could cut it in, say thirds and get 3 platforms. And some was short which barely produced an acceptable size stand.

We've made various versions and sizes of these for years, long before I started saddle hunting. The latest ones were made strictly for saddle use and they measure 12"x12". That size works really well for stability when we sometimes get all our weight out on the corners of the platform.

My older, "pre-saddle" platforms were ~24"×12". That size works fine for when your body weight is pushing straight down with minimal lateral force. But with that deeper 24" platform, there is a bit of flex when we get our full body weight on an outside corner. That flex tends to transfer down to the support post which I wasn't crazy about.

That was easily solved with a light duty ratchet or cam strap that holds the support post tight to the tree. 1/4" rope with a truckers hitch also stabilizes the post too. Having to rig the 2nd strap isnt really a big deal when being used as a pre set though. Its just another step in the process of safely securing the stand.

Another benefit to that 2nd strap is that it will prevent a trap-door.
I'm currently in the process of making a whoopie sling safety cord from 1/8" Amsteel to prevent trap door. The cord will go from the post to the platform.

I like the 12"×12" size.
>No flex in the platform, and don't need a 2nd strap.

>I get more platforms from the amount of available material.

>It's large enough for me to stand and rotate on.

>And no squatters want to hunt from it unless they are sporting a saddle.
 
I have access to some similar material. Old grating made from vertical flat bar. It's plenty strong. Plus I even think I can get some of the same steps your cutting from. However I am currently hunting from a LWCG Ambush. The size is close to ideal for me. For the weak side shot, I simply stand and spin as if I was on a treestand. 16" x 16" would be about perfect. I'm trying to think of a way to make a platform bolt on the tree and still be able to level fro leaning ing trees. The cottonwoods that I hunt from are simply too big to get chains around. We currently have 26 trees preset w/ steps. That would take alot of chain!
 
A friend and I are putting up a few presets with bolts for next year. We're planning on using a ring of bolts to stand on.
I'm going to be using some delrin rod drilled out to 3/8" as a sleeve to put the bolt through and into the tree. Delrin comes in a multitude of diameters and is really easy to drill. There will be no rot like wood pedals and they should hold up for awhile.
Delrin is pretty workable and can be gouged/scored for grip or simply stick some 3M non skid stair tape to the rods.
 
If anyone would be interested I have what are or look just like "Climbing paws" (youtube them) plastic cone shaped plastic steps that are made to strap on a tree. 2 of these on a strap should make good preset platforms. I have 10 of them, message me for price & pics.
 
Bump. I still think the original idea is best. The old chain on versions were ROCK solid. Never moved. We need a light weight adjustable platform That will handle side pressure. The strap needs to be level w/ the platform not above it. it needs the teeth vertical to the tree for more surface area not horizontal w/ only a couple teeth touching. IMO those 2 features would make a platform rock solid on all trees. Now if we only could get a company to build one!
 
1simplemann said:
Bump. I still think the original idea is best. The old chain on versions were ROCK solid. Never moved. We need a light weight adjustable platform That will handle side pressure. The strap needs to be level w/ the platform not above it. it needs the teeth vertical to the tree for more surface area not horizontal w/ only a couple teeth touching. IMO those 2 features would make a platform rock solid on all trees. Now if we only could get a company to build one!
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Hmmmm
 
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