Recently watched a video (as well as others) where a guy(s) built his (their) own DIY saddle platform that bolted onto the top of his last climbing stick and I felt it might be a good idea to do a thread showing links to similar DIY stick/platform combinations
Link:
I saw one video where the guy made an absolutely amazing stick/platform mod, but the platform required a fair amount of machining to make it fit onto the stick to be supported and work properly and I have no past experience with hiring a machine shop for anything let alone a quite small machining job. Not saying I couldn't find a machine shop to do the work, I just don't know off hand of one that would. And I have no desire to use a 4" mini grinder to try to make my own metal cut outs.
I think such a stick/platform mod would be extremely useful especially for R&G public land hunting as it would save you considerable time and effort not having to set up a platform or other foot support system every time you hunt
I would like to build my own stick/platform and would like to see as many examples as there are before I start to spend $$$ and also such a stick mod obviously needs to be capable of withstanding whatever forces it would be subjected to almost indefinitely. My concern is I am a larger than average hunter at 6'-2" and around 275lbs fully outfitted for hunting so any stick/platform build/mod would have to be very strong. I am not an engineer and lack the knowledge to be able to design a platform that wouldn't end up subjecting the stick to increased torsional forces that would exceed it's structural capacities.
Also considering this would be only a single stick mod and not a set of four or more, would it be better building such a hybrid climbing stick/platform from scratch using materials that most DIY's use when building their own climbing sticks such as using aircraft grade aluminium square tubing and aftermarket climbing stick parts you can easily buy from climbing stick manufacturers?
Also would like to hear from seasoned DIYers their thoughts on if such a stick mod is a good idea or not, as you guys BTSIDT and would likely have far more experience at what looked GREAT on paper but not so much in the real world.
Or does anyone think I could simply buy an existing saddle platform and attach it to a climbing stick and make it work.
Lastly does anyone reading this have the engineering background to be able to give a determination as to the safety and viability especially for long term use of such a climbing stick modification?
Thanks,
Art.
Link:
I think such a stick/platform mod would be extremely useful especially for R&G public land hunting as it would save you considerable time and effort not having to set up a platform or other foot support system every time you hunt
I would like to build my own stick/platform and would like to see as many examples as there are before I start to spend $$$ and also such a stick mod obviously needs to be capable of withstanding whatever forces it would be subjected to almost indefinitely. My concern is I am a larger than average hunter at 6'-2" and around 275lbs fully outfitted for hunting so any stick/platform build/mod would have to be very strong. I am not an engineer and lack the knowledge to be able to design a platform that wouldn't end up subjecting the stick to increased torsional forces that would exceed it's structural capacities.
Also considering this would be only a single stick mod and not a set of four or more, would it be better building such a hybrid climbing stick/platform from scratch using materials that most DIY's use when building their own climbing sticks such as using aircraft grade aluminium square tubing and aftermarket climbing stick parts you can easily buy from climbing stick manufacturers?
Also would like to hear from seasoned DIYers their thoughts on if such a stick mod is a good idea or not, as you guys BTSIDT and would likely have far more experience at what looked GREAT on paper but not so much in the real world.
Or does anyone think I could simply buy an existing saddle platform and attach it to a climbing stick and make it work.
Lastly does anyone reading this have the engineering background to be able to give a determination as to the safety and viability especially for long term use of such a climbing stick modification?
Thanks,
Art.
