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Tree step wrench

Bigburner

Bigburner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2014
Messages
211
Location
Delaware
Had some free time today and fabricated a tree step wrench I have about 200 Ameristep screw-ins and figured I'd use them up for platforms pre-setting tree in places I have scouted out. It will save time and keep things quiet.
I took an 8" peice of flat stock and cut it about 1.5" wide. I torched some ears in to catch the step for either screwing in or taking out. I heated and bent a 90 about 1.5" from the tip. Drilled a few hole to slide the step through and spaced them out. You can get a little more leverage on the upper hole but need to use the lower to get the step tight against the tree. I then took some 7/16" rod, cut it about 7" and threaded both end so I could secure it to the flat stock and be able to put a rotating handle on it using conduit. pretty simple and works like a charm. Should last forever. About 1/2 hr. worth of work and less than $5 in material. You could make it longer for additional leverage but I wan't to make make small enough to be be practical.I know there are steps out there that are a breeze to put in but there is no denying that Ameristeps suck and pretty rough putting in by hand so had to make something to utilize what was on hand.



 
looks awesome! the homemade version of what i use (his price has really gone up since I got one!) http://www.treesteptool.com/

Don't leave home without one. I do the exact same thing with all of my ameristeps and it works great for hunting pre-set trees. Like you said, very very quiet. You just mentioned platforms though. Are you gonna use your sticks to get up to your spikes?

On a side note I think ameristep screw in steps are a death trap without a tool. It is very important that they are screwed all the way in and the base is touching the tree so it doesn't bend when you step on it. I have found way too many trees where guys have them with a huge gap between the spike and the tree. That is an accident waiting to happen.
 

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Good idea, that will save on the # of steps to put out.
 
Yeah man. I got about 4 trees set up during the week. Works good. I would have been busting my ass with out it. I also used my loop i sewed up for my bottom stick. Works great as well. It was nice getting up another 3 or so feet. One thing I can tell you for sure the mosquitoes are brutal but I stuck it out all day Tuesday and part of Friday. I have about 10 more sets to get trimmed and set. Hopefully I'll get an early season and maybe a rut hunt out of the spots depending on the activity but it's definately going to be nice having the platform in place.
 
That's great to hear its working good. Way cheaper than the one I bought!

I have not been able to setup any of my new spots yet. 2 more weeks and everything for work will calm down and I will start busting my butt to get them setup ASAP.

I really like the loop idea for the sticks. That is another project I am going to fool around with as soon as I get some time. I will use that mostly for run and gun setups.

You are right about the mosquitos. I have taken a couple short hikes the past week and I just have a swarm of them surrounding my head the whole time I am out there!
 
akira7799 said:
Awesome post. I wish I read this before I purchased my TreeStepTool from http://www.treesteptool.com/. Great ingenuity! Scott, great minds think alike on the TreeStepTool!
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Erich did an awsome job making that tool but don't be too upset about buying the tree step tool. My buddy broke his 2 seasons ago and he emailed the guy. The guy was so surprised he had broken one and said he was the first person ever to do that, and he sent him another one free of charge. I don't mind paying for a quality product that lasts especially when there are good people behind it! ;)
 
first time poster here!! love this site Thanks Red Squirrel!!! I think I might have converted my buddy ( a hang on Hunter ) with the videos here. Anyways... Tree step is awesome Im gonna try to make one this week or next.. I have the muddy step installer, good to start but the step pop out too east when winding in and no handle for leverage. Thanks for the post!
 
ArrowSmith said:
first time poster here!! love this site Thanks Red Squirrel!!! I think I might have converted my buddy ( a hang on Hunter ) with the videos here. Anyways... Tree step is awesome Im gonna try to make one this week or next.. I have the muddy step installer, good to start but the step pop out too east when winding in and no handle for leverage. Thanks for the post!
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Great to have you here! Welcome to the site :D
 
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