Treebolts revisited

[IkemanTX]

Thanks for the info. Did you find it quiet enough to use the hand drill on a bedding setup? Trying to get as many opinions on this as possible.
Cheers

If you keep the hand drill oiled frequently, you could definitely pull off a near bedding setup. But, without oil the thing can get pretty squeaky.


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[g2outdoors]

Thanks for the info. Did you find it quiet enough to use the hand drill on a bedding setup? Trying to get as many opinions on this as possible.
Cheers

yeah, it was pretty quiet. I'd be more worried about the motion of my arms spinning 1,000 circles, or the smell of getting sweaty from the work. It's not hard, but holding to the tree and maneuvering your body definitely takes effort. And the tree I picked was very hard. A softer tree would be really easy.

 

[kelly.jayp]

I tried again in a swamp this weekend.

The hand drill works surprisingly well and isn't too difficult. I don't think I'd want to use it on a mobile hunt in the early season. It's just too hot here in GA. When it's cold, I think it could be a viable option.

This little 8v Ryobi drill just isn't enough. It was good for about 7 or 8 bolts into hard Live Oak tree, but even those took some finesse. Back to the 18V Dewalt. If the Dewalt zips through the tree like I think it will, these bolts are going to be an AMAZING preset method.

How many did you need to get to height? Looking forward to getting mine in but I have to wait til I'm back from India.

 

[kelly.jayp]

Thanks for the info. Did you find it quiet enough to use the hand drill on a bedding setup? Trying to get as many opinions on this as possible.
Cheers

I watched @IkemanTX use this at SaddlePalooza right next to my tent. I could have been in there and had no idea he was there.

 

[IkemanTX]

How many did you need to get to height? Looking forward to getting mine in but I have to wait til I'm back from India.

Depends on how far apart you space the bolts. You need some kind of reference on distance so your bolt spacing are uniform. That makes it easier to find the holes in the dark in subsequent climbs. I use from my elbow to the top of my fingers, which is somewhere around 18 inches. My typical platform is 3-4 bolts (primarily 3 though) so, for me to get to 20 feet I would need to be 13 bolts high, plus the extra 2 or 3 to complete the ring up top. I also carry 2 extra for backpack and bow holders.
20-22 bolts will leave me with more than enough for most of my setups.


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[IkemanTX]

Also, a good sharp bit makes a HUGE difference. Just like a woodworker and chisels.... razor sharp is best. If you can find a good stone or fine file that will fit between the drill tip and the outer spurs and keep the edges in good shape, it will make drilling a lot easier. I have neglected mine for a whole season, so I probably need to do some work on them.

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[Hillclimber]

Is there any promos on the hand drill these days?

 

[g2outdoors]

The tree I picked has a major lean before a straight(ish) section where I'm hanging. I'm probably only 15' high, but it took 18 bolts without a platform. The tree is nearly horizontal for about 4 foot. I can stand upright and walk the trunk, but I still installed bolts for safety. I use the same 18" spacing guideline Foot-to-knee and elbow-to-fingertips. You're a bit taller than me so you can probably stretch that into the low 20s.

 

[redsquirrel]

I tried again in a swamp this weekend.

What is your plan for these trees that you are prepping now? Are you planning to redrill them with the hand drill when you hunt them? I expect the holes will be closed up by the time you hunt them in the fall.

 

[IkemanTX]

What is your plan for these trees that you are prepping now? Are you planning to redrill them with the hand drill when you hunt them? I expect the holes will be closed up by the time you hunt them in the fall.

As long as the growing season down there is, I bet they do fill in. But, most of the oaks I saw out in the swamp are Laurel oaks, which are slow growers. That may mean you can get a full year out of them.


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[redsquirrel]

As long as the growing season down there is, I bet they do fill in. But, most of the oaks I saw out in the swamp are Laurel oaks, which are slow growers. That may mean you can get a full year out of them.


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I only bring it up because I have trees that I will drill out in August, and when I go to them the next August I have to drill them again. My growing season is much shorter than you guys.

 

[g2outdoors]

What is your plan for these trees that you are prepping now? Are you planning to redrill them with the hand drill when you hunt them? I expect the holes will be closed up by the time you hunt them in the fall.

I'm leaving the bolts in. Cheaper than screw ins.

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[Babshaft]

thanks for all the answers guys. I'm definitely considering these as an option for the few areas I can use them.

 

[ricky racer]

I'm leaving the bolts in. Cheaper than screw ins.

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Don't get me started........

 

[redsquirrel]

I'm leaving the bolts in. Cheaper than screw ins.

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Question withdrawn.

 

[sb220]

just had a slightly intoxicated idea.....if you could find a bit/pvc or mabye pipe/bolt combination. Drill hole, insert pvc(unless it would crush) ...then use pipe, insert bolt

probably a little less expensive than leaving screwins or grade 8 bolts for every tree at least

Downside is I guess youd never retrieve the inserts

 

[Babshaft]

If you guys were going in mobile, and weren’t certain you were going to hunt the same tree again, would you bother with the bolts or would you use another climbing method?

 

[sb220]

If you guys were going in mobile, and weren’t certain you were going to hunt the same tree again, would you bother with the bolts or would you use another climbing method?

private land I would definitely have trees drilled for bolts or have screwins....Private I would also learn to use spurs, so it may change my previous statement.

public I'm 1 sticking

 

[JakeB]

I'm leaving the bolts in. Cheaper than screw ins.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

Are you planning to leave the 6” bolts in the tree? Any worry of the tree swallowing them up in a year or two?

 

[kelly.jayp]

The tree I picked has a major lean before a straight(ish) section where I'm hanging. I'm probably only 15' high, but it took 18 bolts without a platform.

You thinking of using bolts as a platform or are you going to bring the seat platform? I’m leaning towards using the bolts just to get up and then setting wild edge stepps as the platform


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