- Joined
- Oct 10, 2018
- Messages
- 1,377
I saw this style of platform on here somewhere and thought what a simple design so I used my free time at work to come up with this. I made it out of 6061 1"x 1/4" aluminum flat stock and 1" square tubing. The platform is roughly 12" at it's widest point and 7" or 8" from center to tree. Best of all it weighs 2.1lbs, not including strap. At first I used a LW strap/buckle and just looped the ends around the legs but I switched to an OCB buckle and strap for a few reasons. The OCB let me really lock it tight to the tree, it doesn't move whereas the LW setup had some give. It wasn't enough to scare me as the platform did slide and shift just a touch as I moved around but it was enough that it had me concerned it would cause an unwanted squeak at the wrong time! The other drawbacks of the LW buckle are noise and weight, both of which I'm trying to reduce.
I've got it set up at 22' on a 14" diameter tree and shooting off it the last few days. Rock solid even with side pressure and able to shoot around tree easily.
Planning on rounding the edges of the tubing where the straps lay, sandblasting, painting and then wrap it in camo tape to prevent the unexpected "TINKKK"!
I've got it set up at 22' on a 14" diameter tree and shooting off it the last few days. Rock solid even with side pressure and able to shoot around tree easily.
Planning on rounding the edges of the tubing where the straps lay, sandblasting, painting and then wrap it in camo tape to prevent the unexpected "TINKKK"!