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Calling All Ameristep Users!

Nutterbuster

Nutterbuster

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Where the skys are so blue!
Been fingering some product and taking some measurements. The Bear Claw is definitely cool. 3oz instead of the standard 4. Also has a little bit longer step it seems, but narrower(only 0.5"). Obviously can't test stability due to not having a strap option...yet.

The old standard ameristep actually compares quite favorably in my book. Without the wings it's only 1.25", compared to the others' 1". I like the angled (70/75ish degrees?) step, and it is the widest and most comfortable. I like the tread.

Skyhook I like, but am skeptical of the "tooth" now that I've had it on a tree. Doesn't seem to do much for stability, but it could also be the very high strap placement. The ameristep seems to nail that. I think I would like it the best if it had the ameristep's strap slot location.

The API speed steps are nice. Seems like the slot placement could be a bit lower.

I was literally playing with these at dark with a headlamp. Just got them all in about an hour ago. Just wanted to stoke the flames.
04a3de3234e4057c1330c18907a13fb9.jpg


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DanO

DanO

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I received some API Folding Skyhooks today for research and development. The step is only 1/2” wide. The vertical piece is 1”. Very similar to the Bear Claw except the BC has two raised cleats on the back and the API Skyhook has two tiny teeth.

One thought was to see if we could make a bracket to mount the Skyhook or Bear Claw to a strap. I’ll be giving one of these to my machinist friend to see what he comes up with.
49d536c011aee020ce7a6ed088f000e6.jpg



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Cajunshooter

Cajunshooter

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Jul 25, 2017
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Nutterbuster said:
Been fingering some product and taking some measurements. The Bear Claw is definitely cool. 3oz instead of the standard 4. Also has a little bit longer step it seems, but narrower(only 0.5"). Obviously can't test stability due to not having a strap option...yet.

The old standard ameristep actually compares quite favorably in my book. Without the wings it's only 1.25", compared to the others' 1". I like the angled (70/75ish degrees?) step, and it is the widest and most comfortable. I like the tread.

Skyhook I like, but am skeptical of the "tooth" now that I've had it on a tree. Doesn't seem to do much for stability, but it could also be the very high strap placement. The ameristep seems to nail that. I think I would like it the best if it had the ameristep's strap slot location.

The API speed steps are nice. Seems like the slot placement could be a bit lower.

I was literally playing with these at dark with a headlamp. Just got them all in about an hour ago. Just wanted to stoke the flames.
04a3de3234e4057c1330c18907a13fb9.jpg


Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I think I may be coming up with a method to simply modify the speed step to take a strap. What do you think about that? You could buy them directly the way the are, do a pretty easy mod and stick the on your strap.


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Nutterbuster

Nutterbuster

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Oct 12, 2017
10,069
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Where the skys are so blue!
DanO said:
I received some API Folding Skyhooks today for research and development. The step is only 1/2” wide. The vertical piece is 1”. Very similar to the Bear Claw except the BC has two raised cleats on the back and the API Skyhook has two tiny teeth.

One thought was to see if we could make a bracket to mount the Skyhook or Bear Claw to a strap. I’ll be giving one of these to my machinist friend to see what he comes up with.
49d536c011aee020ce7a6ed088f000e6.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
If you look at the BC website, it's clear he copied the folding skyhook design. Basically modified the "teeth" to make them a little stronger and lengthened the step (I think a half inch?).

Interesting design for sure. I'm not sure the half inch wide step would be very comfortable, and the folding design would need some sort of fastener incorporated to keep it from flopping in transport I think. That, or replace the rivet with a screw and 2 Teflon washers. Even if you did that, I think you'd always fight the added noise potential.

My takeaways after fondling some and dancing on them are:

  • Strap slot just above step is best. Too high and you get swing. Too low and you have...bullman.
  • Width is nice on the tree, but not so nice packing. An ameristep with it's wings is 2". Everything else seems to be 1". 1" does get a little twisting action with side pressure it seems. Maybe split the difference?
  • The section below the step keeps the top from peeling away from the tree. Offsets the leverage. The ameristep shines here, and the fixed Skyline is good too.
  • The c-slot is obviously vastly inferior to a closed slot for our purposes.
  • If you think ameristeps are loud, you'll love bare aluminum...NOT!
That's just the tip of the iceberg. The results of one evening. I want to try various sizes and type of trees, and maybe film up close the results of direct downwards pressure and side load. I'm also convinced there's a better option for securing them to the tree. I just don't know what...
 
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Cajunshooter

Cajunshooter

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DanO said:
I received some API Folding Skyhooks today for research and development. The step is only 1/2” wide. The vertical piece is 1”. Very similar to the Bear Claw except the BC has two raised cleats on the back and the API Skyhook has two tiny teeth.

One thought was to see if we could make a bracket to mount the Skyhook or Bear Claw to a strap. I’ll be giving one of these to my machinist friend to see what he comes up with.
49d536c011aee020ce7a6ed088f000e6.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

That’s exactly what I was thinking. I don’t even think anything would have to be machined. Just fab a bracket, drill and tap a hole in the step, lock the bracket in the existing bolt hole and screw in the bottom side with a button head screw.


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C

Cory

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Aug 9, 2017
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Any guesses as to what type of plastic the ameristep is made out of? I just received a sheet of 1” thick Delrin so am going to start messing around with designs.
 
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Cajunshooter

Cajunshooter

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Jul 25, 2017
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Cory said:
Any guesses as to what type of plastic the ameristep is made out of? I just received a sheet of 1” thick Delrin so am going to start messing around with designs.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure it’s a polymer. I don’t think it would be possible to make a folding step out or polymer because the hinge area wouldn’t be able to take the stress.

I think Delrin is going to be too flexible.

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DanO

DanO

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Chistavocat said:
Isn’t it Amerastep, skyhook, bear claw, speedstep?


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Click to expand...
Did the API Golden Buck Speed Steps come in two flavors - one with open slot and one with closed slot? The step under the Ameristep in his picture is an API Skyhook. Look at my picture of the API Folding Skyhook and its the same as the non-folding in Nutter's pic.
 
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