Cutting down sticks

[CamoMan]

I'm thinking of cutting down my lone wolf sticks to a 20 inch step and then adding a cable aider. Has anyone regretted cutting down their sticks? I would hate to cut them down and then regret it as it would be a pricey mistake. The main reason I want to cut them down is for packability. I was thinking maybe even a two step aider on the first stick and then cable aiders on the others and try and get away with 3 sticks total that would get me as high as 4 regular sticks with no aiders.

 

[SnakeEater]

Following. I’ve been thinking about doing the same with my helium’s but don’t want to regret it or loose the few extra steps (already have 1 step aider on each so 4 steps per)

 

[gcr0003]

Have you considered just buying some 1” tubing at your desired size? If you don’t like the size you could always return to your original stick length. Tubing isn’t that expensive and you’d be reusing the hardware so it would be your only cost.

 

[Weldabeast]

Last time I bought 1x1 .125 wall aluminum tube it was 40$ for 20ft....

 

[gcr0003]

Last time I bought 1x1 .125 wall aluminum tube it was 40$ for 20ft....

Get your 3 or 4 sticks and sell the 4-6 (20-24”) cuts to others to make some of your money back

 

[sojourner]

I have 6 old school lone wolf sticks. Since i bought muddy pros 18” step, the lone wolfs have not seen the light of day.

I have 17-1/8” shikars and 18” beast mini sticks on the way.

I use CAYG aider, but would like to go aiderless. Regardless, I am never willingly going back to sticks that are longer than 18” +- 3”

Flexibility in gnarly tree, packability, ease of use setting up and carrying up the tree are what will keep me with 18” sticks and/or Stepps.

That reminds me, I have 6 lone wolf sticks I need to sell on the classifieds.

 

[IHI6FAN]

I cant imagine using a climbing stick that is longer than 20"-24" now. I ran cut down Hawk Helium sticks an now use cut down API huntn sticks. I use 1" tubular webbing for my aider an just move it stick to stick.

 

[TreeFrog]

Cut um off, you won't regret it

 

[raisins]

I cut my Heliums to a 23" step, and now am considering going shorter. If you use the original stick tubing, then measure 6 times and cut once (really think through the process and make sure you have everything you need to do it right, I should have bought a drill press vise before I did mine). After using a carry as you go aider, I can't imagine having cable aiders on each step, but maybe I'm not seeing something having not tried it.

 

[Flee]

There are a few good threads on here with this. I cut mine to 24” and just reused the other holes on the stick for the second step and the versa button. There are some good YouTube videos specifically for the LW sticks mod. I also use a 5 step cayg aider but my either cut off two steps or make a 2 or 3 step amsteel ladder type aider or a one step and use a knaider.

 

[bj139]

What about taking 30 inch Heliums and cutting them in half to make 2 sticks. Now you have 6 sticks to a box.

 

[raisins]

What about taking 30 inch Heliums and cutting them in half to make 2 sticks. Now you have 6 sticks to a box.

You'd need a way to get extra standoffs. You need 2 per stick. Also, you'd be short a steps unless you went to a single step on the bottom or something.

 

[bj139]

You'd need a way to get extra standoffs. You need 2 per stick. Also, you'd be short a steps unless you went to a single step on the bottom or something.

I was thinking aiders would be in order. Doesn't @DanO have standoffs that would work?

 

[raisins]

I was thinking aiders would be in order. Doesn't @DanO have standoffs that would work?

I think those are for a 1" square tube.

 

[DanO]

I think those are for a 1" square tube.

Correct, only have standoffs for 1" square tube at this point. Not saying we'll never have standoffs for Hawks, but just haven't had a demand.

 

[Tapeworm]

I think those are for a 1" square tube.

Grind off the shoulders and bolt it on helium


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[CamoMan]

Is it possible to drill the new holes with a cordless drill and not a drill press? I don't have a press or know anyone that does. Just curious if it is possible.

 

[bj139]

Is it possible to drill the new holes with a cordless drill and not a drill press? I don't have a press or know anyone that does. Just curious if it is possible.

That's what I used. I would do it again.

 

[gcr0003]

Is it possible to drill the new holes with a cordless drill and not a drill press? I don't have a press or know anyone that does. Just curious if it is possible.

You can get closer than free hand and probably do alright. I like to always use a small bit as a pilot hole especially for metal, then work my way up.

 

[raisins]

With the Heliums:

1. remove hardware from bottom of stick (steps and bracket)
2. cut to length, this will mean that your bottom 3 holes are on your "waste" piece, but save it!
3. position "waste" piece on stick and line up holes where you want them
4. clamps this down very well
5. use the holes in your scrap piece as a template to guide your freehand drill
6. you can drill a pilot hole first, etc and go slow
7. clamp main working piece down as well so you don't have to worry about spin out

This will work, but is still inferior compared to a drill press and drill press vise. I did my first stick using the method above and it worked, but then I bought a cheap press.

I got razzed for buying a $60 drill press from Harbor Freight to do my sticks, but I wanted one right then and considered it a disposable item.

I'll use the thing for small projects until it breaks (just didn't want to drop $300 or more right then just to build sticks and with no future drill press use in sight). But yeah, it's crappy but did the job.