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Diy predator platform

LeanMachine

LeanMachine

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
Messages
369
I used the predator pics and dimensions for a starting point and went from there. Main construction is 1/2" tubing. Used some 1x1/8 flat stock for the hinge and teeth. I planned an aluminum post but could not find any material locally that would work. I used a piece of 14 gauge 1 inch steel that i already had instead. Excessively heavy. Just that piece of tubing weighs 1 pound. My versa button ended up adjustable unintentionally. I welded a nut on back side and the bolt can just be screwed in or out. Im not sure if that is of any value or not but it kept me from needing to know what the spacing should be. I just need to pick up some rope for it now.

I bought 40 feet of 1/2" square tubing from a local steel yard for $18. I built a stepp ladder system and this platform with that and still have about 6 or 8 feet left. And that was with several feet of waste when figuring out how to bend the steps. So sub $20 for a climbing system and platform.

Finished weight is 4 lbs 10 oz. I figure it would be sub 4 with an aluminum post.
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nice job, I've built all my platforms as well, and they work fine. Go kill something off it!!!!!
 
Great job. Looks like it's time for me to clean up my workbench and pull the welder back out.
 
Tartan said:
Great job. Looks like it's time for me to clean up my workbench and pull the welder back out.
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Are you on rokslide? John B real name maybe? Im woodbow over there. Did the frame build like yours.

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LeanMachine said:
Are you on rokslide? John B real name maybe? Im woodbow over there. Did the frame build like yours.

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Yup. That’s me.

Too many projects... not enough time. About time I build a saddle specific pack bag too.
 
Tartan said:
Yup. That’s me.

Too many projects... not enough time. About time I build a saddle specific pack bag too.
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Im about to design one soon. You make a saddle or buy one? You can see the one i built around here somewhere. Very easy build when you are used to making packs and frames and such.

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Running a kestrel right now. Got a design in my head. Just not enough time to build it when I have a perfectly good saddle sitting there. Gonna pm you some thoughts.
 
Platform looks great! But what are the specs on that yellow rope? I'd upgrade to amsteel blue.
 
DanO said:
Platform looks great! But what are the specs on that yellow rope? I'd upgrade to amsteel blue.
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It has a 210 working load rating. Im aware that is toeing the line. However i believe the greatest load on the rope is when you cam the step over. The step is designed so that it transfer a considerable portion of your weight into the tree rather than the rope. Steps and stands are not PPE. That being said i still have no desire have a strap rope break. Yes i will probably get some amsteel. This was mainly so i could play around with it immediately and it was $4.

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Yes, please upgrade ASAP! There is considerable force through the cam affect so its only a short matter of time before that breaks on you. We need you around here with some more great DIY projects!
 
What size amsteel is commonly used? That crap aint cheap in anything 1/4 or bigger. I saw 1/8 has like 1800 lb rating. Does the small diameter cause problems?

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Nope, not cheap. 1/4" is most common I believe. Some use 5/16".
 
Looks great! I think l’ll be making some sparks soon too!

Did you use a jig for bending the steps or just do it by eye?


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Mpockoski said:
Looks great! I think l’ll be making some sparks soon too!

Did you use a jig for bending the steps or just do it by eye?


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I used the compact bender from harbor freight. If you utilize a stop, you can get very consistent results. There was definitely a learning curve to it. I would just bend, measure angle, bend more, measure etc until i found where stop needed to be. Figuring out how much uptake it needed was the biggest problem since i had precut them to length already.

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LeanMachine said:
What size amsteel is commonly used? That crap aint cheap in anything 1/4 or bigger. I saw 1/8 has like 1800 lb rating. Does the small diameter cause problems?

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You don’t need to use amsteel. Lots of other ropes with a higher rating cheaper.
 
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