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Frankenstein Ambush platform

HuumanCreed

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Messages
2,653
Location
Westminster Maryland
Disclaimers. Typical statements applies. Everything at your own risk etc etc.

Wanted to upgraded from my trusty Klemz platform. Saw someone post that Lwcg was selling just the platform piece for $80. Had some birthday money left so pulled the gun. Slowly gathered pieces from the classified. Total investments was around $110. 2 hours of actual time putting it together, but 4 months of harvesting body parts. Hardest part was grinding the slot to fit the 1 inch post. Then just drilling a few holes and bolting pieces together. Total weight was a surprisingly low 4 lbs 11 ounces. Could of gotten it below 4 1/2 lbs, but l had API step and felt it add a coolness factor so why not.

Wife and l both step on it at same time. Flexed just a little when we jumped up and down, but rock solid otherwise, handle side pressure better then my klemz. Just need to paint it now.

Lwcg platform
EWO 12 inch Featherweight post
EWO platform standoff
XOP versa button
API step
Spares Grade 8 bolts and nut
XOP 3 inch of 1inch post

On going project. Still need improvements. But right now I'm pretty happy with result. Might be my main platform next season.
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I like what you did there so it folds flat.

Thanks, now you know why I asked for post size and if you had an old post laying around! haha.

At first I was tempted to be lazy and just didnt care about folding it flat. Just attached a simple post and call it a day, but the stock holes was so far in center that the angle of the standoff against the tree barely bite. I noticed the original LWCG post was more of a Z to compensate for this. So I was considering just drilling holes in the platform so its closer to tree with less angle, but l did not have an angle drill bits that would fit that tight 2 1/2 in spacing between. So father in law actually recommended just adding another short cut off 1 in post. I was worried that it would be weaker, but he said shorter pieces are not usually the weakest point in metal structures, that depending on the applications, they hold better than longer pieces based on how weight and pressures are applied. This is from a man who spend 50 years building highway/bridges/tunnels, so l trust his judgement (plus if anything happens to me, he has to take back my wife).

Right now it does not have leveling capability, bolt in place make it level with a straight tree. But I'm considering replacing the bolt with a heavy duty trailer pin and adding holes up and down post and putting pin at preferred angles.
 
Right now it does not have leveling capability, bolt in place make it level with a straight tree. But I'm considering replacing the bolt with a heavy duty trailer pin and adding holes up and down post and putting pin at preferred angles.
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I like it! I’ve found leveling isn’t as big of a deal as I originally thought. Obviously it’s great to have, but it looks like yours has a slight downward angle which is nice.

How solid is it?
 
I'm with @Chrighton, I find your approach to the thin as possible folded cross section to be really cool. Packability is everything. Nice job!
Wife and l combined is over 350. We didnt feel any flex except it bite into the tree more when we bounced. By myself i didnt feel any flex and it didnt kick off no matter where i stood. But again, its just me and I'm confident that it will hold. Its something to consider if anyone want the biggest platform possible before going to an actual hang on stand. You can go half the price and almost just as big with a XOP seat setup. Which i considered until i heard about the fact that lwcg was selling just the platform. I mean at 1/3 the price. I'm getting my money's worth. Someone else can probably do a prettier job. But mine is functional and gave me satisfaction. I been wanted to contribute something to the community for a while because of all the great ideas and help everyone has given me. I love this forum. Hope someone can take what they can from my design and run with it.
 
Wife and l combined is over 350. We didnt feel any flex except it bite into the tree more when we bounced. By myself i didnt feel any flex and it didnt kick off no matter where i stood. But again, its just me and I'm confident that it will hold. Its something to consider if anyone want the biggest platform possible before going to an actual hang on stand. You can go half the price and almost just as big with a XOP seat setup. Which i considered until i heard about the fact that lwcg was selling just the platform. I mean at 1/3 the price. I'm getting my money's worth. Someone else can probably do a prettier job. But mine is functional and gave me satisfaction. I been wanted to contribute something to the community for a while because of all the great ideas and help everyone has given me. I love this forum. Hope someone can take what they can from my design and run with it.

You might consider the angled teeth mod.

I like what you came up with.

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In case anyone is looking for ideas on how to level the platform with this type of build. I did it by 3D printing a rectangle with the hole off center. This allows me to turn the rectangle piece and get 4 different platform angles. I have only had one sit with this platform so far but it seems to be an upgrade from my old lone wolf seat.
 

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In case anyone is looking for ideas on how to level the platform with this type of build. I did it by 3D printing a rectangle with the hole off center. This allows me to turn the rectangle piece and get 4 different platform angles. I have only had one sit with this platform so far but it seems to be an upgrade from my old lone wolf seat.
I’m blindly shooting in the dark here since I don’t have any clue, but could you print an eccentric cam for each side to get those fine adjustments if needed? Again, shooting blind. I hope your idea works flawlessly because I’m looking into one of these as well and would probably incorporate your idea since it’s clever and straight to the point, so don’t get me wrong, I like it very much. And it’s a fantastic build overall by the way, it’s just exactly what I’m looking for and more than likely very similar to what I’ll do, so I thank you very much for posts.
 
I’m blindly shooting in the dark here since I don’t have any clue, but could you print an eccentric cam for each side to get those fine adjustments if needed? Again, shooting blind. I hope your idea works flawlessly because I’m looking into one of these as well and would probably incorporate your idea since it’s clever and straight to the point, so don’t get me wrong, I like it very much. And it’s a fantastic build overall by the way, it’s just exactly what I’m looking for and more than likely very similar to what I’ll do, so I thank you very much for posts.
Yeah I guess you don't know unless you try. I was originally thinking about going down a route like that but I was worried that it would try and roll out of position once you put weight on it. If I had some time to tinker I would've given it a try but I had to get it ready for hunting this weekend so I wanted to make sure it worked the first time lol. Good luck to ya
 
Very nice. I may have missed it, but what is your finished weight for the build?
Also does it have any level adjustment.

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Final weight was 4lbs 10 ounces! But i recently added shoulder straps and waist belt to it and its an even 5lbs now. But i barely feel it on my back with the good support.
 
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