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Lightest double step sticks to date 1.2lbs

Any chance of getting us the direct link for ebay. I looked and there are alot of choices.


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I wish I was smart enough to better understand how carbon fiber strength is rated. I went to Rock West which is the same site that the guys are getting the carbon fiber "Bolts" from. The strongest material is pretty pricey at about $100 perr 22 1/2 in. I guess my question is how strong is strong enough? At $100 a stick it gets kind of expensive to start tearing stuff up. The lighter materials are cheaper, but are they strong enough? Any experts in carbon fiber material on the site?

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kyler1945 said:
Do you have any documentation on that? Doing some research elsewhere and can’t seem to find anything other than anecdotal evidence. Very very interested in this topic
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I don’t. I remember the stands was really lite and camo. A friend of mine had one. I just sent him a text to confirm. This would have been in early 2000’s.
 
denots said:
I wish I was smart enough to better understand how carbon fiber strength is rated. I went to Rock West which is the same site that the guys are getting the carbon fiber "Bolts" from. The strongest material is pretty pricey at about $100 perr 22 1/2 in. I guess my question is how strong is strong enough? At $100 a stick it gets kind of expensive to start tearing stuff up. The lighter materials are cheaper, but are they strong enough? Any experts in carbon fiber material on the site?

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I saw the same thing.
 
I’m waiting to see this go through some testing. I’m afraid the carbon will split where the step holes were drilled.


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kyler1945 said:
Do you have any documentation on that? Doing some research elsewhere and can’t seem to find anything other than anecdotal evidence. Very very interested in this topic
Click to expand...

Just talked to my friend who had one. All he said was there dangerous and his broke. We in Mississippi it don’t get that cold here. Old man only sold them a short period of time.
 
ImThere said:
I’m waiting to see this go through some testing. I’m afraid the carbon will split where the step holes were drilled.


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That splitting is why we were talking about the tube braces perpendicular the walls of tubing with the bolt passing through the tube earlier.
 
I would figure out how to put an angle on those steps or just curve the entire top of the steps. After giving the API sticks a try this weekend I realized how important that is. Went in a tree with slight lean and thought I was going slip off the steps.
 
I ended with baby duties all day yesterday but did get to manage a quick setup right at dark.

Now for the bad news....

The stick cracked on the bottom step from side loading when all the weight was on one side. Similar to what I think redsquirrel predicted earlier in this thread. I’ll post a picture this afternoon.

I think carbon fiber is still a viable option, however some additional bracing is a must. How much bracing is still TBD. I’m sure this will add some weight.

On that note...does anyone have any experience with balsa wood? This is just my initial thought to supporting the stick on the interior where the steps are located. I know balsa is a super light wood and pretty durable as old fishing lures were carved from it.

The good news is that the flex of carbon stick was very little, I wouldn’t have any worries of the stick snapping.
 
I've carved with balsa before. You can buy little blocks from fishing tackle supply companies. The little blocks should fit right inside your carbon post. Not sure how they'll hold up as a brace.
 
I doubt you can use carbon fibre safely after you put a hole in it.

They need to make carbon fibre glue able t joints. I have tried carbon fibre with no success


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Instead of drilling the stick to attach the steps, why not use the steps as "end caps" for the sticks? Sort of like a wing nut...only the nut part would be a squared cap or insert for the end of the stick.
 
Phaco said:
Instead of drilling the stick to attach the steps, why not use the steps as "end caps" for the sticks? Sort of like a wing nut...only the nut part would be a squared cap or insert for the end of the stick.
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If epoxied on, this could be an answer...I like the idea...got my wheels turning....
 
Or you could run some sort of turn buckle through the center to hold the two steps together...I'm guessing you would have to use one of the steps to screw the turn buckle tight.
 
Phaco said:
Or you could run some sort of turn buckle through the center to hold the two steps together...I'm guessing you would have to use one of the steps to screw the turn buckle tight.
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That’s exactly what I was thinking. Use a piece high tensile strength wire between the two caps with a tensioner on the top cap.
 
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