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New platform build

kyler1945

kyler1945

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2016
Messages
6,916
Location
Willis, TX
Had an open box special of 20.00 for a heavy old hang on stand at local sporting goods store.

Robbed the seat, and am circling the drain on a new platform. The XOP seat is a little bigger than I care for.

This is a dry run at things. I have to figure out the best way to attach the seat to the XOP post or a piece of aluminum tubing. The seat post it came off of was two smaller pieces of tubing running parallel. The zinc plated 5" bolt I put in for test run bent easily. However, everything else appears very solid. If I can figure out that connection, i'll be in business.

Plan is to shorten up the XOP post to about 8-10". two 6pt. tree v's, and paint it all up. weighs the same as my XOP seat platform because it's steel. But it's sturdier and more compact.

Any thoughts on how to do the swivel connection where i'm not putting all that stress on the long bolt?

Also, I found 2.5"x1.5"x.125"wall aluminum tubing. May switch to this. Then I can put a solid block of something inside there to reinforce that bolt. Between the two ears on the seat is 2.5" + two nylon washers, so this may be the ticket.

new platform.jpg
 
I really shouldnt watch this post...
I really shouldnt watch this post...
I really shouldnt watch this post...

I want to make one of these!

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk
 
kyler1945 said:
Had an open box special of 20.00 for a heavy old hang on stand at local sporting goods store.

Robbed the seat, and am circling the drain on a new platform. The XOP seat is a little bigger than I care for.

This is a dry run at things. I have to figure out the best way to attach the seat to the XOP post or a piece of aluminum tubing. The seat post it came off of was two smaller pieces of tubing running parallel. The zinc plated 5" bolt I put in for test run bent easily. However, everything else appears very solid. If I can figure out that connection, i'll be in business.

Plan is to shorten up the XOP post to about 8-10". two 6pt. tree v's, and paint it all up. weighs the same as my XOP seat platform because it's steel. But it's sturdier and more compact.

Any thoughts on how to do the swivel connection where i'm not putting all that stress on the long bolt?

Also, I found 2.5"x1.5"x.125"wall aluminum tubing. May switch to this. Then I can put a solid block of something inside there to reinforce that bolt. Between the two ears on the seat is 2.5" + two nylon washers, so this may be the ticket.

View attachment 2384
Click to expand...
If you have access to a welder; I would cut the two ears off and re-locate them so they are about an 1/8" wider (inside dimension) than your post width.....you could then delete the extra washers for spacers and add a nylon washer to each side to prevent squeeking while folding or standing on it.
That would also let you use a shorter higher grade bolt that would be less likely to bending.
 
kyler1945 said:
Had an open box special of 20.00 for a heavy old hang on stand at local sporting goods store.

Robbed the seat, and am circling the drain on a new platform. The XOP seat is a little bigger than I care for.

This is a dry run at things. I have to figure out the best way to attach the seat to the XOP post or a piece of aluminum tubing. The seat post it came off of was two smaller pieces of tubing running parallel. The zinc plated 5" bolt I put in for test run bent easily. However, everything else appears very solid. If I can figure out that connection, i'll be in business.

Plan is to shorten up the XOP post to about 8-10". two 6pt. tree v's, and paint it all up. weighs the same as my XOP seat platform because it's steel. But it's sturdier and more compact.

Any thoughts on how to do the swivel connection where i'm not putting all that stress on the long bolt?

Also, I found 2.5"x1.5"x.125"wall aluminum tubing. May switch to this. Then I can put a solid block of something inside there to reinforce that bolt. Between the two ears on the seat is 2.5" + two nylon washers, so this may be the ticket.

View attachment 2384
Click to expand...
Another thought is; find a couple bushings (maybe aluminum) to take up the space of your washers, get a grade 8 bolt of correct length and diam. And try that before the welding ...?!??!
 
Had a breakthrough I think...something has been bugging me about all of the folding platform concepts - it puts my feet too far from the tree. Because I'm usually leaning, i'm sticking way out. also, trying to pivot for a shot leaves something to be desired with the platform narrowing towards the tree. I haven't been able to come up with a fix with readily available materials...Until now.

I'll post whenever I get a little further along. But I will say three things are going to be improved for me over my XOP seat platform: feet closer to tree with more surface area under my toes, packability, and not having to worry about stresses on hardware or a cast platform cracking.

Once I prove this out, I'll share. I'm hopeful some of you guys with access to better materials and machine capabilities will return the favor and make it less rough and lighter...
 
Yes, me too. Let us know how this is going.

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