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Over the Center Buckle strap for the platform

Re: Re:

redsquirrel said:
Ok, just wanted to make sure you still like it! :D When I tighten it down, I make sure I have it so I have to give it a good hard pull to get the lever around. The other day I had it so tight that I would have put it up against anyones ratchet strap, and the advantage was how easy it is to take off versus a ratchet strap when it is that tight.
Click to expand...

I went Sunday evening and setup on a nice round maple tree. I got the buckle as tight as I possibly could and I didn't notice and significant movement in the steps. It's definitely a keeper.

I have a few platforms that I keep out all year. For these I'll stick with the ratchet straps. For the run-n-gun mobile setup, the OTC buckle is without a doubt the only way to go.
 
The one I use is called the boat buckle - it is a 1" cam over buckle (its the one Red Squirrel posted) and I replace the strap with a 1" nylon strap with a flat hook that I ordered from strap works. I am currently experimenting with a 2 inch buckle.... but the one inch works amazingly well.
 
DaveT1963 said:
The one I use is called the boat buckle - it is a 1" cam over buckle (its the one Red Squirrel posted) and I replace the strap with a 1" nylon strap with a flat hook that I ordered from strap works. I am currently experimenting with a 2 inch buckle.... but the one inch works amazingly well.
Click to expand...

That's the same buckle I'm using and it works great. You can run into issues If the tree is "lumpy" or oddly shaped. But I've taken the ratchet strap out of my pack and used the OCB on my last several outings. I'm not switching back anytime soon.
 
Tried the DaveT1963 setup this morning. Boat buckle on strapworks nylon strap with coatef flat hook. Quiet, fast and rock solid. Thanks for the tip fellas. I have one extra buckle but I think I need to buy another just in case... ;)
 
Yeah, just set up for the first time with mine (old ameristep strap) and so far it's rock solid....
 
Can someone post a picture of their actual platform setup. I am trying to understand this flat hook , over center buckle idea. I feel like something has to be removed or re stitched or something along those lines. Desperate for a tighter platform in Georgia!!!! Help me out!!
 
huck72412 said:
Can someone post a picture of their actual platform setup. I am trying to understand this flat hook , over center buckle idea. I feel like something has to be removed or re stitched or something along those lines. Desperate for a tighter platform in Georgia!!!! Help me out!!
Click to expand...

You use the strap with flat hook with the Boat Buckle 1" cam over buckle. Along with 3-5 ameristep strap on steps - at least that is what I am doing.

I used mine last night, and I had one step rotate around on the strap. But I did not get it very tight and it was on a really hard barked and smooth tree. Still not as good as screw in steps where legal but it works better then I eve hoped. Now someone needs to start making the Ameristeps again. Wish I knew what they were made of as I would just make a mold on the ones I got out of silicon and cast then dang things myself. Actually, what I would like to do is make my own model that works on a 2 inch strap as I think that would really get them more stable then the 1 inch strap. Anyone, have any ideas on what kind of plastic of polymer they original steps were made from? I have clay and can get silicon and might jus make my own dang steps.
 
I'm using the 2in over cam buckle that is used to strap a boat transom to the trailer. I'm using them with a 1in strap to fit my ameristeps. It is rock solid even on a hard slick bark of a sycamore tree. Only problem is the 1in strap has room to slide up and down on the buckle when you are trying to cam it over. if its not in the center the buckle wants to twist as you are camming it over. Kind of a pain at times. I have the 1in buckle that red squirrel found on order. Should solve all my problems.
 
huck72412 said:
Can someone post a picture of their actual platform setup. I am trying to understand this flat hook , over center buckle idea. I feel like something has to be removed or re stitched or something along those lines. Desperate for a tighter platform in Georgia!!!! Help me out!!
Click to expand...
Here you go... If you have an original strap from an ameristep, it has a flat hook on it like this:
11f0954de310ca3ac05347cc46dcfdac.jpg
 
Thanks a lot for that pic. Let me make sure I understand, the free end of the strap just feeds through the over center buckle? There is no stitching involved?
 
DaveT1963 said:
huck72412 said:
Can someone post a picture of their actual platform setup. I am trying to understand this flat hook , over center buckle idea. I feel like something has to be removed or re stitched or something along those lines. Desperate for a tighter platform in Georgia!!!! Help me out!!
Click to expand...

You use the strap with flat hook with the Boat Buckle 1" cam over buckle. Along with 3-5 ameristep strap on steps - at least that is what I am doing.

I used mine last night, and I had one step rotate around on the strap. But I did not get it very tight and it was on a really hard barked and smooth tree. Still not as good as screw in steps where legal but it works better then I eve hoped. Now someone needs to start making the Ameristeps again. Wish I knew what they were made of as I would just make a mold on the ones I got out of silicon and cast then dang things myself. Actually, what I would like to do is make my own model that works on a 2 inch strap as I think that would really get them more stable then the 1 inch strap. Anyone, have any ideas on what kind of plastic of polymer they original steps were made from? I have clay and can get silicon and might jus make my own dang steps.
Click to expand...
I've tried this with 2 different designs and had no luck so far, they all broke. The first design was my fault with a poor design, the second was a casted aluminum step. I used alumilite rc-3 which is used for making rock climbing hand holds. I posted it in another thread somewhere but that was the gist. I never tried moulding the ameristeps though because it would require making a 2 piece mold so it may still be doable.
 
bowbender73 said:
huck72412 said:
Can someone post a picture of their actual platform setup. I am trying to understand this flat hook , over center buckle idea. I feel like something has to be removed or re stitched or something along those lines. Desperate for a tighter platform in Georgia!!!! Help me out!!
Click to expand...
Here you go... If you have an original strap from an ameristep, it has a flat hook on it like this:
11f0954de310ca3ac05347cc46dcfdac.jpg
Click to expand...
My exact setup.
 
huck72412 said:
Thanks a lot for that pic. Let me make sure I understand, the free end of the strap just feeds through the over center buckle? There is no stitching involved?
Click to expand...
As long as you have a 1 inch strap with a small metal hook already sewn in on the other end, then there is no stitching involved. I am using one of the straps from the ameristep with the stitching holding the step in taken out so I can move them around as I want. It is just like if you had a ratchet strap on the end.
 
Hey Red,

Exactly what is this buckle called and what's website do I go to?
 
I'll tell ya the buckle off an old.loggy bayou tree stand is a great over center buckle that got real tight. The strap was a softer nylon. I'll try to get pics off my buddies stand.

WebSlinger
 
That is all you need for the strap. Only need ameristeps or equivalent to complete platform
 
[quote="redsquirrelI've tried this with 2 different designs and had no luck so far, they all broke. The first design was my fault with a poor design, the second was a casted aluminum step. I used alumilite rc-3 which is used for making rock climbing hand holds. I posted it in another thread somewhere but that was the gist. I never tried moulding the ameristeps though because it would require making a 2 piece mold so it may still be doable.[/quote]

I was thinking more of pouring the step with one of the newer plastic resigns. I know I use to cast deer noses and stuff with a resign that was really tuff stuff. Surely there has to be something out there?
 
ArrowSmith said:
I'll tell ya the buckle off an old.loggy bayou tree stand is a great over center buckle that got real tight. The strap was a softer nylon. I'll try to get pics off my buddies stand.

WebSlinger
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure that is basically the same buckle that I was using last year. Definitely works great on all but skinny trees. This new buckle we found is just much smaller.
 
DaveT1963 said:
[quote="redsquirrelI've tried this with 2 different designs and had no luck so far, they all broke. The first design was my fault with a poor design, the second was a casted aluminum step. I used alumilite rc-3 which is used for making rock climbing hand holds. I posted it in another thread somewhere but that was the gist. I never tried moulding the ameristeps though because it would require making a 2 piece mold so it may still be doable.
Click to expand...

I was thinking more of pouring the step with one of the newer plastic resigns. I know I use to cast deer noses and stuff with a resign that was really tuff stuff. Surely there has to be something out there?[/quote]
I'm sure there has to be something out there. Let's find it! I'll start a new thread for others input!
 
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