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Treebolts revisited

Allegheny Tom said:
So I was making a pre set yesterday and I had an equipment failure. I was drilling with a cordless which has a quick release chuck. I had the Treehopper drill bit attached to a quick release adaptor (Chinese junk) and on the last hole the crappy adaptor broke.

The drill bit itself was still good but it was impossible to pull it out of the tree with my fingers.
That's where my handy-dandy vice grips were gold. I removed the stuck bit, and finished my climb for the pre set. I did need to drill one more hole for my gear hanger but my cordless rig was now dead in the water.
I always carry my Treehopper hand drill as a back up to the cordless...never know when you might get stuck in a jam. Always go prepared.
Click to expand...

Now thats a great idea i never thought of! Ive been using bolts from 2 different batches i made: one batch with the marine heat shrink that i use if i plan to bring em out with me(there softer to stand on and alot more quiet) then if i plan to leave the bolts out for whatever length of time, ill use the ones ive painted up camo. Sounds like you figured it out.

Also, those mini vice grips are a life saver it seems. I keep a small set of kobalts with me at all times(bolts or not) as ive suffered the broken chinese quick change adapter, stuck bits, and bolts! Probably suffered all three before deciding to stop taking the vice grips out of my pack.

The last season and a half, ive been primarily using an aider (same amsteel setup that can be cound on here) and carrying up to 8-10 bolts which will get me 40+ feet. That is definitely more labor intense however so i am slowly transitioning back to the ole trusty rusty knee spacing.

I always seem to come back to bolts so lately ive been strongly considering making up a batch of the treehoppers with the daisy chain hitch to try with my aider for public land. Well see
 
Bumping this thread for new guys and sharing that I am incredibly irritated with myself that I didn't shrink wrap my bolts earlier. I finally got around to it last week and hit my main treehopper set with marine heat shrink (same kind @Allegheny Tom is using) and I am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. The noise dampening alone is so worth it.
 
I started using bolt set-ups for hang-on stands many years ago. I had 4-6 set-ups on my property. I would remove the lower 4 bolts and carry them with me. That way no one could easily steal my stands. I have not tried this method with saddle yet but plan to this coming season. I used grade 8 cap bolts with Allen heads. The ones I used are anodized. I’ve left them in a tree several years and rust was never an issue. Look forward to carrying just a platform into the woods.
 
I bought a drill bit from treehopper for my cordless. NO REGRETS. First I tried to go cheap, 3/8 from HD. Too small. Then 7/16, too big. Both with no depth control. Got the bit from treehopperllc.com Perfect everytime. Trying to save money cost extra time and money this time. I'll say it plainly. BUY THE BIT FROM TREEHOPPER, YOU WONT REGRET IT.
 
I found this the other day and thought I'd post it. Here's a picture from several years ago showing a tree that was drilled on 3 separate years and this was taken just prior to the fourth drilling. The holes grow back after the season.
 

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Stubby Auger Bit Set, 6 Piece

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These bits work great too if you have a HF close. Use the 3/8" bit for 3/8" bolts. There's no guessing involved, just bury the bit to the collar and back out. I'm on the second season of drilling bolts with this bit.
 
Swampwalker said:
Bringing this back up for the season. Just picked a Woodie drill with 20 bolts.(Woodie bolts). Later today received my Ti bolts and shrink tube came in. Fired up for the season.
Click to expand...
Woodie?? Do you mean a Woodpecker drill? They drill great. I wish Mark put that drill bit system into his body/handle. That would be the ultimate hand drill.
 
A good source for drills is Alfa Tools # AVG361409.
It is a stubby 1/4" hex shank quick connect 3/8" dia x 4.0" long.
Just add a collar to the drill to control the depth, available at Mcmaster Carr.
 
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