Home made vs purchased tree stands

powdergun

powdergun

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I'm going to be in need of a few hang on stands this fall. Has anyone built some of these from scratch ?

How did cost compare to buying them ?
What materials did you use ?



I'm looking for simple hang on stand like the gorrilla ones. I can get the steal and weld but if its just going to save me $20 per stand I'll just buy some pre-made ones and save the hassle.

All ideas and suggestions greatly appreciated
 
I built about twenty homemade metal stands. Used one inch square galvenized tubing. They fold up and you can make small or larger seat and feet area. All I had to buy was the chains, aircraft cable and paint. They are a bit heavier to put up and last a life time.
 
i was about to post comment, but this sums up my experience perfectly;

tracker said:
They are a bit heavier to put up and last a life time.
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i have two, and use both regularly. they sit outside up to 2 months at a time, and still look new.

mine secure around the tree with a chain that can than be padlocked to deter a would be thief. but to get it really snug and secure i had two chain links welded on and use a 300 pound ratchet strap to snug it right up.
 
Find three trees standing together, now thats a good base for a tree blind. You can build it all out of 2x4's. tack 3 of the 2x4's into the trees, and run your 2x4 across them until your floor is covered. Make a ladder out of the 2 straightest ones with your 2x4's. Your done, build up the sides with some cover and more 2x4's, your now in a tree stand. Don't forget your hammer and nails, or if you prefer drill and screws.
 
rooster22 said:
Find three trees standing together, now thats a good base for a tree blind. You can build it all out of 2x4's. tack 3 of the 2x4's into the trees, and run your 2x4 across them until your floor is covered. Make a ladder out of the 2 straightest ones with your 2x4's. Your done, build up the sides with some cover and more 2x4's, your now in a tree stand. Don't forget your hammer and nails, or if you prefer drill and screws.
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Stands built like that are OK for 2, maybe 3 years (if your lucky). They are NOT safe. :eek:

Tree movement, weathering of the wood, rusting of the nails/screws...all make for an unsafe condition.

Do yourself a favor and purchase, or construct a suitable metal stand. ;)
 
Hey all, built this last summer ( i know iam no carpenter but it works perfect). Its not done yet ran out of time but hopefully will be able to finish it up before the end of summer before deer season begins. Quite nice being able to hunt on your own acreage:)

treestand.jpg


treestand2.jpg
 
I would agree with the no carpenter comment.

There is no way I would trust my neck to that platform of scrap wood. The end beam in the first photo is particularly frightful.

30-06'in said:
Hey all, built this last summer ( i know iam no carpenter but it works perfect). Its not done yet ran out of time but hopefully will be able to finish it up before the end of summer before deer season begins. Quite nice being able to hunt on your own acreage:)

treestand.jpg


treestand2.jpg
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I have a home made treestand. It is heavy but it works. Proper design goes a long way towards welding up a safe stand. My uncle designed and built the stand I have. I plan to build more. With the price of steel and my time I am sure it will cost more than a cheap factory one but it is bigger and more comfortable than the cheap stands.
 
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beefman said:
Stands built like that are OK for 2, maybe 3 years (if your lucky). They are NOT safe. :eek:

Tree movement, weathering of the wood, rusting of the nails/screws...all make for an unsafe condition.

Do yourself a favor and purchase, or construct a suitable metal stand. ;)
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I 2nd this. Next time you have a decent wind watch the trees, they naturally sway in different directions. Mix in ran and ice and you have a wooden stand subject to failure. IMHO

I think a wooden free standing platform/structure would be much better and safer. Many threads on here showing different designs of "wack" shacks.
 
For the amount of money you will spend on materials and time you can buy a commercially made,SAFE treestand . For $10-20 it's not worth compromising your health or life. I've got a scar that runs from my shoulder to my waist that's a direct result of homemade stands. Iwas lucky to be hunting with someone else when it happened. Falling 15+ feet from a tree ain't much fun.
 
Several years ago, there was an intersting debate about tree stands, in which members submitted pictures of their "creations".

The funniest was those who had elevated old truck cab's on poles to outright small luxery shooting cabins, again elevated for a better view and shooting :)
 
Kenny_G2 said:
I 2nd this. Next time you have a decent wind watch the trees, they naturally sway in different directions. Mix in ran and ice and you have a wooden stand subject to failure. IMHO

I think a wooden free standing platform/structure would be much better and safer. Many threads on here showing different designs of "wack" shacks.
Click to expand...

I,ve built tons of wooden tree stands in errr.... umm.....trees.
A trick to secure them safely to the swaying trees, was to use a
heavy gauge fencing wire to sorta hang the platform onto the tree.

I'm also into snowmobiling and when out on tour I've seen some pretty
impressive cabins up in the trees.
 
Lets take stock here, whats your life worth, $150 , and your bow or gun $1000 :D
I let the experts handle my safety needs.
Loc on Super Spirit , and API , I like the super...there are many great ones, a chain hang, with a few light jumps on the platform sure sets it nice.
 
I've welded up a couple. They are a bit heavy but they are as safe as anything on the market today. Having said that I have welded before. The first thing I did after building my last stand was to set it up 2 feet off the ground and jump up and down on it. Been using it for 4 years. 15' of 1 1/2 x 3/16 flat bar the odd scrap from my metal pile. The cost is well under 40$. BUT MAKE SURE YOU CAN WELD!!
 
These are ones that I have at home, most are in the shed and up at our moose camp. The small green camo is just a seat that attaches to a tree truck, the black strap one is a store bought Anderson Sling, it is a safety harnness and if any tree will hold you I can shoot a compound 360 degrees from that tree using the sling. The other three are built to fit tall long legged big footed hunters, the brown seat one is over 30 years old. All my tree stands are removed end of season, stored inside a rechecked start of each season. Chains are double wrapped around the tree and stand. These stand are heavy but are better than the store bought ones that come with a guarrantee that if you can prove the stand was faulty before you fell and killed yourself your wife will be a rich women? There are too many old stands left in the woods killing trees and waiting for a accident to happen? Cost of stands was mostly free, maybe $10.

IMG_1142.jpg
 
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I've built a bunch of 2x4 ladder stands over the years. Lately I've been buying $99.99 16FT ladder stands from gander mountain in the States. At this price I can't justify the time to build them.
 
i have made many wooded ladder stand and have had great luck with them very very safe .and the nice part about them is thy are a bit to heavy for theives to carry away .i screw them toghether so it is very easy to replace broken steps when needed.and thy do not cost very much to make .another thing i will say is thy feel safer them the 99$ ladder stand you can buy .DUTCH
 
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