RE: Homemade tree stands.
I've made my own for years and will keep doing so. I can't stand the stands they make, way to bulky and not nearly as solid enough as what I'm use to. Like a few have said though you have got to keep a very close eye on your welds, bolts, chains, etc on your home made stuff. But then again I've seen store boughten stands with weld cracks in them as well.
I don't have no blue prints either on my stands.