We used to have a guy who made them out of conduit for us.... but like others have said, you can buy a good, breakdown ladder stand these days for less than you can buy materials to make one. Don' t put yourself through so much trouble, just buy them. If you don' t want to spring for all of them at one time, buy a couple. I don' t know what kind of trees you have, but these things come in sizes from 10 feet to 16 or so. They come with or without separate standing platforms. If you find the cheapest are without a separate seat, you can make one from 2x4s and small scraps of half inch plywood that can be attached to the tree trunk with a support arm resting on the stand platform or back against the tree at the platform back.