When I am hanging from a blowing tree with just a chain and cantileaver I want the most strudiest piece of steel below my feet. All I am saying is if you are wanting to built a stand you may want to consider using more rather than just getting by! We have a welder at the cabin but in pricing out the steel, factoring in the labour I just ended up buying chain on's...not saying fabrication and building isn't fun or worth effort but it rarely is a lot cheaper..catch my drift. Whatever you do buy a top quality saftey harness, that is a 5 point system (ie: seat o pants) and use it everytime you climb in the tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As to how many stands I have 5 but I only use them for bear hunting now, I prefer being on the ground and the extra mobility/freedom it offers for my areas. If you want to stand hunt then either a climber or min. 3 hang ons should be in your arsenal for wind direction and patterns switchs IMHO.