Tree stand building plans?
 

I am looking to build a few tree stands, and i was wondering if anyone had any plans?
Preferably made of wood, I can get boards real cheap and sometimes free if its in a small amount.

I want some plans where i can build with just one tree, I have only made stands with multiple trees.

Thanks

I may have saw some plans on ebay once. But honestly with the price that some discount chains are selling stands for why would you want to build one. I would'nt want to sit 15' up in the air on uncomfortable wood when u can get a good ladder stand for around $100.

Like I said I can get wood real cheap, so for the price I can get a ladder stand for I can build at least 3 or 4. and I have a cushion so that makes the wood less uncomfortable ;).

Buy yourself a book on building tree houses for kids. My buddies have built a few with modified plans from a tree house book. Wish I knew the name.

There is a wood ladder stand at "freedeerstandplans.com". It looks simple enough, I plan to build one myself. Good luck.

We built a nice wooden stand in the past. With the added weight, and shorter life span of a wooden stand, I'll never do it again. Just go buy a aluminum ladder stand.

We built stands using angle iron and wood. I've had the stands for about 10 years and replaced the wood on one of them. But for all the hassle, money and time to make them, I would just purchase one. Plus, the homemade stands are a lot heavier and a pain in the u know what to move and hang.

Second this opinion. Been there. Done it. Never again.

So basically you have more time than money, I understand that all to well.
Here is a simple guide to building a stand from this you should be able to build just about any kind of stand you want with a little creative work on your part. I would also check the states laws on putting up permanent stands. I live in MN and they are illegal because they damage the tree.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sourc...61634858522133

If you are going to use these year after year, and are set on using wood, why not make them of pressure treated pine? In the long run these will last years and years. The ones I used to build were about 14' to the platform, weighed a bunch, were stout and attached to the tree with a ratchet strap or chain tightened with a turn buckle. Some of these are still out where I used to hunt. Good buddy of mine stillm huints there. These stands ahve been out 20+ years old and are as stout as ever.

I have not built one is aboutt 6-7 years now, and am not sure what the materials would cost these days. If you want the plans I probably can find them. Nothing more than a wooden ladder with a platform at the top.

nothing wrong with building your own, I understand what the other guys are saying about just buying one, but hey, whatever makes you happy and whatever you gotta do to get the most bang for your buck

Grandpa Dave--That is a great stand. On second thought, I will build one of them. I really don't care if it is heavy, I will use treated wood and leave it all season and put it in the barn when deer season is over. Many thanks.

If you build from wood, use treated wood. Also, construct so that there are two methods of support where weight is supported. For example, the back is fastened to a tree but also is supported by diagonal braces. If you use deck screws, also use a few galvanized nails since screws are more likely to shear where as nails will bend. check your stands annually. These type of stands can hold up if built right and reinforced as needed. I hunt off a stand I built 15 years ago. It was made of treated wood and I have replaced wood or reinforced as needed a few times. The advantage of a wood stand is you can build a larger platform and use a swivel seat that rotates 360 degrees. You can use pipe and flanges to easily build this type of seat.

I prefer a platform over a purchased chair. It is much more comfortable being able to move around.

Step one, and the most critical. Run beams between the trees as the base of the platform. Let me know if you need ideas for 3 or 4 tree plans. Get them all level with a buddy and them nail them onto the trees temporarily. With an extra long wood bit from home depot, drill through the boards and tree. 1/2 bit for 1/2 inch all-tread is enough. Feed the all-tread through, add washers and nuts, then tighten down. I use one 6 foot peice then hack saw off the excess to use on the next hole. Continue to the next tree until the base beams are bolted to the trees.

Step 2. Lay the platform. If not treated wood, then leave larger gaps between floor boards.

Step 3. Build ladder, figure it out.

Step 4. Rails so you or sa guest don't accidently fall off. Also done at a height for a gun rest.

Step 5. Figure out a seat.

If you can decide on the main beams for to support the platform, the rest you sould be able to figure out. The trick of doing it enough times is figuring out the best way for inbetween 2 trees, 3 trees, 4 trees or 5 trees.

Every year I build atleast one stand.

I'm currently making one.

I could take some pics when complete, may be a week or so though.

I have what I think will be a very good design.

Part of me feels like on this subject is if you cannot design/build a quality stand on your own, you probably should just be buying a stand in the first place. But perhaps some people are mechanically inclined and just not creative.

I'm using 2x4x16' treated for the ladder section, ladder is 18" wide I believe.

It will have a guard rail and flip up seat.
Seat is untreated 2x12"
Platform decking is going to be treated 2x8" in part because I had a 2x8x16 treated already. Otherwise I'd probably go with a 2x6" treated as my decking/platform material.

While I am building one, I do realize it may be the only one I ever build, I figure it'll cost me perhaps $60 or even a bit more in materials, when for $150 I can buy a very quality steel stand. and I'm of course not including my labor costs... this thing will also weigh a significant amount, although I always have another guy to help me put up my ladder stands.

Feel free to PM me or I'll at least try to check back in a week or so with pics etc...

The problem with tree stands made out of wood
 

....isn't the plan but the fact that nailing wood into a live tree is the problem. Left exposed to year round weather weakens the hold of the nails.
The problem is wanting year round, exposed to the weather, tree stands.

Part of me agrees that you should just check out an aluminum ladder stand, but if you're dead set on building one, this:

... seems like your best bet.

Although for all the trouble involved, you may just want to build an elevated blind with pressure treated wood and shingled roof. That way you'll have something to keep you out of the weather, and won't be as prone to rot as something nailed to a tree.

That's not a half bad idea for this scenario. I like it.