ChasinTail

Are they pretty safe?

I just got a rivers edge climber from one of my buddies. It looks really old and is metal around the back not cables like the newer ones. I climbed a little ways up a light pile in my yard and man it just doesn't feel safe. Anything I can do to make it better?

I'll try to upload a picture tomorrow and see if you guys have ever used one like it. Would there be any problem with only going up 8 feet or so in the tree and hunting out of it?

Cramcram

I think you would be fine. When I was younger me and my bestfriend used his dad's hand me down stand (had the metal around the back instead of cable) and we never had any problems with it. To be on the safe side though id limit how high you go on it and if you don't feel safe on it then I would buy a different one.

JagMagMan

The old "Baker" style climbers do not hold good on smooth bark trees. They do work OK on pines and other rough bark trees. Be careful! When in doubt, DON'T!

MZS

Use a safety harness all the way up!

ChasinTail

Here's some pics of it.





I'm thinking about just putting it up about 10 feet and strapping it down and using it like a hang on since I won't be moving it anyway. You think that would work?

Murdy

As I recall from the instructions that came with my Summit climber, never use a climber on a lite pole. -- too slick. That could have been part of your problem with how the stand felt.

Mojotex

This type of "clamping" has been around for a long time and does work well on a "real tree". On such trees with rather hard, slick bark ... such as a Sycamore, Hickory, Hackberry, etc. it does often have a tendency to slip. For sure tie the top and bottom pieces together> I wold suggest on each side. You can enhance the gripping by cutting "teeth" in the edge, but I'd be very careful doing so. They need only be small .... like the corner of a falt file ... to work well. You certainly do not want to effect the strength of the cross bar.

I was surprised to read of another (JagMagMan) remebering the old Baker type climbers. I did not know there was anyone else out here as old as me! Compared to the climbers on the market now, tahat was a death trap !

And I would not suggest using any climber on a "light pole".... the pole ground (a small diameter copper or copper clad wire in the photo) is there to carry current and can become energized. If you were to cut this pole ground and become in series with the two ends, could result is serious shock, even electrocution.

JagMagMan

Old... but still breathing and hunting MoJo!

ChasinTail

Ive done some reading on different forums and come to the conclusion that i slightly newer version of whats known as "the baker death trap". Didnt read anything about people actually dying in them but i read many of funny stories from people that were old enough to remember using these stands when they were younger.

Beings that the stand came out probably 20 years before i was even born i had never heard of them. I think ill just take the stand out and try to secure it to a tree good and put a ladder up to it.

Here's some of the threads with the stories if you would like to read them for a good laugh and maybe reminisce a little


http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...d.php?t=162356

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showth...ighlight=Baker

tbone1

I still use my climber as a back up. Usually keep it locked up to a tree as an alternate location to hunt from. Never have and issue and actually feel safer climbing and sitting in this stand than my new one. Its just too heavy to lug around. Just make sure you have the right angle when climbing. Give yourself some room when attaching to the tree. Good luck!