Started my tower stand today

[EddieWalker]

My stairs are from 2x12x12 that worked out perfect with the fist step beng a concrete pad. This allows me to rest the stringers on the concrete and the end grain never touches the dirt.

What happend to partially enclosing the bottom part to park the four wheeler?

Eddie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

My stairs are from 2x12x12 that worked out perfect with the fist step beng a concrete pad. This allows me to rest the stringers on the concrete and the end grain never touches the dirt.

What happend to partially enclosing the bottom part to park the four wheeler?

Eddie

The bottom may get closed in during the spring. I will see what happens. I am not siding the tower till then anyway but am just trying to get the main part done so I can get out of there for a while before season starts. This is why I put the braces on the inside of the posts. So if I do decide to enclose it all I have to do is put the purlings on the outside like I did the floor joists then sheet it.

I am planning on setting the stringers on a concrete pad so that they are not in the dirt and they can float. The stringers will be 2x12's with 2x12 steps. I just need to figure out the step height that will work best. I just wanted to relax tonight so I will do it tomorrow and gather up materials.

 

[Ford850]

That is REALLY wet. You might want to add a cleat next to the door, like in the attached picture. Great looking stand though.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

That is REALLY wet. You might want to add a cleat next to the door, like in the attached picture. Great looking stand though.

We have rain forecasted for the next few days again so I might need to get some of those

 

[Robert_in_NY]

There is still a lot of water and mud around here as it rained all day the last couple days. But today and tomorrow are clear so I dug out where the pad will be the steps will rest on, framed up a 1'x4' form 6" thick and poured it. I bought all the materials for the steps themselves and think I have enough for the hand rails laying around here. I also set the board where the steps will attach to the tower. I put my back out playing with the concrete so I gave up for the day. I fall apart quite easy now that its getting cooler out.

I do hope to get out and cut out the first stringer later today and try it tomorrow once the concrete is set enough. If it works I will hopefully have stairs tomorrow then its time to quit for the season.

Oh and on a related note to a previous poster, I bought my stair materials from the local Home Depot again as they were open and I was in the area. After sorting through piles of garbage boards I finally found 6 that were somewhat decent but nothing great. I go to the register and the cashier goes to scan the first board and I tell her I have 3 16', 2 10' and 1 2x8x8'. She informs me she will just scan each bar code as she walks around. So once again she missed a 16' 2x12 ($25 board) and I noticed it when I went to pay on the card scanner. Good thing she didn't want to listen to me to begin with And yes, I did correct it once I noticed it as I had to add some concrete mix as well. And the guy who helped load my truck checked my reciept also. He was embarassed to do so and told me about an recent experience with a rather vulgar lady who used a nice racial slur against him when he asked to check her receipt also. I can't believe how terribly rude some people can be over a rather simple thing. That lady made that guy fear asking other customers to see their recieipts which is one of his jobs. I don't know how many times he apoligized before, during and after asking to see my recieipt but it was unnecessary and I told him it was ok and that I didn't mind showing my receipt (even though I am a dishonest crook according to one particular person).

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Forgot the picture. There isn't much different but you can see the little bit I did today. Also the stand is still standing after 30+ MPH sustained winds the last couple days with no signs of distress.

 

[EddieWalker]

How are you finishing off thee interior? Gotta make in comfortable !!!!

Eddie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

How are you finishing off thee interior? Gotta make in comfortable !!!!

Eddie

The interior is covered with OSB. I plan to trim the windows and doors and possibly the floor and ceiling then paint it all a dark brown. I don't know how much or it will get done this year but I figure I can work on it a little as I get time.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Robert,
That thread was a great read !

You also did a great job, first class all the way ! But whats more important IMHO is that you were able to do all the work for the most part yourself, especially after a severe injury ! Thats the best news as far as Im concerned !

BTW, Have you gotten any free 2x4 "s lately ?

Enjoy the hunting !

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Thanks Scott. I haven't needed any more 2x4's so I haven't had the opportunity to try out my discount.

I am glad I have been able to do the majority of this work myself as well. It makes things more difficult at times but its a rewarding feeling still.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I got a flu shot about a month ago and in the last week my girlfriend and daughter both caught the flu. So I have been doing my best to help them out. Well last night was a rough night for me. I think my body is fighting the flu as well. The flu shot helped me build antibodies in case I got it so it won't be as bad and that is whats happening. I slept for 12 hours (usually I am lucky if I get 6 hours) and have been freezing then sweating. So I am ok I guess as right now I don't feel too bad. Of course I am still trying to work on my tower some. I cut out the first stringer and took it down to the tower. Everything lined up perfectly. The other two stringers are marked already I just wanted to make sure the first one would work like planned before I cut the others and the steps. So here is what the stand looks like with the first stringer nailed up and resting on the concrete pad.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well the forecast wasn't looking good so I decided to cut the next two stringers out and put the stairs together. One of the 2x12's is cracked and I didn't notice it till I was cutting the notches for the stairs. There is no way I can use it so I will see if HD will exchange it for a 12' 2x12 that is good. So I put it all together with just the two stringers for now. It may be perfectly fine with just two stringers since this isn't going to get a lot of use 11 months out of the year but I would rather build it properly and never worry. So here is the current progress.

 

[jinman]

Robert, I hope you get over the flu soon. No fun...

Your steps look nice. I'm soon to add new decks to my house and all the steps will be with three stringers. I have other steps with only two stringers, but they are made with 4x12s and so are the steps. Your stand is sure looking good.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert, I hope you get over the flu soon. No fun...

Your steps look nice. I'm soon to add new decks to my house and all the steps will be with three stringers. I have other steps with only two stringers, but they are made with 4x12s and so are the steps. Your stand is sure looking good.

Thanks Jim. I actually don't feel too bad and I am thinking that is because of the flu vaccine I got earlier. I still have some issues but I know it can be a lot worse.

My steps will have three stringers as well. I just need to get a good 2x12. The forecast is for more rain and cold temps so I wanted to get as much outside work done as I could. I was going to caulk the last two windows as well but for some reason my "good" caulk gun broke. I guess thats what I get for buying a good caulk gun instead of the cheap tin version I have more caulk guns but I didn't want to come back to the barn just to drive back out there so I will do it the next chance I have.

I also need to put a railing up at least one side of the steps and preferably both sides before snow flies.

 

[Tororider]

Robert,
You may actually have the flu itself. The flu vaccine is a deadened strain of whatever they think will be the most prevalent each year. You may have gotten a version that you didn't have antibodies for. Either way, glad to hear you are feeling better, the flu is no fun. Throwing up is probably my least favorite thing in the world.

The stand is looking great, can't wait to see what you shoot out of it. Make sure to take your camera hunting too. I usually use the still camera or video camera on my phone to take pictures/video for my boys.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert,
You may actually have the flu itself. The flu vaccine is a deadened strain of whatever they think will be the most prevalent each year. You may have gotten a version that you didn't have antibodies for. Either way, glad to hear you are feeling better, the flu is no fun. Throwing up is probably my least favorite thing in the world.

The stand is looking great, can't wait to see what you shoot out of it. Make sure to take your camera hunting too. I usually use the still camera or video camera on my phone to take pictures/video for my boys.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks, anything is possible as far as this sickness thing going around. All I know is that my girlfriend and daughter both have a lot more issues then I do. I basically had a rough 24 hours with my entire body hurting, chills, sweats and one dizzy spell. Now I seem fine. So unless things change I am going to continue believing the flu shot I got did its job as its the first one I have ever got that I recall.

I plan on taking my camera with me hunting now. I never liked taking it before because I was always out in the elements without having very much room for things. Now that isn't going to be the case and I should be able to enjoy myself a lot more.

 

[EddieWalker]

My thoughts exactly. Out of the elements and able to enjoy myself for the entire day. No being cold, uncomfortable or wet. Just a matter of sitting all day, reading a few books or magazines, and listening to my MP3 player. We'll have the camera in there with plenty of extra batteries and hope to get lots of pics. I don't expect to shoot anything, but would love to just see some animals wondering around.

I got my coat hooks the other day. I found some cast iron elk coat hooks that were probably too much money, but still not allot of money for what I got. Best of all, I'm happy with them!!!

I have my decoy too. I've never used one, and this one is a Primos with a head and tail that moves. It looks pretty good, so I'm curious to see what happens. I paid $140 with shipping from ebay, so it's either a great deal, or a total waste.

Now all I have to do is pack my snacks and drinks for Saturday morning. Opening day is Nov 7th.

Eddie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Good luck Eddie.

On the way out to build the stairs today I saw a nice 2 year old buck. He had a good body but his antlers were a little shy for what I would like. He was coming out of the trail my dad has his tree stand set up on and just jogged across the driveway 40 yards in front of me. So it was nice to see him out playing at 1:30 in the afternoon. We hadn't seen him on our cameras but knew he was out there from the tracks.

I have to find the heavy cast iron coat hooks I took off my old house. They are real nice but I didn't want them in that house after I redid it as they didn't really blend in. A couple of them would work perfect in my stand if I can only remember where I left them I also need to put in that shelf still and will do that the next trip out there. I really don't like this stage of things, I am out of big project items to do and just a bunch of little loose ends that need to be tied up now. These little things just annoy me but need to be done

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well today it was suppose to start getting cold again and it was suppose to rain between 9 and 12. So I had planned to go out first thing this morning and knock off the railings and caulk the windows. Well my friend called me at 7am needing help as they had no water in their house. Go over there and mess around for a while inspecting the pressure switch and expansion tank only to find the problem is a plugged filter. They said they had pressure that morning then it just quit so I am assuming there was some junk floating around in their system that passed through and finished plugging the filter as they do change the filter on a regular basis.

So I go out back and grab a couple 12' 4x4's and start cutting them for the railing posts then go inside to take care of Ava. Well after lunch it finally got cold and I go outside to finish the posts and it starts hailing and raining. I just bundled up as I wanted to get this done and finish the posts and head out to the stand on the ATV. Start drilling holes for the lags and the battery dies on my Rigid impact driver I use to screw the lags in. So I use the 18v DeWalt and have to keep switching between driver and drill. Well the first lag and I lose the first range on the DeWalt (its a new drill ) but have three ranges so I just use the mid range and finish the job. Use the two 16' 2x4's I had laying out there for the top rails and screwed them down. I need to put 6 more lags through the posts into the steps to really make me happy but I need to buy them still. All in all it was a productive day but it came with a few challenges

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Also, does anyone have any experience with those locking key holders you can use for remote areas? I seem to recall seeing some at Home Depot that didn't require batteries and were just push buttom combination locks. Are they fairly secure or are they a waste of money? I would like to leave a key there 24/7 for various reasons and this seems like the easiest way. I would try to mount it somewhere hidden but accessible still.

Also Eddie, I don't think I am going to worry about closing in the bottom. I tried to park the ATV under there today as it was raining and just like my truck this ATV barely fits in an 8' space. I would have to drive up till I just touch the wall with the front bumper and then the door would still barely shut. And forget parking a UTV in there, I would have to have an 8x12 hunting shack up top to even consider that