From: The Lost Mohican
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Date: 01-Dec-17 |
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I plan on replacing the platform cable supports on a few of the tree stands I use. They don't appear damaged from weather and rust, but I want to make the change as a safety precaution. I want my changes to be equal to or above the original cable supports integrity. I have replaced the chain that wraps around the tree with whoopee slings made from amsteel kevlar rope, which is now used in modern hydraulics, because of its strength. Any input or advice or direction is welcome. As a matter of safety we always use harnesses, proper safety lines and prussic knots. TLM
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From: JusPassin
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Date: 01-Dec-17 |
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Anxious to hear this. I have one stand that uses cable and I won't use it anymore. Don't trust it.
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From: OBH
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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It is best to replace them with chain. You will never have to do it again.
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From: Pintail
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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If you go with cable, spend the extra $ and go with stainless. Too many companies handle Chinese cable which has a bad habit of rusting from the inside out. Far too often you will see some of the rust bleed out when the cable gets wet but not always. Welded chain is another option, at least you can inspect before each season.
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From: Fisher Cat
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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I understand "aircraft cable" has layers that are twisted in both directions and is more carefully strength-rated. It is normally what they use for making snares since it won't untwist. I think your biggest point of failure will be the "ferrules" you crimp to secure loops at the ends. The "fencing pliers" designed to do that are expensive, but it needs to be done right. - John
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From: The Lost Mohican
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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Anyone use the Samson amsteel blue rope? I am told it is stronger than cable ,won't rust and is used in rigging and hydraulics. TLM
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From: The Lost Mohican
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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Here is the product I'm considering:
http://samsonrope.com/Pages/Product.aspx?ProductID=872
TLM
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From: Pappy 1952
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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Had 3 break in the last few years, I replace all my cables with chain, may be a little heaver and a little more noise carrying them around but at least I can trust they won't break. Pappy
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From: deerhunt51
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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Thread chain through plastic tubing before attaching to stand.
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From: The Lost Mohican
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Date: 13-Dec-17 |
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I looked at chain at tractor supply, some were overkill and some were not recommended for supporting people. What chain would be best? I like the tube method! Thanks TLM
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From: heydeerman
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I have changed most of my hang ones to chain. Chain is a pain, but it’s solid. Adds weight and is noisy when hauling. I have an old Loc On Spirit That needs a cable replacement: not going to use chain, it will probably weight more than the stand itself.
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From: Boomer
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I use the 5/16" chain from Lowes Home Improvement stores to replace cable on all my stands. I am not a fan of covering the chain with tubing or bike inner tubes because it can cause squeaks when my rubber boots brush them while hunting.
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From: Bernie P.
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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You can put rubber dip on chains/stands to help with the noise.I ordered my Screaming Eagle with it on the chain.That was many years ago.Most is still on there but I'll be reaplying come spring.
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From: Dale in Pa.
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I started a thread last summer about cables. I replaced all of mine last summer with stainless. A co. called Lexco cable will custom make them to length. Roughly $10 or $11 per cable.
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From: Dale in Pa.
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I started a thread last summer about cables. I replaced all of mine last summer with stainless. A co. called Lexco cable will custom make them to length. Roughly $10 or $11 per cable.
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From: LB1975
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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Lexco....I couldn't remember the name. Last year I replaced cables on my two lock ons and bought an extra set. Really the cables are the only thing that wears out. Lexco did a great job and the cables fit exactly like original. Just take off your old cable and get a good measurement from eye hole to hole.
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From: Pappy 1952
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I do the same as Riverwolf. Pappy
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From: WV Mountaineer
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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TLM, be careful with that Amsteel rope. Make sure you get a bigger diameter. It ISN'T going to break in the smaller diameter but, it is so strong and so resistant to wear, it might cut through whatever you thread it around, once you put weight on it
Seriously, that rope is ZERO joke. I unintentionally girlde'ed a huge white oak in my neighbors yard by using it for hammock suspension. By simply hanging in a hammock for a hour, the rope cut through the bark and into the phloem tissue of the tree. It's gonna kill it. And, I wasn't swinging around in the hammock either. It's just the rope is so strong and tough. I'd go with the 3/64" inch minimum.
Give it a try and let me know. You might be on to something if you can find hardware it won't cut in two. Buy the rope from DIY gear supply. cheap there too. God Bless
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From: LB1975
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I agree with the rubber covering holding moisture and causing rust. The new cables I installed without covering not even paint the cables are a dull color and not a problem.
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From: DarrinG
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I wish some company would do whatever (buy the rights, etc, etc, if there is any...) to the old Loc-On Spirit stands, and start making them...the ones that hook to the tree what a chain. No cables to rust. Folded flat as a pancake for transport, easy to hang, tough as nails, and pretty darn comfortable.
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From: DarrinG
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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I killed a bunch of deer outta one of them, until I left it in the woods one season and some dirtbag stole it. I sure miss it.
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From: The Lost Mohican
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Date: 14-Dec-17 |
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"wish some company would do whatever (buy the rights, etc, etc, if there is any...) to the old Loc-On Spirit stands, and start making them...the ones that hook to the tree what a chain. No cables to rust. Folded flat as a pancake for transport, easy to hang, tough as nails, and pretty darn comfortable."
I agree on the LocOn! I have three of those and repacked all the chain with Amsteel blue made into the whoopee sling, just like the speed hitch rope that they once offered as an alternative to chain.
I wish the few that I had that need cable replacement were LocOns. TLM
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From: Bowlim
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Date: 15-Dec-17 |
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The Amsteel is more subject to abrassion, and it also not UV resistant. It is great stuff, we use it on our sailboats, but I don't see the point on a stand. I would be really careful about trees though, if you are using it to girdle the tree, and are going by load. If you are replaceing the poly crap with a big 5/8" or heavier strand, maybe no problem. These last years a bunch of activities have come along, hammocks, and slack line, and you see the way people set up and they are going to kill the trees.
Cable is great and reliable stuff, I would just replace it. I use yacht grade stuff. A lot of yachtsmen prefer the galvi, and think it is more reliable. I always went with the stainless. Eventually one does have to replace it, but it shouldn't be that often. Yachts take millions of 10/80 cycles if they are on the water most of the year. Pretty minimal loads on a stand. But the big downside is you need a tool to do a nicopress. There are other ways, but I wouldn't prefer them on a stand.
Chain is a great idea if you can swing it, if you don't want to use plastic, consider getting some black tubular webbing, and a chain that will slide inside it. Really quiet stuff, no odor.
Be careful with the prussik knot. It was originally conceived for violin strings, in use as a backup it wear internally and will slip on a rope. There are metal ascenders, from china. I bought one and used it on a roof job this fall. Looked really good, not as well engineered as US gear, but it was hefty, so it probably has a ton of redundancy. Everything we are talking about is probably made in china, even if it is marked otherwise, so I suppose that is a redundant subject these days.
I bought one like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rock-Climbing-Fall-Protection-Rescue-Rope-Grab-with-Spring-Tensioned-Pin-X3F6-/201861022038?hash=item2effdac156
In the US you can find tons of real Gibbs Ascenders on ebay.
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From: Mpdh
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Date: 15-Dec-17 |
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Any treestand with a seat like the loc- on has not been comfortable for me to sit on. And the seat is too low for me also. I did like how solid they are when set up. They made a seat that could be bolted on the frame, to replace the original. The height was adjustable. I bought one, and liked it until I tried to turn a little to shoot at a coyote. The seat made a squeak, and he got out of there real fast. Never used that stand again.
MP
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From: DarrinG
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Date: 15-Dec-17 |
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I used to have the pipe insulation foam on the folding seat bar squeak when I twisted to get in position for a shot (with my weight on the seat). East cure...I wrapped that folding bar under the foam padding with electrical tape, then put the foam back on. Never squeaked again. The Spirit was the perfect seat-height for me. There was nothing about that stand that I didn't like. No cables to rust and break, easy to hang, well made, etc. With the chain hook-up, it was simple to drill one hole near the hook and snap a pad lock through the chain/hole to leave it up and it be locked to the tree. I'd buy a new one in a heartbeat if they started making them again.
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From: BC173
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Date: 15-Dec-17 |
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Only if they didn’t have plastic platforms
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From: BC173
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Date: 15-Dec-17 |
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Only if they didn’t have plastic platforms
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From: DarrinG
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Date: 15-Dec-17 |
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BC173, The Loc-On Lem model was the one with the plastic/composite platform, not the Spirit model. I had a Lem model as well and while it was a decent stand, the plastic/composite platform made it too heavy. The Spirit had the expanded metal platform and was perfect.
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From: Mpdh
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Date: 15-Dec-17 |
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Darrin G, there is one for sale in classifieds. Pic looks like it’s brand new.
MP
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From: scndwfstlhntng
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Date: 16-Dec-17 |
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All this cable talk has certainly opened my eyes and greatly appreciated. I started out with the bullet proof Screaming Eagle stand and other than a seat replacement it ready is solid 25 years later albeit heavy. Finding out about a replacement source is well worth the time to read through the posts. I do have to offer that the worst stand that I ever had was just like that Loc On pictured above. The seat was uncomfortable at best, it was so low that it felt like sitting in a hole, the cloth was noisy, bugs liked to get into the loops that ran over the bars which held the seat, and it was heavy. I am pretty sure that I either left it somewhere on purpose, gave it away, or threw it out. One of the happier days of my life.
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From: Babysaph
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Date: 17-Dec-17 |
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What kind of bolts do you guys use for attaching the chains to the stand?
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From: Mpdh
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Date: 17-Dec-17 |
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Use 1/4 or 5/16 bolts with lock nuts. The kind with the nylon inserts. And steel washers big enough to cover the chain link. I’ve built several of these stands by copying a friends original.
MP
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From: babysaph
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Date: 17-Dec-17 |
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Thanks MP
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From: heydeerman
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Date: 17-Dec-17 |
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Use grade 8 bolts.
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From: longbeauxman
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Date: 26-Jun-18 |
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Awesome! Thanks Riverwolf.
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From: olddogrib
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Date: 26-Jun-18 |
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What DarrinG said x2. I own three that are probably older than most folks on this site and still going strong. That fold-out seat was a filler on the butt, though. I invested in the padded aftermarket seats for them, but by the time they offered them they were about $40, which was about as much as I gave for the stands, lol...ah, the good old days!
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