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Showing results for tags 'maintenance'.
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So, I started noticing some leaking in my deer stand last season, it is a shingled roof so looked for obvious roof issues and only seen some sag. So I decided to put some corigated metal over it after fooling around with different ways to stop the leaks. While installing I noticed I was receiving some electrical shocks, not static but continuous while touching metal. I must explain, I am under a 500kv line, largest TVA runs so naturally I deduced that was the culprit, sure enough, I was told it was induced voltage and nothing I could do about it. Anyway, while installing the panels, I placed some water on the panels to make sure I had lifted the front enough for water runoff and the water just stayed there. That was even after raising the front another 5 inches or so. That is when I decided to check level. It was over 6" low in the front, so I decided I would raise the front and add blocks underneath. When I started raising the first corner I realised the leg had rotted out and sunk into the hole. I stopped, ran more corner bracing and went home. I decided I would try and replace the legs and raise the stand another couple/three feet instead of rebuilding it. I made some supports with some 4x4s drilling holes and using 10in nails as pins. The thought was, that I would raise one corner at a time a couple inches until reaching the height I wanted (8'). It started well... I managed to slowly raise the front and remove the old legs and get the supports under it. I had the corners anchored and watched the straps for slack, indicating that it was leaning in that direction and tightened the opposite strap to bring it back. When I began working on the rear, that was when one of the other legs decided to let go (it was rotted out in the cement). The force was enough to send one of the pins sailing about 15', the stand went left, I dove right. The stand did a pirouette and instead of landing on it's left side it landed on it's back. So, luckily I foresaw the need for clear lanes of escape and I never got under it, always staying near a corner to have a way to move out of the way. So, now, the roof is accesible so I can take the old stand apart and reassemble a new one. This one lasted 5 years with the skinny legs, I already put in 4x6 for the new ones, going down 2' on each. This one will be a 6x6 instead of 8x8 and will fix the things I seen wrong these last 5 seasons: Stronger legs, sunk deeper..obviously Smaller size, 8x8 was just too big A bit higher, 8ish feet vs 6', I think I'll get better vantage points. Plywood floor, no air from underneath Tin roof over plywood vs shingled, it made a mess in my water barrels Sliding windows vs raised Outside walls overlapping the floor so no water gets underneath Painting everything before assembly, 360deg paint for better weathering and less ladder work. Normal door vs hatch underneath...just too cumbersome Bracing...haven't decided, the wire corner method actually did real well, the original wooden braces flexed too much Gravel or possibly slab underneath, I sometimes shoot under the stand (100 yard hill to hill) So, now at just about $400 for replacement lumber and other supplies, this one better last at least 10 years. As i said, it started well.
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- deer stand
- maintenance
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