Thread: Lag Bolt

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A lag bolt recall.

Originally Posted by rspears

Reminds me of a story my Dad told about Henry's early assembly line. The story was there were a couple of big Swede's responsible for hanging the doors, held in place with a couple of lag bolts on each hinde, threaded into the white oak framing. As the line increased in speed they found it difficult to keep up until they revised their installation procedure - one held the bolt, while the other drove it into place (no pilot hole here) with one blow from a ten pound sledge. Worked fine, until six months or so when the cars were returned to the dealer to replace the wood so the doors would stay on.....

Not sure it's a true story, but it sounds good....

My uncle used to tell me a similar story, except, it was at the Chevrolet factory!

Those two guys must have been Ole and Sven. Yah, you betcha! lol!

Top row of support brackets is in place. Now to drop a plumb line from each, uppper support and figure out the lower's angles. Since the tree is not 100% straight (are they ever??) each bracket gets a bit of tweaking to be level and aligned.

It might be a lot easier if you chose a tree that was vertical and not horizontal...

AWWw.. you fixed it! HAH!

Got the last of the support framing done, and I think the tree is the weakest link in the design This picture is with the internal bracing done on the first section, which was repeated for all eight sections.

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Got the second section of TREX decking down this afternoon. Taking longer than I expected as every piece is a custom cut, up & down the ladder twice to mark & cut. Tomorrow I think I can start cutting pieces on the decking, which should make it lots faster!! Hope the grandkids love it!!

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I'm impressed! That's one fine tree house. What are you thinking it'll rent for??

Originally Posted by glennsexton

I'm impressed! That's one fine tree house. What are you thinking it'll rent for??

Probably a laugh, smile or occasional hug from one of the grand kids.

WOW! I wish I had a tree house like that. It would give me a place to go instead of the doghouse! Nice work, Roger.

Well that is looking very fine but may I ask, how do the grand children get up there and is there any safety rails to prevent one of them falling off?? We here in NZ have a Government department looking out on our Health and Safety and that building certainly wouldn't pass their standards sadly. If you don't believe me, just ask Robin (Lami8tor) about the wood splinter episode when he was cutting fire wood last year, the story has just this week slipped to page 8 of the local newspaper.. Oh to satisfy me fully, could you post up photos of the finished project including a copy of your building consent and permits please.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Well that is looking very fine but may I ask, how do the grand children get up there and is there any safety rails to prevent one of them falling off?? We here in NZ have a Government department looking out on our Health and Safety and that building certainly wouldn't pass their standards sadly. If you don't believe me, just ask Robin (Lami8tor) about the wood splinter episode when he was cutting fire wood last year, the story has just this week slipped to page 8 of the local newspaper.. Oh to satisfy me fully, could you post up photos of the finished project including a copy of your building consent and permits please.

Well, since this is a project in progress it would be safe for you to assume that the means of access/egress has not yet been installed, but it will be a ladder of sorts, likely homemade. The portion of the structure that I'm flooring now will be walled, with large windows all around with the sills at least 32" above floor which is code for railing height on decks here. Out front there are three supports that extend an extra 2', and with a bit of an inset of those two walls it will form a "porch" of sorts. It will be railed on one end, across the two wide openings, and the ladder access at the end of the "porch" with a gate for fall prevention. On the subject of "satisfying you fully" and posting permits, I'm sorely afraid you have me confused with someone who cares.... But since you may have connections with those in power, I will likely defer posting anything further on the progress of this project, and especially no more incriminating pictures!!

Now now Roger, don't be like that...... You see..... I had a very deprived child hood and never had a tree house...... and......and.....well I would really like to copy yours before the patent is granted...... Okay,please......

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Now now Roger, don't be like that...... You see..... I had a very deprived child hood and never had a tree house...... and......and.....well I would really like to copy yours before the patent is granted...... Okay,please......

Stirrer,whipinslash.............

Originally Posted by rspears

Well, since this is a project in progress it would be safe for you to assume that the means of access/egress has not yet been installed, but it will be a ladder of sorts, likely homemade. I'm sorely afraid you have me confused with someone who cares.... But since you may have connections with those in power, I will likely defer posting anything further on the progress of this project, and especially no more incriminating pictures!!

Um.. Roger.. If I ask nicely, would you re-consider?

Don't let a crass question spoil it for the rest of us..

You do such neat work, I always pick-up a tip or two from pictures here.. please keep sharing!

Did I beg enough??

That should turn out to be one cool tree fort. Can you also use it as a deer blind in the fall? Now that would be real handy!

Your 100% correct, in that the tree will be the weakest link. Your lag bolt method of attaching the supports all at the same point on the tree, is what we in the maple sap/syrup tapping hobby, call "ringing" the tree. That is considered a big no no.. Ideally you would want to stagger the bolt holes in different areas of the trunk. Course that would mean all the legs would be all different lengths, and might look rather odd, but far healthier for the tree. Some trees are remarkably resilient, but don't be surprised if you see some decline in your trees health over the next few years.

But what the heck, the grand kids will be grown out of it by then, and wanting you to build them a hot rod..