Any engineers on here ?

[Knothead]

I need some figuring..........

Building a deer stand. The stand will be a shooting house, 6' X 4'. The platform is 8 feet above ground. It will be on 4 legs, each being a 4X4. (like the one in the pic below). I have to precut the braces as I cant haul it out completed (have to put it together when I get to the spot).
If I put each leg at a 10 degree angle (angled away from the 6' sides), how long do I need to cut the 2x4 braces to band the legs on the short(4') sides, 2 feet above the ground. I know the ones on front and back (the 6' sides) will be 5'9".

Now, I know someone will be tempted to say, "just go measure the ones on the stand in the pic."
Problem with that is, it is an 8 1/2 hour drive away from here, and I built it in 2009, and dont remember the lengths of the braces.

Thanks for your help.

 

[TAFKAP]

Give me a minute....

 

[BuckWild]

Take a hand saw...not too hard to cut a 2x4.

 

[in the dog house]

Just bring a hand saw and long boards, stove pipe it Nail it up and cut off the extra, or just let em run long. Its just a deer stand in the country

 

[in the dog house]

The K.I.S.S. method that I try to follow....... keep it simple stupid

 

[TAFKAP]

 

[Frank G]

Have a degree and could do a cad layout easly. Tell you the truth ...... When it comes to the diagonal or horizontal bracing, I�ll hand cut in the field. No way will the dimensions will work out if the 4 legs are not in plane. That way you will have the drops as shims/foot pads. Bring a screw gun along and attach the pads to prevent moving around. They will if you don�t.

 

[Knothead]

One leg, each corner. Legs will be angled at 10 deg away from 6' sides, but in plane ( in line) with the 4' side. Thus, I just need the lengths needed on the 4' sides.

 

[farmin68]

Just sketch it out on a piece of graph paper with each grid equaling 4".

It's kinda like my uncle told me when I was framing my house and being painstakingly careful to get everything precise...too precise. He said something to the effect of 'you're framing, not building a fine set of kitchen cabinets.'

 

[TN Larry]

Assuming that I got the 10 degree angle in the right spot and didn't make a silly mistake, 6.36 feet is the answer. That is also assuming that every other dimension is absolutely perfect. If it were me, I would do as stated above, precut at 7' and then trim with a handsaw onsite.

 

[TAFKAP]

I'm getting 6' - 1 1/2" out-to-out

 

[Chaneylake]

the base at ground level is not wide enough for me unless you are going to also cable her down

 

[TN Larry]

I'm getting 6' - 1 1/2" out-to-out

How did you come up with it? Did you factor the overhang of 1.5" on each side for the 2x4 from the 6' section? If not, then yours is basically the same as mine. Just curious.......

 

[TAFKAP]

I'm getting 6' - 1 1/2" out-to-out

How did you come up with it? Did you factor the overhang of 1.5" on each side for the 2x4 from the 6' section? If not, then yours is basically the same as mine. Just curious.......

No overhang included. I started the 4x4 posts seated in the corner of the 48" x 72" platform, then built out from there. At 24" off the ground, I measured out-to-out of the posts on a 10� angle.

I like the BYO hand-saw method at this point. Unless you build it first, then disassemble for transport and reassembly in the field, "nothing" will go right.

 

[Knothead]

I get 7' 8".

 

[KANATI McD]

7' 6" @ 24" from bottom If you want it flush with 4' braces and your using 2 x's. Add 3". 7' 9"

 

[Knothead]

Did it on AutoCAD. Aint gonna argue with a computer.
This shows the layout for either 10 degree leg angle, or 15 degree.

 

[BMan]

Take a hand saw...not too hard to cut a 2x4.

Best answer, hands down.

 

[TAFKAP]

7' 6" @ 24" from bottom If you want it flush with 4' braces and your using 2 x's. Add 3". 7' 9"

Your 8' leg represents the wrong dimension. The platform is 8' off the ground, not supported by 8' long columns.

 

[KANATI McD]

the straight line is imaginary line at 0 degrees to show for difference with the 10 degree angle. if the platform is 8' off the ground, the legs will be 8' long -an inch or so