I had to figure out a good way to store and carry my new Kutzall hand drill and climbing bolts. The drill came with a cloth pouch that was really poor. I figured a belt attaching pouch would be a real pain to use while climbing so I came up with this.
I originally intended the drill and bolts all to be in the case, but made it too small! In retrospect, I like this better. The drill takes up a lot of room in the case, and it's more compact this way.
I had some safety concerns with strapping something around my neck while climbing, but the long flap on this case really lends itself to a safety feature. The strap is just really big enough to go around my head, and it would be really hard to snag it on something. It's really convienent to use while climbing, and stores away in my pack taking up little space.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/E-ZKut-1.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/KutzallDrillCase-1.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/KutzallDrillCase-2.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/KutzallDrillCase-3.jpg)
Apex that's pretty neat .I always used an 18 volt D Walt drill.......stabow
I ain't toten a drill into the places I hunt. I would need a pack mule!
I use the Woodpecker drill and bolts with the nylon pouch it came with. The sturdy leather you use is a good idea. I'm thinking of trying one of those mini cordless drills for pre-season. Don't know if it would have enough power to drill 10 holes.
I use a Guido's Web and it has a built in game bag type pouch made into it to hold my bolts and drill. A good friend that turned me onto these type stands uses a TreeSaddle and he uses a $6 canvas bag he bought at a Army surplus store. he wears it bandolier style across his chest. I looked at my local Army surplus store and just could not find the right size pouch and went on *Bay and found them. Just search canvas bag I think ? I think they are called messenger pouches too ?
Mike, if you drill holes pre-season just be careful and not drill them too early or they will close back in with sap. I am heading to Advance Auto Parts today to buy some Herculiner, the stuff used for truck bedliners, to dip my bolts in up to the threads. I plan on mixing in a little sand with the Herculiner to help make the foot portion of the bolt tackier too.
AP, very nice leather work !!! :thumbsup:
nocams
Very nice leather work. Great way to keep em together. Good job.
Brock
Nice work Marty,(again)
I was gonna get a set of them steps and the drill a few years back. I didn't, now I can't find them. I figure I can use hardened bolts from the HDW store. but I am not sure about the drill and bit. do you have any info on that Marty?
Chuck-
http://www.woodyhunting.com/Drill.html
This is the only source for them that I know of. Simmons no longer makes them. This one is not as heavy duty as the old Woodpecker, but it works well.
NoCams, I'm interested to see how durable that liner turns out to be. That should make the bolts quieter in the pouch too.
I usually pre-drill maples and I have to use the hand drill to open them back up some. But it doesn't take as long as drilling a new hole.
Did you make that pouch or was it an existing pouch from something else?
Looks real good but I think I'd like another one or two more straps holding the drill or I'd be afraid of it falling out. I see that the top flap holds the 90 deg end part but with my luck and some of the brush I bull through sometimes, I'd probably loose it. All that needs to happen is to have the snap come undone and a few bounces and bye-bye drill..... Even better would be a full length leather tube down the side to hold it. Great idea though.
Man I really like that, you did a good job. I also got to agree with Dave about the tube or some more straps. Hope you don't take this as critisism but I would just hate to see you loose your drill. That is a high quality case you got yourself.
I plan to carry it in my pack and only take it out when I have it around me neck. Good points though. I did make this one from scratch, but I'm no leather worker. I've made this and one gun holster that turned out fairly well.
Problem solved good for you.
Thanks AP.
The Leatherwork looks Professional to Me!!
Interesting set of steps you have there. Care to elaborate a little on them?
BTW- Very nice leather work.
Here is some of the back story Mike. Sorry about that.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=075314#000001
I am also curious on those steps. I thought they would have wood screw threads on them to hold them in the tree. Maybe your trees are harder than ours are out here. Gary
sagebrush,
The bolts don't actually screw in, they just stick in like pins. You drill the holes on a slight angle so the head is higher than the threaded end. Gravity and friction does the rest.
Thanks Apex, that was interesting. Just curious to how many people have had one of these bolts slide out on them. Could get real interesting in the dark. Never saw this system before. Neat looking little drill though.
a cordless drill could run out of power; so best to start with the top bolt.
I use a cordless drill most of the time an 18 volt drill will use most of 2 batteries for about 20 pegs.
If you drill into a pine you will need a hammer and channel locks to get them out at the end of the season......stabow
i have used the system for years very good never had a bolt come loose from the tree. i use a 12v drill with one battery to install 20 bolts. have a great day & hunt safe.
The pouch looks about perfect.
I got a meadow that is about 8 miles back that I was planning on hunting next year with my new treesaddle, drew a better tag this year, but toting all those tree steps and taking the time to climb and hand drill wasn't something I was looking for.
That drill and the bolts looks about pefect for what I am thinking of doing. You just saved me a lot of forearm aches and toting a lot more weight back in the backcountry.
I hate hand screwing those tree steps.