The TurtleDog stand

[Alan Burd]

If looking for a longer top rail, check your local phone listings for a chain link fence company. Most towns seem to have at least one. Some times you can find the swaged portion on a shorter piece for less cost than a 12' top rail.

It takes 2 of the swaged portions to make a three piece top rail in shorter sections for easier car packing.
Alan

[hppyfngy]

Lowes lists chain link fence top rail up to 22'. Also google "Antenna Mast Pipe".

If looking for a longer top rail, check your local phone listings for a chain link fence company. Most towns seem to have at least one. Some times you can find the swaged portion on a shorter piece for less cost than a 12' top rail.

It takes 2 of the swaged portions to make a three piece top rail in shorter sections for easier car packing.
Alan

Good thinking. Thanks!

I had actually thought of the antenna mast a couple of years ago when I needed a long piece to make a frame for an outdoor movie screen.

Oh, where does the brain go?....

[hppyfngy]

I've had several people pm me about cutting these angles on the tripods so I thought since I was building another couple I'd show how I do it.

I am finding I like the length of the legs to be 75" for the longer legs, and 72-1/4" for the shorter one.

You could make a pattern, but I just eyeball this kind of stuff. I did calculate the spread I thought I wanted originally, but now I just use these rough measurements.

For a 2x2 that's actually 1-1/2"x1-1/2", (typical size,) I go in 1/4" from the edge and down 4-1/2" for the pair of forward legs of the tripod, and in 1/4" and down 2-1/2" for the third leg.



So with the two legs lined up, I just lay the hinge on and align everything so I can see I am on center and the holes are centered on the legs. This works out best as I've ended up with different hinges each time...



I'm using a 4" heavy duty zinc tee hinge. Any brand will do but it's nice if they have three holes on the square part of the hinge and two holes in line on the tee part to line everything up. (in this image I didn't have the one with the two holes lining up on the tee but it still works)



Then once I have the two legs together I line up the third leg and mark it.





Once it's all bolted together it's a very sturdy system.







It definitely takes longer to cut the angles but I don't need any lines to limit the spread. Works for me!

[NikkiC]

NikkiC, I'm assuming you are talking about the toprail. You'll probably want to start out with the full 10' length and just cut it in half and there wouldn't be any left to recycle. Some are even looking for more than the 10' length.

I'm looking for a little more than the 10' length as well. I believe the tapered end is about 3-4 inches long so using only the 10' wouldn't get me there.

[hppyfngy]

I'm looking for a little more than the 10' length as well. I believe the tapered end is about 3-4 inches long so using only the 10' wouldn't get me there.

The simple solution some have done is to buy two 10' top rails and cut two pieces 6' or longer and use them together as the top rail.

I was just trying to find a cheaper way to do that, but as someone pointed out if you can find dinged poles at Lowes, they'll discount them heavily.

They also sell hammers... (No I would never recommend that!!!)

[hppyfngy]

Originally Posted by olddog
The question was posed by old4hats about the number of turtledog stands that had been built. Went back and reviewed a few threads, the Turtlelady stand, the TurtleDog stand and a thread by domromer. Here is what I was able to find and assume that there may be others.

#1- Olddog
#2- flashbang009
#3- hppyfngy, with first angled ends
#4- linuxhack
#5- mys4sllc
#6- samsara
#7- letstieoneon
#8- Cole
#9- Fontana Horseman
#10 & #11- olzeke and wife
#12 & #13- CamRuns and brother
#14- carmen2kayak
#15- Troy64
#16- Throkda
#17- OldMart
#18- Spiffguy
#19- Aven
#20- hppyfngy for nephew
#21- Mundele
#22- meanmoe
#23- Chuck Gravy
#24- spinkid
#25- samsara's daughter, version 2.0
#26- old4hats
#27- CptAhmadKnackwurst
#28- Fish<><
#29- Shortbus
#30- Clarinath
#31- Silvertitan
#32- NoahWhey
#33- trhang
#34- TheKid
#35- Suburban
#36- gp_griz
#37- Sidewinder
#38- wattson
#39- thehappymailman
#40- Datahiker
#41-#43- seadad9903
#44- samsara (another TD 2.0)
#45- Roadrunnr72
#46- RePete (sort of )
#47- Rampant
#48- duallain
#49- Jiffiboy
#50- ohiohiker
#51- Kyle6357
#52- sandpiper
#53- gmcpcs
#54- Sweeper
#55- Shotgunred
#56- TZBrown
#57- Jrprince
#58- Rodewin
#59- AT4ever
#60 & 61- ironfish77
#63, 64, 65 hppyfngy - one for yard and two more nephews.
#66 NikkiC!!

Can't see the forest for the stands...

[NikkiC]

#66 NikkiC!! Now I just need that hammock to come in!!

[kruski]

hppfnguy, thank you for the clear pictures, you have just answered the question i had in my head. I like the pic of all the stands as well!!!

[DivaB]

Can't see the forest for the stands...

Is this the beginning of Hammock Heaven??

NOW LET THERE BE HAMMOCKS!

[olddog]

Great show and tell hpyfngy. Have you tried setting all of them up as a multiple in a square or triangle? Like to see a picture of that.