Had a 10-foot welded tower that I needed to build a box for.....built it out a little wider than the top (which was 44.25" x 44.25") to accomodate two people. Ended up 44.25" deep x 64.5" wide by 73.5" tall. I went down and built the floor on site. Then back home in my garage, I framed out each wall separately, put in the plexiglass windows and framed and installed the door, cut the skin in sections and painted. Then hauled it all down in sections, hoisting each section up one at a time and fastened to the floor and then to each other as the process went on. Once the framed sections were on top and secure, I used an extension ladder to screw in the sections of skin and to attach the roof.

Used 17/32 plywood for the floor, painted OSB for the skin, OSB covered with corrugated metal for the roof, 2x4s for all framing, random trim wood for sliders for plexiglass and 1.25", 2.5", 3" screws for hardware and 1" washered self-tappers for the roof. Not perfect, but turned out very tight and sturdy....just need to tie down and do some minor caulking. Here's some of the process:




Framed sections tied together in garage


Precut and painted sections of skin (USB).

All four framed sections adhered to floor and each other


Finished product....looks a little crooked, but it's the the angle of the camera.

Nice job. I need to build one before November.

Nice looking blind!

How much $$$ do you have in it doing it yourself vs. buying one already made?

I was thinking about building a few myself but with the hrs/materials cost I just don't know if its worth it doing it yourself. I guess the labor of love part plays a issue.

We built several ourselfs a number of years ago and it took some time, then the next year a fire burned 2 of them and we had to build 2 more. It was time consuming but I had a couple good weekends drinkin beer with my dad and brother while building a deer blind so it all good

I would be careful with osb, need to keep it painted or it comes apart. We built our last set out of 4'X8' hardy board, doesnt rot and wont burn, pluss the yellow jackets dont seem to like it near as much as wood ones.

matt

Not counting the tower base, which I already had, I probably have about $150 in the rest of it. All of the 2x4s that were 48" or less I got from Home Depot in the back where they sell their scraps. Picked up about 20 of them at $.50 apiece. Definitely less than if I had bought something, plus I had to build it to a specific size that was big enough to accomodate two people and small enough to be stable on top of the platform. Plus I really enjoy doing this kind of thing.

As far as the OSB, yes I know it's lesser quality. Painted with two coats and plan on repainting each year. And if the skin only lasts a few seasons, the sections are very easy and inexpensive to replace. Decided to go this route to keep the costs down.

Thats my thinking on the osb. I just built a 4x8 stand and used a couple of sheeets of 3/4 osb because I had them on hand left over from some roofing work. I used those than did the rest in plywood. I primes and painted the osb insside and out, and when it falls apart, will just replace thosse pieces with some plywood. Build the frame well, and youll just have to worry about the skin down the road.

Nice blind.