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(87 votes) Published: Mar 08, 2005 10:21 p.m. In 7 Favorites Lists Viewed 977 times
Most people have built a tree fort before. But it was most likely a gay little tree fort made from stolen plywood and 2by4’s that your dad helped you build. This egg is long, but if you are interested in building forts at all i suggest you read it.
This is how to make a really cool looking and practically artistic structure that you could be proud of. there are many reasons to start such a challenging and rewarding project-(check end notes)
Lets start with the How To
1. (building forts using standard hardware store wood is gay). be a man and chop down your trees. Finding a place that you can chop down trees and not get caught might be hard for some of you.
type of trees to use(important)
--small trees (3/4 - 1/2 the width of a standard nail) the nails have to go through them of course.
--pretty straight
--at least 5 or 6 feet long from the (over thick base) to the (way to thin top)
--no dead trees!!!
2. you need to plan out a good design that will look good and hold up well. design strength is important when working with untreated lumber.
think about--will it look cool
--where can we add support beams
--is it gonna be practical when building
--can we continue to add on to the fort after the original design
--*how easy can little kids find and enter the fort*
--how can you make it really strong and big
what extra things can you add on to it --We added a 6 foot tallwall around the base of our main tree. it was lined with old chicken wire fencing that we found and the tree tops that we cut off the lubmer. then we added prickers at the top. (it was really hard to climb.)
--we also added a bomb shelter because we got in wars sometimes where they threw logs over the wall while trying to break through with a battering ram!
--the bridge and the other towers on the right were later randomly added on
3.how to build it is gonna be your main concern. you don’t wanna start cutting trees and realize that your design can’t actually be built without taking some serious safety concerns.
--can you start the structure while standing on a ladder (this is gonna limit you)
the best way to make this is gonna be ropes and pullys. (thats how this one was done) --find a tree where you can you string ropes and pullys into your tree from many different spots and angles by using different branches
--ropes and pullys aren’t to expensive, they are fun to play with, and not hard to understand and use safely. ask for them for a birthday present or something. --setup a harness system by using a rope seat fitted with a pillow. And build the main platform from above instead of from below.
a good strategy is to prefabricate larger peices on the ground and pull them up into the tree to be nailed in place on top of a smaller pre-existing platform.
important strategy-try to figure out whether it’s better to place the trees horizontal or diagonal when filling in floors of a platform. it could save you alot of cutting.
4. your tools are gonna be the most important thing here. we carried a big backpacking bag filled with
-large ax
-2 or 3 hatchets
-2 hammers
-fuck load of nails (5 inch nails) and a few large size 8 inch for larger strengh beams
-lots of string
-knife
-saw
--it’s good to have extra tools so that you don’t always have to share them.
we also made what we called our work shop. it was 3 huge and strong logs nailed together with large 8 inch nails. It was great for laying wood on and having a hard surface for chopping, nailing nails, pulling out nails, and sitting.
.5 chopping wood. this may sound stupid to explain how to chop wood, but i guarentee you don’t know how to chop correctly.
--let gravity do the work. swing the ax but let your muscles relax before it hits the tree. the wieght of the ax cuts the tree, not you pushing the ax into the tree!
--you should only have to use one hand when using a hatchet. (keep your other hand away from the tree)
--take 2 swings down at a 45 degree angle (if you cut through a good amount) then swing from the opposite agle, swinging up a little bit.
--you can break the tree down after your half way through. this saves you alot of energy
--don’t try to cut the top off while it’s sitting on the dirt. (put another log under it, so it doesn’t mash into the ground with each hit)
--
helpful tips
--chop with thick gardening gloves on at first. (untill you build calises on your hands and become strong)
--try to take one day to cut trees and the next day to build on to the fort. it just seems more productive when most of your friends are chopping and 1 or 2 people are taking large loads of trees to the workshop.
--never lay trees on the ground over night. (lean them on something always)
--remember to bring water and stuff
--make sure your main tree isn’t hollow
--don’t build near a swamp or any place that mosquitos flourish
--don’t let people find your fort (take a different path each time as to not make a trail)
fun things to do with your fort --we spent most days making bows & arrows, swords, spears, battering rams and sheilds. i am really good at carving things even today.
--we had huge wars sometimes where half of us would try to break through the front wall.
--we would practice sword fighting and get in huge sword fighting battles
--hide and go seek with spears and swords! personal favorite.
--build random things like (smaller towers, a little hut, well, benches, fire pit, walls, fences, rope swing, zip line.
--target practice with bow & arrows from your fort
--water balloon bombing from the top of the fort
(just make a rule for sword fighting)
--you can’t draw back your elbow past your hip bone. this limits the power in the swing.
--also no hitting the face or stabbing (obviously!)
--END NOTE-- building that fort helped to build alot of character for me. I gained alot of physical strengh and endurance. I learned basic carpentry and building skills. It helped me to get out of the house and not be lazy, I always had a place to go and have something to do. I think about my fort alot because it was such a great and important part of my childhood. everybody loved the ewok fort, they always wanted to go to it and hang out there. I don’t think you can be to old to make a fort as long as it is really cool looking and the best you can do.
Get out of the house and do something constructive with your time. I just wish we had taken more pictures (I can’t find the one of wall).
This fort was built mostly by about 3 people. me and my 2 brothers, i mostly chopped wood. other people only helped a little bit, they mostly just joined in with the wars and camp outs and stuff. This fort was built in a period of about 2 years (3/5 visits to the fort didn’t invlove any work really). we could have built it in 6 months easily.
Oct 10, 2005 8:29 pm - Wow thanks kieser, i really did biuld a cool treefort thing with all my friends last spiring that ended up being 3 stories high and then make some tarzan swings. Its fuxcking awsome, i’ll post an image of it sometime. I just don’t know if it’s safe to go on now, the middle lvls got burned down or are badly burned because a homeade torch broke when i was up there at night one time. Another part fell down. But it sure was something in it’s glory days
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