The sum of the measures of the interior angles of a triangle is 180 degrees.
Since all the sides of equilateral triangles are the same length, all the angles are the same...
The interior angles of an equilateral triangle are all 60 degrees.
The following project is yet another deer shack...but this one can be used for GUN OR BOW. The vertical tower was originally planned to be a wooden seurrier truss structure, often found in supporting telescopes. In keeping with the "build it for cheap" theme, I used the standard 4 post tower. However; in the future I do plan on creating a true hex shack with the seurrier truss leg structure. I think it could be built out of womanized 2x4s with lots of cross bracing.
A hexagon consists of 6 sides. A strong structure that will enclose a hunter and give ample shooting windows on all sides. I began by cutting 2x4s for the six panels. These panels can be built at any time and hauled to the site. Each panel needs a floor piece, two vertical pieces, a top piece and a middle piece ( top and middle horizontal pieces define the top and bottom of the window). This is what a completed panel looks like. (60 degree base cuts)
60 degrees is the key to this project. Purchase a plastic protractor for a couple of bucks and use it to lay out the horizontal floor base, bottom and top of the window pieces. Cut 3 (60 degree) pieces per panel. Next, cut two vertical pieces. The angle at the top of the vertical piece can be anything that you want. Make the angle sharp enough so you can stand in it without hitting your head but not to steep. Additional 2x4s will be used as rafters for the roof (similar to a gazebo).
Build 6 of these panels. (Click here for panel size information). Make sure you label the bottom left and right of the panels and test them as you put them together. You may have to make an adjustment cut on the last one or two if cuts are slightly off.
(Pre-assemble the panels and measure the radius across the bottom to get minimum size of base required...built it a foot or so larger. Add an extended deck? Hmmm)
For this project we will use the standard 4x4 womanized posts ( pic of post one, post two, post three ) stuck a foot or so down into the soil and cemented in. The fourth pole is a large pine tree. It is large enough not to sway very much in the wind, and it adds support and rigidity to the blind. I purchased (3) 4x4 by 16 foot post for some nice height ($80.00 ouch!). Make the blind shorter or taller to suite your needs. REMEMBER to use a level! All posts must be level!!! Add a floor truss base for the platform like the other elevated deer blind on this site. This particular (showing only the back half so far) base was built in two halves and nailed together. I scrounged the wood from an old discarded water bed frame that someone was tossing out on the road side. Once the floor joists are finished, cover with pressed board or plywood, then using liquid nail, put down another floor on top of the sub-floor. A double floor will make the structure very strong and quiet. New for this project is an 800 watt power inverter. Clip it onto the battery of your truck and it provides A.C. power to run a circular saw! Harbor Freight unit on sale $50.00.
Its looking good so far, but I'm out of wood. Plus I've got to get the field plowed and planted with pumpkins and melons.
We need a ladder. Stop by your favorite wood emporium and snag 2 16ft. 2x4s for a ladder. Here, I used recycled rails from a porch and they worked out fine, especially since they were free. Drill and put 2 screws on each side of a rung. Space the rungs out so they are comfortable to climb up on. You can always buy some 2x4s and cut them if you can't scrounge some. Put the ladder on any side. I put it on the side for easy access. Tie in the ladder to the main structure to solidify the ladder. With the ladder in place, its time to put up the hex panels. Tie a rope to one the first panel and pull it up. Position it where you want it, keeping in mind the overall placement of all panels and windows. Make sure the area you want to shoot at has a panel facing in that direction. Also, since we will use this blind for bow hunting, the top panels will have to swing open on hinges. We will probably be limited to a couple of panels that open, so make sure they are pointing in the correct direction. Tack the panel down with a deck screw or two. Pull up another panel. Mate them up and tack them together with another deck screw. Pull up all the panels and tack them in place. Push, pull and tug them until they fit properly. Once you are happy with the hex panels, screw them together. Use lots of screws. We will use the lower section of one of the panels as the entry door. You will need a couple of solid hinges. (more detail later on this) Begin to apply siding to the panels. I was able to score some T1-11 wood siding from my nephew. Use any exterior covering like press board and cover with shingles or T1-11 and paint it. Inside of blind. For a door, use a panel and apply hinges. A small strip of material is used on the far side of the door to secure the hinge to and then the material to the fixed blind panel. Door is closed.
The roof joists are 2x4s approximately 51 inches long and are cut on an angle that you actually determine. What ever angle you use on the vertical panels determines this value. Take two 2x4s that are longer than necessary, say 60 inches long and hoist them up on the panels. Let them cross at the peak of the roof. Draw a vertical line on both 2x4s. Cut both pieces. They should have clean faces that are tight when butted up against each other. Pic of roof joist meeting panel. Cut and add more roof joists. Remember to use liquid nail and large deck screws to assemble it.
After all roof joists are assembled, its time for a plywood roof. I use a quarter inch pressed board since it was cheap and won't have to hold any weight. Measure and cut each triangle for the roof and screw each panel down. In any area (front and back in my case) that you want to shoot your bow through, you must hinge the roof panel. Once the panel is covered with a covering, it can be flipped back at the start of the hunt. Close it before you leave. The roof can be finished with shingles, tarp or whatever. I chose "Ice Guard". This is a roofing material that will last 30 years and is self-sticking. No nails are required, but a tack here and there is advisable. It was salvaged, otherwise it is expensive.
View out the front window overlooking the food plot, pumpkin and mellon patch.
View out the back window.
