From Pallets to ...

Today's posting, hmm, lets see. Ah Ha! Well I'm in to woodworking and follow other people out in social media that are also in to wood working. And for my next trick, I guess I can show you a fort I built for my kids at a place I no longer live at. Please excuse the quality of my work as it was the first time I built a tree-house/hunting platform as an adult. The platform sat about 4 feet off of the ground. 

So first thing is first.. I guess. I've got two kids that have a lot of energy. So I thought this would be a fun project to start doing on the weekends that I had them. The only items purchased for this project were the 3 - PT (Pressure Treated) 2X8s, the 4 - 8" Lag Screws with lock washes and flat washers, the 10 or so 2X4s, and a box of 2-1/2" Coarse Thread Drywall screws. 

Total spent out of pocket: $75

Total Money Saved: a few $100

It started like this. 

The base of the platform was made out of the PT 2X8 using the third as additional bracing on this pine tree. 

The base was plumb and level on both sides, I'm kind of anal when it comes to having a flat surface on which to walk on or in this case for my kids to walk on. 

The platform was made out of the 10 or so 2X4, each piece was equally spaced out from the other and strapped to the 2X8, floor joists if you will. The ladder was from a previous project, I built my kids a bunk bed a few years ago. This ladder was removed from it when the bunk beds were split and I kept it for this project. The planking used in this project came out of a ton (50 or so) 1/2 size pallets. Lets just say, I'm thankful for having a good reciprocating saw. 

As you can see, I was able to get the entire platform covered with this free pallet hardwood. And I even began using some of the pallets as walls so my kids don't get hurt. 

From the front of the tree-house, I added a few additional supports at the corners, though truth be told. It was a solid platform and it did not move at all. But better safe than sorry. 

I added paint to the platform and the legs to ensure that it would be somewhat water repellent. The paint color wasn't of my choosing, it came out of a friend's garage, and a bunch of 1/2 used paint samples came out with this grayish/blueish tone. 

We ended up painting both sides of the tree-house walls and ladder the same color. But I don't have any pictures of the finished project. I do have a video of my son painting it though, but I'm a bit too guarded to post it. 

Thanks for reading.