ReCover-Tree Point-0

This isn't my first time, or even my second time, but here we go again!!!

As you can see, the claw post is way past needing re done again. I've had the idea in my head on how to improve the design for a while.

Every time I've re done it, I've learned lessons. The first time, I learned an important lesson, namely, it takes more than 50' of rope to cover the post!!! The second time came out much improved, but it takes a long time to do it. I completely re-imagined the construction for round 3!!!

I got some 1 x 3" and some 1 x 4" clear pine, a couple of lengths of 3' x 3/8-16" threaded rod, a couple 3/8-16" to 1/4-20" adapters, and some 1/4-20" flat head socket screws, as well as various screws and nuts and washers. I made up a long hollow post and a stubby topper from the 1 x 4's, and another long hollow post of the 1 x 3".

I set a couple of blocks in the ends of the 4" posts with indexing blocks, and the hole pattern for the 3/8-16" threaded rod. I drilled a large hole for the rope in the end of the 3" post, and wrapped it in the rope.

I drilled the same pattern in the existing base (the only part of the original, and it's getting pretty swiss-cheesed!) and attached the 3/8-16" threaded rod with nuts on the top and bottom. Then, slid the long 4", the rope-wrapped 3", and the stubby 4" topper, put on the thread adapters, and capped it off with a thin square of plywood with the 1/4-20" flat head socket screws.

And there it is!!! Finally got it so it's pointing mostly straight up!!!

And another shot, just to bask in it's glory!!!

How does the man-cat like it??? Hmmm, the base smells the same... but the other parts are different...

Aw, what the heck, I'll claw it!!! I knew he would!!! With the old one, he'd hunker down low and claw at the bottom portion, it looked rather uncomfortable. With this new design, all it requires is to remove the flat head screws, the adapters, and it can be re-wound easily... with, what I think is less than 25' of rope!!! The claw zone is right at the height he likes, too!!! I'm very pleased with the results, and so is he!!!

Clawing so fast, his paws are just a blur!!!