One of the best ways to create your treehouse vision is to check out other treehouses. If you’re fortunate to know where to find some then jump in your car or local train and check it out. If not research online or in books or just ask the Treehouser and he’ll send you some examples. Here are a few of my favorites.

OK, you’ve done your research and come up with a look that will satisfy your needs. The plans are drawn and the tree has been chosen. The lumber’s delivered and the tree has been checked by a professional arborist. Before construction begins, however, the prudent treehouse builder needs to go through his tools, verifying that everything he or she will need is close at hand and in working order. Lay out the tools you think you’ll need on the ground and make a list. If you’re missing something, ask a friendly neighbor if you might borrow it for a while. If not, go ahead and buy it; you’ll probably need it again.

A strap-on tool bag is perhaps the most important piece of equipment a builder can have. It has easy-access pockets and holsters and holds your most important items, leaving the hands free for climbing and other tasks.

A basic set of hand tools will consist of hammers, nails and screws, a tape measure, crowbar, a small square, a couple of carpenter’s pencils, hand saw, and a level. Since it’s awkward and difficult to fit all of these items in a tool belt at the same time, pack only the tools you need for the job at hand.

The kinds of power tools needed will vary depending on the style of treehouse being built. It’s a good idea to use cordless power tools when possible, but always with a back-up battery pack charged and ready at hand. Some power tools, of course, are only available as electric or gas powered. For most treehouses, a builder will need a circular saw, a jigsaw, disc grinder, drill with various-sized bits, chain saw, reciprocating saw, and a table saw.

Lastly, make sure there are plenty of power cords with enough length to reach from the power source to the platform. There’s nothing worse than climbing up a tree getting yourself in position and finding out the cord is too short.

The Basic Tools

Hammers



Curved claw hammers are the most familiar type of hammer, and what most builders use for driving and pulling nails. A roofing axe hammer is useful for rough framing, valued for its cutting and hacking ability. A mallet hammer is typically used to form sheet metal and to force tightfitting metal parts together. Sledgehammers, available in a variety of weights, are often used in construction work, useful for driving posts or dislodging trapped objects.

Square and Levels

A bubble level can measure all angles in a 360 degree range. The good ones have impact resistant vials and durable vial covers.

A laser level projects a bright, level, and plumb “laser ‘chalk line” instantly. They self-level and are extremely accurate. A square is a multi-purpose, easy-to-handle tool that provides a precisely angled rule. The better ones have a 45-degree miter, a depth gauge, and a level. Squares typically feature easy-to-read length marks – most often in eighths, sixteenths, thirty-seconds and sixty-fourths.

Hand Saws

The crosscut teeth are typically set in alternate rows to the right and left of center, which helps reduce binding while sawing.

Most hand saws are rust resistant or have a Teflon finish, reducing problems with binding and residue buildup. Keyhole saws have very thin, pointed blades mounted on a pistol style grip. They are used for cutting holes and small radius curves. Miter saws are fixed on rollers inside a metal guide, allowing for accurate crosscuts and miter cuts.

Tape Measures



Hooking to a tool belt, the spring-loaded retractable tape and hooked nose make a good tape measure an essential part of any builder’s tool box. A plastic-coiled tape measure can take measurements around tree trunks and other difficult shapes. Most tape measures can take measurements down to one-thirty-seconds of an inch. A high tech advance in building, laser-measuring tools are fast, accurate, and easy to operate. Just point and shoot.

Ropes and Pulleys



A fixed pulley system is a simple and effective way to bring tools and materials to the treehouse platform. In coordination with carabiners, a more robust rope and pulley system is used to harness a worker like Dan Wright pictured here.

A comfortable harness is a key component of any rope and pulley system. Harnesses are typically seamless, with a mesh padding for maximum comfort. Harnesses often come with gear loops, including a small loop for a chalk bag and another to

accommodate a gear-organizing carabiner.

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