Every time I sit in a homemade deer blind, can't help but analyze the architecture.

The 2x2 framing with OSB sheathing awful imo. (but also the cheapest)

Seems like they just just fall apart after 3 years anyways.

Just wondering if anyone has done the math on time spent maintaining the cheap blinds vs. building one that will last longer.

Or perhaps you have an open air design that works for you.

Be great to hear yall's opinion

I build my own and get exactly what I want. Size, window and shooting rest lay out is made to suit me. I'll spend $500.00, and 1/2 of that is on Deerview Windows. I build the walls independently and they go up on towers one wall at a time, easily. They last forever, and I may need to put a coat of paint on every 7-8 years.

Always build my own as well. Build them to last. All are in permanent spots on my property....so having your own land is an advantage and you can build what you want knowing you'll never have to move it.

A guy posted a 4’x6’ design framed with 2x2 and 1/4” exterior plywood. I copied it and it has held up extremely well.

Except for one 4x6 from Redneck Blinds, I made all of ours. They were 4x4, and I used treated wood and T111 siding. Tin roofs. Windows are homemade with sliding plexiglass. They cost me about $250 or $275 in parts back then, but would cost more now. The chairs are extra. I’ve expanded one to 4x6, but left the others at 4x4.

Except for the one I wrecked with the tractor (an accident, I swear), they are good for a decade or two.

Me and my middle son made mine. He can weld so I designed a 6x4 frame and he welded it up. I've got plywood on the outside and inside up to the windows. Camo metal wall panels on the outside. Its HEAVY so I did not tie it down at first....wouldn't you know it, a tornado strolled by it a few years ago and tipped it over. The only damage was the back side roof panels that I extended out for water running off when its raining. I just bent them back up and all's good. 4 legs 10ft long is what the blind sits on.

At least I know its tornado proof....and its tied down now

I’m a carpenter/builder but my deer stands are gawd awful. You’d never let me touch your house if you saw my blinds. I go cheap and paint the heck out of it. Cover all the edges and anywhere water will touch. A tornado hit my 4 person elevated blind last year and I am sure glad I went cheap now

I build ours out of 14g 1.5” aluminum tubing for the floors and 1” for the frame and skin them with R Panel, the only wood I use is in the floors and paneling to skin the interiors with. The first one I ever built is 28 years old and still going strong today, if your jumping leases every few years I can understand building cheap blinds but if it’s on your own dirt then build some nice ones and never think about them again.

I’m positive my investments are a better deal over building cheap blinds every few years and maintaining them. I’m currently building a 5X8 and I’ll have around $1000 give or take in it including windows, solar panel, lighting and legs to elevate it 8’ off the ground but it’ll still be in use 30 years from now unless it’s hit by a twister so the expense is worth it to me.

We have built most and bough one. Our built blinds are framed in 2x2 with Hardieplank siding and metal roofs. Keep the water out and they last and last.

This sounds like the way to go. Personally, I don’t care for anything with less width than 8’ IF you ever have a plan to hunt 2 people at once. 6’ is just too small IMO. I also like to leave a step platform on the back and make stairs instead of a ladder. They cost more this way, but they are so much safer.

My blind I built is somewhat similar material as ol thumper. The skeleton to box is angle iron and not tubing. Then the platform outside of the door is 4x4 with stairs like you see on the blinds from the ASF/Atascosia, etc. It's just that my railings don't go as high and it's wider. Having the platform to stand on and being able to open the door with ease makes it safe for anyone of any age to get in and out.

I bought a 4x6 blind from a fella on here (can't remember who it was from unfortunately) and have essentially copied it on the last blind I built for a different location.

The main base is framed with 2x6s and 3/4" plywood flooring. The main box uses 2x2s and is skinned with the smart siding. They both have a set of elevator brackets with 4x4s for legs. One is 4' off the ground and the other is 8' off the ground. Both are extremely solid.

Now that both of my young boys like sitting in the blind with me, I plan to build a 6x8 blind for a little more wiggle room inside.

I build my own and I gone through several "floor" plans depending upon to location...from 4X8 for three hunters...to 4X4 for solo hunting. I use the 2X2 frame with Game Winner windows from Academy and a clear polycarbonate roof (typically used for greenhouses). The clear roof is REALLY nice for letting in light for cloudy mornings. I have killed several deer right at legal shooting light when fellow hunters with dark roofs were only able to see grey blobs in the distance.

I knocked over a stand that lasted 12 years this year to salvage some used lumber when we lost a lease.

I am the guy with the 2x2 frames and OSB siding, we have 4. But we have them for a reason, the local H.S. Ag Department was selling them as a fundraiser to help a local families impacted by Hurricane Ike and later Harvey. A couple of them are 13 years old this year. We repaint and reseal them every year.
I was raised hunting on 3 2x6's nailed across a fork in a tree, so these sumbitches are like the Taj Mahal compared to that!

Props to you all that build your own for nominal price. I built a 4X6 with 2' porch on 10' legs. It held up well for 7 years, but got hit by wicked wind this spring and pulled anchors out and TIMBER. I think by the time I purchased all materials, I was in about $1500. On flip side, I purchased a fabbed plastic blind, 6 bow size windows, vent, large door, on a 2' high base with skids for under $2000 and believe it will last my lifetime. FOR ME - that will be the way I go when I have my next need for a new blind.

Four years and counting, easy to put in place, you can kill 360° from the two 48", two 36" openings. This one in is my favorite size, 54" sq.

I’ve seen some elevated platforms that were built to install pop up blinds on. This is a great idea and the blinds can be tied down to them. After the season, the blinds can be removed. This makes them more mobile as well, because the platform can easily be taken down in pieces if screwed together or built in a way to be able to move them.

I was once a cabinet and office furniture builder. After suffering through a couple blinds made of wood, I experienced how the other half lived when I got an invite to a ranch west of Mertzon. They had fiberglass blinds made in nearby Elderado. After that hunt I decided 20 years ago to screw-off wood blinds and bought a Potbelly Deerblind. Best decision I ever made. I did have to paint it, but it’s light enough to be moved easily.

I build mine with 3/4" treated marine plywood for the floor framed up with treated 2x6's.

I use 1/4" plywood and 2x4 studs to frame the blind itself and give it all a good coat of paint.

Have one that has been in use for about 10 years now and still holding strong, and has been relocated 3 times from Fisher County to Burnet County and now resides in Sonora.

When relocating on the lease I leave the legs and base assembled and disassemble the blind panels in 7 pieces. We disassembled and relocated one of the 5.5' x 7.5' blinds this year in less than an hour. Best part is if for some reason I am alone and can move myself.

My past blinds were 4'x8', the last two I built were 5.5' x 7.5'. From now on everything I build will be 5.5' x 7.5'. I use elevator brackets and 12'-16' treated 4x4's for the legs.

For my windows I buy tinted 1/4" Plexiglass. I screw a 1.5" strip of 1/4" plywood on the backside of a 2x4 and screw it to the edges of my windows. I just slide my windows up and down and a 1x3" piece of plywood is screwed to the side of the 2x4 and can be rotated forward to hold the windows open. Its cheap, quiet and effective.

I built mine about 20 years ago out of lighter weight .75" tubing.
Each wall and roof is separate to all one person to set it up and take it down in teh field alone if need be. The stand is also separate and it is 4'x8' while the blind is 4' by 5.5' leaving me a 4' x 2.5' porch/landing to step up on and open the door. All windows are hinged with plexiglass.

Just last year I finally took the 1/2" plywood off the sides and doors and replaced it with 1/8" sheets of PVC so it should last forever now.

everyone always paints their blinds camo.
a deer tis roughly 3' @ shoulders.
thinking outa the box, painting a sky line pattern would blend in better.

pappy

Maybe, but there is a tree behind it, and it started on the ground before it grew legs.

good looking stand, & set-up.

I don’t use one anymore but my design was perfect for me. It was a round blind 48” in diameter and 78” tall. It took 1 sheet of 3/4” plywood to make the floor and roof. The studs were 2”x2”. The skin was galvanized sheet metal I got from an air conditioning company. The legs were 1.5” square tubing 16’ long. The x-braces were 1/2” EMT. Steps were sucker rod. I carpeted the interior to muffle any noise. It’s pretty fun to make everything work for a circle. My friends called it the beer can stand so I painted “Miller Light” on it. Before I painted the grey base coat, I washed it down with vinegar to cut the pickling oil from the galvanizing. It was pretty light and caught almost no wind. It was before digital cameras and cell phones so I’d have to dig through 10,000,000 photos to find it. 😁 I made one for another guy and rabbited cedar boards along the edges of the floor and roof to make it 54” in diameter. BIG difference.

Just finished mine 4x8 with 2x4 around the floor and corners and door frame. Walls and frame for windows 2x2 and have sheet metal roof. Plexi glass windows that slide up and down. OSB siding with plywood floor. Started building mine in a hurry and later in the project began to take a bit if pride in it.
Wish I had made it 5x8 but do enjoy what I have.