homestead.fyi / SPOOLTOWER

Cable-Spool Tower

A three-tier plywood platform tower on a central 4x4 post, 18, 36 and 54 in up, for goats to climb.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
54 inHeight
36, 30, 24 in roundPlatforms
3 to 5 hrBuild time
$93.28Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
Front elevation
Front elevation 36 in 90 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 36 in 90 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 36 in 36 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
42x412 1/4Arm 1.on edge, under the platform
42x49 1/4Arm 2.on edge, under the platform
42x46 1/4Arm 3.on edge, under the platform
14x4 PT90Center postburied 24 in

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Platform 13/4 ply36 x 3636 in round
Platform 23/4 ply30 x 3030 in round
Platform 33/4 ply24 x 2424 in round

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 x 10 ft
Arm 1.1 12 1/4Arm 1.2 12 1/4Arm 1.3 12 1/4Arm 1.4 12 1/4Arm 2.1 9 1/4Arm 2.2 9 1/4Arm 2.3 9 1/4Arm 2.4 9 1/4Arm 3.1 6 1/4Arm 3.2 6 1/4Arm 3.3 6 1/4Arm 3.4 6 1/4
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Center post 90

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 3/4 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Platform 136 x 36Platform 230 x 30Platform 324 x 24

Shopping list $93.28 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x10 stud, SPFHome Depot1$5.46$5.46see lumber cutting diagram
4x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$11.28$11.28see lumber cutting diagram
23/32 in (3/4 in) CDX plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$46.57$46.57see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Total before tax$93.28
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Dig a 24 in hole, set the 4x4 post plumb in gravel and tamp it, or set it in concrete.
  2. Cut four 2x4 arms per platform and screw them to the post in a cross at 18, 36 and 54 in, with the 3.5 in faces up.
  3. Cut three 3/4 in plywood discs (36, 30 and 24 in) with a jigsaw and screw each to its arms from above. Round the edges.
  4. Cut the arm lengths so they stop 4 in short of the platform edge, so they cannot catch a hoof.

Before you start