Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
T.C. in Tx

01-15-2007 07:39:58




Report to Moderator

My shop has 16 foot side walls and is probably 18 or 19 feet at the peak. I need either a ladder or possibly scaffolds to occasionally access the top side for lights wiring, and the like.

I am thinking about possibly getting a 14 foot tall step ladder. Is that tall enough? Seems like it would fold up out of the way and get me up where I need. On the other hand two scaffold sections would get me up about 12 feet and have a little more manuverability up in the air. But it would seem to take up a lot of space when not in use unless disassembled.

Does anyone have experience and a recommendation here? Thanks for your interest.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Gordon in IN

01-15-2007 19:39:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to T.C. in Tx, 01-15-2007 07:39:58  
Scaffold, without question. Recomend you get the 5ft X 5ft "Mason Scaffold" sections (1.625 dia steel tube frame) not "Painters Scaffold". It is only slightly heavier and a lot stronger and more rigid. Three sections minimum. Recommend four. Work inside the top section which lets the top section serve as guard or safety rails. If you do not want to do this then go ahead and get a set of guard, safety or hand rails. 5ft X 5ft scaffold is not to bad to handle. I like the "regular" type better than the "walk through", it is easier (for me) to handle and I think more rigid. Be sure to get "diagonal" (horizontal) braces and a set of 4 locking casters for the scaffold. Powder coated is better than paint, most are powder coated anyway. Get "gravity" locks for the cross (side) braces. Be sure that the scaffold is "OSHA" approved. I like to use five 2 X 12 scaffold planks (not just plain 2 X 12 lumber)(be sure the ends are "cleated" to prevent the planks from slipping off the tube scaffold frame), Add a center 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 cross stiffener screwed to the bottom to form a full platform at your working level. This gives a scaffold platform that is solid, stable & rigid. I have had people make fun of this and ask if we plan to square dance on the scaffold platform. BUT after they work on it for a week or so they really like it. You can also use two of the standard scaffold "platforms" instead of the five 2 X 12 scaffold planks, but they cost a little more and are more difficult (for me) to handle. They are faster to change to different levels if you can handle them though. This approach costs more than some others, but you will enjoy the safety and secure working environment. It is considerably cheaper than the lower cost approaches and a trip to the emergency room or a hospital stay. Every once in a great while Menard's has a sale on their scaffold if they stock it in the store. Good luck and be careful.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Charles (in GA)

01-15-2007 16:38:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to T.C. in Tx, 01-15-2007 07:39:58  
I have a 60x60 with 16 ft eaves and a 12/2 roof, that works out to 21 ft at the peak. I have used 2 sections of scaffold, good for some end wall work, not enough to reach the highest parts.

Problem with scaffold is, its darn heavy. Sure, the individual pieces on the floor are OK but try and get one of the pieces up to put on the third level, You need a rope hoist or something to get it up there. Trying to tie a rope to it and pull it up is for the birds, gets snagged on things, heavy, you are poorly balanced..... .....

I have just purchased a dozen 400 watt metal halide low bay lights for the building. I'm going to use an electric sizzor manlift to get up there to run the conduit and mount the lights.

Charles

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ryan - WI

01-15-2007 17:14:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to Charles (in GA), 01-15-2007 16:38:48  
Charles,
I am not sure of what type of scaffolding you are using, but if it is like ours it has braces that are about 9 feet long and are shaped like a long stretched out N. We would always use one of the braces as a long snag hook. You could set up the sections leaning against lower sections and snag them to pull them up. This also would let you leverage them out away from the existing tower so they didn't snag. If it was extra tall make a rope loop on one brace and use them end to end.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JMS/MN

01-15-2007 14:47:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to T.C. in Tx, 01-15-2007 07:39:58  
A 14 foot stepladder would be fine if you are 7 feet tall and care to stand on the top step with nothing to hold on to. Typical scaffold hardware is 5 feet tall. I built a scaffold trailer years ago, with 5 foot sections, one mounted on the trailer, the next two pop into the lower ones. Works fine to get to 18 feet or less, very sturdy, cost about $300 , made out of 2x2 steel tubing. Construction scaffold sections break down into small pieces- take up little space. Mine- everything stays on a 4 wheel trailer.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dan hill

01-15-2007 11:09:46




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to T.C. in Tx, 01-15-2007 07:39:58  
Buy 3 scaffold sections.A flat bed truck comes in handy,put 2 sections on the truck.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Farrell

01-15-2007 08:37:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to T.C. in Tx, 01-15-2007 07:39:58  
In my opinion you need three 5' sections of scaffolding with at least two standing boards. This would allow you to reach multiple heights of 5', 10', and 15', plus your reach of say 6-7'. Used scaffolding is pretty cheap. After breaking down the scaffolding it is easy to store (even outside). On the other hand a 14-16' step ladder is expensive, difficult to store, dangerous to use, cumbersome to move, and a dedicated tool with only one purpose. Scaffolding hands down. My two cents - hope it helps!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

01-15-2007 11:07:17




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to Bob Farrell, 01-15-2007 08:37:41  
I'm with Bob.

I am real shy when it comes to wobbling heights.

Step ladders wobble a whole lot - too much for me.

We worked on restoring a barn last summer, found out all 4 of us don't like heights. The 12 foot wooden step ladder was not used a second time - by anyone.

The 3 sections of scaffolding were used _all_ the time, with 2 planks. We all could stand that, & was _so_ much easier to work on to accomplish anything.

The Little Giant ladder got a lot of use, we all liked that as well, tho it only goes maybe 10 foot? Very sturdy tho.

Friend bought another section of scaffold, & we did get 4 high. We moved slow & got used to it for our one deal.

Scaffolding was easier to move & knock down than the 12 foot wooden step ladder.

Just how it worked for us, different folks will have different opinions.

--->Paul

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
glennster

01-15-2007 08:27:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to T.C. in Tx, 01-15-2007 07:39:58  
i think the step ladder may be your best option if you have limited storage space. they are kind of a pain to work off of because seems like everything is just out of reach. the scaffold is a lot easier to work off, but it takes time to put up and take down. but there is less chance of falling over. i picked up an old ford e-350 van that has a 28 ft bucket on it. the van was junk but the bucket works. its handy as heck for doing cieling work in the barn, working on the grain bins and triming trees. a neighbor has his scaffolding mounted on an old hayrack running gear, and that is pretty handy too. real nice for painting the sides of the barn.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
big hunter

01-15-2007 08:05:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need recommendations for ladder or scaffold in reply to T.C. in Tx, 01-15-2007 07:39:58  
I don't have an opinion, just a story. the church I go was going to was building a multi purpose building, my company did the concrete, steel work and we erected wood arches that spanned 80 feet (2 halves 40 ft each) and peaked at about 36 feet. anyhow we had 2 cranes one on each side to swing the 2 halves togther then as I was standing on top of one tier of scaffolding 5 or 6 sections high on 2 walk boards....looking up at the friggen clouds moving by as the 2 halves were swinging over to me so I could bolt them togther....I HAD TO GET DOWN...somebody braver got up there

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy