I'm afraid of heights.

[grinthock]

So I'm afraid of heights. From the floor to the top of the scissor truss work it's 17FT in the middle.

The problem is, I have so much work to do, now, and for the next while, everything from lights, insulation, Wall surface (unknown), and being that this is a work in progress it's not like I can just rent a scissor lift all the time.

There is no way i'm doing this with a ladder, i'm going to kill myself.

Scaffold?

 

[The FIB]

Scaffold or a small man lift.
Make sure you get a scaffold with wheels so you can move it around easy.

 

[Steevo]

Good luck. It isn't heights that scare me, it's widths . . .

 

[finn]

Hire someone?

 

[grinthock]

Hire someone?

I'm too cheap for that.

 

[ambenz]

LOL!!! Oh man, this is NOT the time to be afraid of heights!
Gosh, you sure have your work cut out for you!
If I were you, I would buy or make a scaffold.
you can park it in the corner when not in use and wheel it in place when needed.
Scaffording can also act as a temporary shelves too.
Good luck man...I got a feeling you will need it!

 

[Greyhorse]

I've been putting lights up in my barn, just over 19' where I've put them in the center, ladder is fine now..... A little scarey when I started but I'm accustomed to it now.

 

[txvwnut]

Check with your local rental places they usually sell some of their used scaffolding. That's where/how I got mine.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have no issues with heights... provided the ground stays within 12 feet of me. Scaffold... and LOTS of it. Had my old house painted 2 1/2 story victorian and the guy had a very tall scaffold he wheeled around my house to do everything. He also wore a harness. Sometimes he was clipped to the house... sometimes to the scaffold.

 

[jkwilson]

I'd consider buying a used scissor lift. $3000-$4000 but you'll break even when you sell it if you buy smart.

 

[pcmeiners]

Buy a rolling scaffold, better still 2 scaffolds, so you can tie together and double width or double length them; work you have is beyond ladders. You can always sell them when done. If these heights get to you, you get used to the scaffold height real quick. When sheetrocking upper areas, best to get help..sheetrocking off a scaffold alone is crazy...I have done it. As mentioned, buy scaffold used.

 

[josh+audi=happy]

Don't drink coffee if you drink it the days you are doing it. Stimulants in general. Fear is a state of mind. I get nerves from a lot of things with particular liquids. Green tea for me or pot when I'm nerved out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[grinthock]

So my issue is I just don't feel secure on a regular ladder. I suppose I could get a tall step ladder, I would feel much better with that.

 

[boobag]

I'd consider buying a used scissor lift. $3000-$4000 but you'll break even when you sell it if you buy smart.

this. they're not that expensive. check craigslist or ebay or machinerytrader.com

 

[captaindiode]

Look at podium ladders.

 

[914wilhelm]

Got a 20' used man lift from Boeing surplus on Bidaroo. One of the best tools I have for building my shop. It makes it so much safer, and has saved me a ton (literally several tons) of hauling stuff up ladders. Wish I had it when I built my house. Confident I can get my money out of it if I sell it.

 

[pmiranda]

I'm not afraid of heights, I'm afraid of hitting the ground... I feel your pain. Even changing the light bulbs in high fixtures in our house has me breaking out a 10' step ladder so I don't have to get my waist above the top of a normal one. I would absolutely buy a used scissor lift or something like that for the tall indoor work you need to do. You should be able to get nearly all your money back out of it and the work will be so much easier.
The only danger is you might like it so much you want to keep it

 

[Thumper68]

buy the scaffolding, 2 sections plus wheels will do it just fine, when I built my shop I bought 2 sections to reach 19 feet at the high point inside. the best part is since you only have a few hundred invested and it will take up little room when stored that you can keep it for other jobs around the house/garage.

Mine hangs on brackets on the side of the shop ready for use.

 

[Ironhorse74]

Falling isn't the problem. The sudden stop is the problem. Hope that helps.

Brad

 

[kwb]

Scaffolding on wheels - two sections is about perfect to work from. Get one section of shorter for doing work around edges.

 

[Rural53]

I'm also afraid of heights, but I find working off a scaffold a piece of cake. Even when it is hanging scaffold 40' in the air....

 

[Strouty]

My Dad bought a used scissor lift for about $1200 it will reach his 20' ceilings and you can drive it around. It was great deal, but they are out there. I do feel you could buy something and sell it later, even if you lose a few hundred bucks, it is still better than renting one. Otherwise scaffolding on wheels is going to be much better than any ladder ever will be.

 

[grinthock]

So yeah something like this is probably the ticket.. However at $800 it might be cheaper to rent it for 6 months straight.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Do you have any friends that are handy and not afraid of heights?

You could say to them that if they help you out you will do a BBQ with some beers at the end of the day.

I am not afraid of heights as much as I am afraid of when the ladder starts to move around and my brain says I might fall over!

So whenever I need some help, I call a few of my friends on the weekend, and say hey, if you come over and help me with this, I will provide food and drinks to you when we are done for the day.

They like to help out, and we have a good time working and hanging out with each other.

The other thing I will offer to do is while they are up on the ladder doing work for me, I will offer to change the oil in their car/truck, or do other auto related things that they don't have the tools to do like I do.

So we always end up helping each other out.

Jim

 

[readhead]

Where are you? I have a sizzor lift for 1,200 right now.

 

[kenners]

Get a section of 12' to 14' tall pallet racks. Attach a set of wheels while your working on walls and ceiling. Remove them and use for storage when you have completed the interior.

 

[shelbyz28]

I used pallet rack to build rolling scaffolding. Lumber across the legs gave it a nice big footprint (8'x10'), attached 4 wheel moving dollies to the 4 corners and used a ladder to climb up. The cross bars about chest high gave a great sense of security, put another set near the ankle so I didn't step off the edge and voila. As a bonus, I added a shelf below for more security, which made a great rolling workbench. The only downside is it's a bit cumbersome and takes a lot of space.

 

[BD1]

Post your location a member maybe have what you need and borrow it to you.

Look on craigs list for scaffolding.

 

[dfiler2]

Buy 2 sets of these, a set of wheels and 3 planks. (5x5 w/7' brace) You'll have a large platform to work on and you can get to the top with a ladder. You'll have about 500$ invested, they will drop ship directly to you and if you wanted to you could get most of your money back when you're done. That's what I did and I still use the scaffold all the time. Good company to work with too, one of my planks came with a broken ear, I called them and they shipped me a new one, no questions asked.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Not trying to sound like a **** but it's times like this, you do one of two things;

pay somebody or man up.

Come to terms with the height, make your peace and get up there. Get used to the height but don't get complacent of where you are working. Once you have it done, you will have built some serious self confidence, completed a goal, finished your shop and impressed your friends. Almost all of us were there at one time.

Get some scaffolding, racking, a lift and/or some help from buddies. Just remember even though you use a lift, they will still bounce or sway especially when you move. Even a big ladder will sway when partially extended.

 

[My Old Tools]

I told my wife I can climb pretty good but I don't bounce worth a damn anymore. Got me out of doing Christmas lights . My shop is 22' to the peak. Fortunately, a good friend has a Genie manlift. I've had it most of the year so far. Makes doing that stuff a breeze.

 

[AnthonyJ124]

I don't hate the ladder, but when it gets to the point where it's extended up to 24' I get a little shaky. I just make a list of things I need to do at height and rent a 34' man lift for one or two days. By the time I figure the time "saved" by being weary or overly cautious, I can justify the $2-300. Besides, my hospital co-pay is $200 anyway. Not worth it to me.

That could obviously add up quick if you have a couple weeks of work to do- someone further up suggested renting scaffolding. I'd just call a couple local rental places and tell them what your working height is and let them tell you what makes sense over the time you need it.

 

[zhaddock]

I worked a trade show in Munich a few years back. We showed up as they were still setting up the booths. These German guys had been working all night. There were 50 and 100ml Jagermiester bottles everywhere. I watched two guys go up 30' wooden step ladders to put in lights. They straddled the top and when they needed to move to the next light the would wrap their legs through the rungs and them rock side to side to move the ladder, with them on top mind you. I am still amazed by that considering how touchy the EU is about safety. I had a guy at that same show crawl up in my *** for cutting off a bent carriage bolt on my own case without the proper permits.

 

[grinthock]

Get a section of 12' to 14' tall pallet racks. Attach a set of wheels while your working on walls and ceiling. Remove them and use for storage when you have completed the interior.

This is probably what I am going to do. I was going to get rack for storage anyway, so simply fast forwarding this intention anyway might be the best idea, just need to figure out a way to move it around safely

 

[BRIANBB]

So how hard will it be to carry a full sheet of drywall up to the platform on that scaffold? I think you plan a four day weekend, say around thanksgiving rent a scissor lift for five days and do it all in one fell swoop. Rent a scaffold to do the mud and tape(or finish work)

 

[grinthock]

Yeah so for the drywall bit.. I'm still very much considering subbing that out... I do'nt know I want to deal with that.

 

[AMCguy]

When I started on my shop build, I bought four sections of 10' scaffolding complete with platforms. I got eight locking wheels instead of jacks. The fact that I did the floors inside and under the carports made the rolling all too easy.

I paid just over $1,000. for everything. Kept it around until I had no further use for it and sold it all for $800. There is no way I could have rented anything for that price.

 

[lksdrinker]

I'd check the rental places a bit more thoroughly. Usually the most expensive way to rent is by the hour or day and its hardly much more to rent by the week or more.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Good luck. It isn't heights that scare me, it's widths . . .

You beat me to it...

Tommy

 

[dlcwent]

Not trying to sound like a **** but it's times like this, you do one of two things;

pay somebody or man up.

Come to terms with the height, make your peace and get up there. Get used to the height but don't get complacent of where you are working. Once you have it done, you will have built some serious self confidence, completed a goal, finished your shop and impressed your friends. Almost all of us were there at one time.

Get some scaffolding, racking, a lift and/or some help from buddies. Just remember even though you use a lift, they will still bounce or sway especially when you move. Even a big ladder will sway when partially extended.

Oh come on Nutts, you are being a ****. Admit it.
But that's some good advise.