bazzateer
Well-known member
Scaffold Tower. If you're too cheap to hire one then buy one and sell it on when you're finished. Probably cheaper than hiring.
I'm afraid of heights.
- Thread starter grinthock
- Start date
x3 this is the thing to do
Yep so went out today and took another look.. I would be fine with a step ladder it's just straight ladders I cannot stand.
I need to reach 18 FT to get my stuff done.. As 12 FT step ladder would be about 1.5FT short of being large enough..
Sadly the high height is only needed when I do the very middle of the roof - only a few feet in either direction I could probably get away with a 12FT.
Scissor Lift: Looked into it, everyone wants $5K for them so that's out
Scaffold: I found out I can rent what I need for about $130 for a month so I might end up going that way.
I need to reach 18 FT to get my stuff done.. As 12 FT step ladder would be about 1.5FT short of being large enough..
Sadly the high height is only needed when I do the very middle of the roof - only a few feet in either direction I could probably get away with a 12FT.
Scissor Lift: Looked into it, everyone wants $5K for them so that's out
Scaffold: I found out I can rent what I need for about $130 for a month so I might end up going that way.
Last edited:
So I have a new idea/requirement/thought.
If I mount my lights that high -- how do I service/change bulbs/whatever.
So as my requirement right now is not to insulate but just get my lights up - I am going to hang them lower, or as high as I can get them with a reasonable 12FT step ladder because i need to be able to service them later.
If I mount my lights that high -- how do I service/change bulbs/whatever.
So as my requirement right now is not to insulate but just get my lights up - I am going to hang them lower, or as high as I can get them with a reasonable 12FT step ladder because i need to be able to service them later.
fsae0607
Well-known member
Wear a fall harness. Not too expensive.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yea... I have a 12 foot fiberglass a frame ladder for just changing bulbs.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
What type of lights do you intend to install?
You could always install them on some chains so that they hang down to a lower, more user friendly height from the floor.
This would put the lights at a better height not only to change the bulbs, but would also put the light more directly where you need it most.
Jim
rburke65
Well-known member
Craigslist and buy 4 bucks if scaffold. Can always resell it.
So after pondering a bit.. Scaffold is going to take me too long, up down up down up down... Plus I don't need a scaffold..
So I think at this point the best idea is to get rent a scissor lift, do all the work which i can do easily in one single day -- set it up so I can service the fixtures from a 12FT ladder and be done...
It's just not worth screwing around for.
So I think at this point the best idea is to get rent a scissor lift, do all the work which i can do easily in one single day -- set it up so I can service the fixtures from a 12FT ladder and be done...
It's just not worth screwing around for.
nw3dogs
Active member
Another vote for the scaffolding. It works great. This is what my brother called red neck scaffold on a recent job.
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
Hornman
Well-known member
Another vote for the scaffolding. It works great. This is what my brother called red neck scaffold on a recent job.
Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk
That's pretty close to Darwin Award territory.
Do yourself a favor and rent some scaffolding for the month. Get your wiring run, insulate, hang the ceiling and mount the lights. Once it's all done, you'll be happy.
Ray-CA
Well-known member
Like this?
Attachments
Oh come on Nutts, you are being a ****. Admit it.
But that's some good advise.
Nah man, just trying to be honest. I used to be deathly afraid of heights, anything over 8 foot had my knees knocking together.
TauntDevil
Well-known member
You and I both mate. I am afraid of even going up a small ladder let along anything higher. Absolutely scared of heights. Standing on the roof of my truck even gives me an issue. I dont know why though. Quite annoying really.
I can sky dive but I cant climb up a measly ladder... -_-
I can sky dive but I cant climb up a measly ladder... -_-
josh+audi=happy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2008
- Messages
- 69
Have a friend with a ****** van or box truck? How high is the garage door? I'm cheap and I would pull it in there and stand on the roof of it
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have the same situation as you!
I'm terrified of heights, but am too broke to afford help! My vaulted ceiling is around 18' at the peak also...
I bought one of these
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-portable-scaffold-62208.html
with a 25% coupon for $149 and span it with 2-2"x10"x8' and then I can put my Adjustable/8'A frame on it and reach the top comfortably! I often hook my tool belt to the trusses with a ratchet strap or chain (makes me feel safer) and haven't had any trouble reaching or being too worried (as long as I don't think about it or look down)
[/URL][/IMG]
(I hadn't raised the ladder in the pic yet, it was easier to lift up there in the shortest height.)
I used a scissor lift for bracing the trusses after I lifted them, but it costs $240/day and I can't swing that at the moment!
I'm terrified of heights, but am too broke to afford help! My vaulted ceiling is around 18' at the peak also...
I bought one of these
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-portable-scaffold-62208.html
with a 25% coupon for $149 and span it with 2-2"x10"x8' and then I can put my Adjustable/8'A frame on it and reach the top comfortably! I often hook my tool belt to the trusses with a ratchet strap or chain (makes me feel safer) and haven't had any trouble reaching or being too worried (as long as I don't think about it or look down)
(I hadn't raised the ladder in the pic yet, it was easier to lift up there in the shortest height.)
I used a scissor lift for bracing the trusses after I lifted them, but it costs $240/day and I can't swing that at the moment!
Last edited:
FullRaceMerc
Well-known member
We rent a tow behind boom lift from time to time. It makes for pretty quick work up high. Once we have it on site, I use it for some of the lower work too just because it's quicker than moving an 8' ladder around. The trick is to place it where it will reach the most areas with as little relocating as possible. As for having to climb in & out, with the boom swung to the side, lowered & extended, the basket is almost on the ground.
It pays to have everything in order & ready to install, so there is no down time with the equipment. And a helper on the ground can be a time saver too.
It pays to have everything in order & ready to install, so there is no down time with the equipment. And a helper on the ground can be a time saver too.
Last edited:
If your willing to use a scissors lift.........rolling ladder is a lot cheaper, no maintenance issues:
http://www.easyrack.org/rolling-ladders-a-186.html
http://easyrack.org/images/rolling_ladder_small.jpg
http://www.easyrack.org/rolling-ladders-a-186.html
http://easyrack.org/images/rolling_ladder_small.jpg
So the price of the scissor lifts around here are $2500 minimum for something that even looks safe. I can rent one for $250 for the weekend. I don't think i'll need it for 10 weekends.
So the plan right now is to rent one, and do the work in one weekend which I should be able to do no problem with a scissor lift. Then ensure that my existing ladder can reach high enough to change bulbs.
It's all in the prep.
y'sguy
Well-known member
Renting Scaffolding is very handy. However at that height it may still weave and rock sometimes and scare the **** outta ya. (Me) then you have to sell it when you are done (pretty easy tho)
Another thing surprisingly not mention here yet is to buy used industrial shelving or forklift rack. Not the right term im sure, but It could be bought to get the height you need and you could get castors to make it mobile. Not cheap per se BUT it would allow you to use it in your garage later for tons of storage. So, you wouldn't have to build much needed shelves later.
We bought some USED from a local guy who specializes in that kind of stuff and it is was a great price. Plus it will have approximately a 4 x 8 platform service to work off of at minimum. Shop your local Craiglist. We got ours + delivery for about $200 and the plywood shelving. It is solid as a rock.
Of course you still have to climb the ladder to get there ; )
Another thing surprisingly not mention here yet is to buy used industrial shelving or forklift rack. Not the right term im sure, but It could be bought to get the height you need and you could get castors to make it mobile. Not cheap per se BUT it would allow you to use it in your garage later for tons of storage. So, you wouldn't have to build much needed shelves later.
We bought some USED from a local guy who specializes in that kind of stuff and it is was a great price. Plus it will have approximately a 4 x 8 platform service to work off of at minimum. Shop your local Craiglist. We got ours + delivery for about $200 and the plywood shelving. It is solid as a rock.
Of course you still have to climb the ladder to get there ; )
Last edited:
Steevo
Well-known member
I picked up a used rolling scaffold early in my shop project (Craigslist), and used it for working on the wiring, lighting, painting, hanging the heater, etc.
When I was done, I sold it on Craigslist for a little more than I paid for it.
When I was done, I sold it on Craigslist for a little more than I paid for it.
I'm in a similar situation as the OP and was already thinking about doing this before I saw this post. My concern is getting casters that are good enough. Any suggestions? Not afraid to spend money as long as they are quality as I can reuse them on a body dolly for cars after I'm done.
I've had casters blow out on me on both engine hoist and moving dollies and both times things got a little sketchy. I'd hate to have the same thing happen when I am 12+feet up (and standing on the thing supported by said casters).
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
Look at the McMaster Carr website.
They have everything in there, and they have a ton of casters with all the specs of each one, like how much weight it can take, what it is made of, if it has a locking feature or not.
We us them all the time to make up rolling carts and scaffolds where I work. Our usual thing is to figure out how much the cart/scaffold we are building is going to weigh, and then add in how much "stuff" like tools and people will be on it, and then triple that number for safety.
We generally use the casters that are rated for a few hundred pounds each, and get some with locks and some without.
Jim
pmiranda
Well-known member
Just get some extra chairs like this guy:
Burl
Well-known member
I'm afraid of clowns.
j p smith
Well-known member
Check this out, talk about heights, gives me the shivers just watching.
Southern Ontario ? How close are you to Detroit ? Got a passport ? I'm sure you find some scaffold cheap across the border or would that present an issue trying to bring it back across ?
Strouty
Well-known member
Stevie-Ray
Well-known member
I've found that with age it gets worse. I was never scared of heights, though I had a healthy respect for them. Hell, I've been on top of the south tower of the Mackinac Bridge. At work, I spent ages on a 60 foot JLG, running electrical trapeze on the ceiling trusses at Dearborn Engine Plant. I found that just 2 years before I retired, I could no longer take a JLG up to the ceiling in my building, which at that time was lower than the Engine plant. Scissors lifts were a bit easier, if they were new-if rickety, not so much, but scissors lifts that go that high are few and far-between. My company doesn't MAKE you do anything you feel unsafe doing, so I then became a ground guy. Don't know if it's a glimpse at your own mortality as you age, but talking to others about it, I found I wasn't the only one this happened to, some had even commented on walking on the ceiling trusses in their younger days, but now can't climb an extension ladder-6 foot folders are their max. I can still get on top of my house, but that's starting to make my knees weak as well. No problems as yet getting on a ladder inside my garage up to the ceiling, though that's only about 12 feet.