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Ladder levelers.

Voi

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I have a bunch of painting & picture hanging to do in our stairway alcove. Have never used a ladder leveling system. Prefer to buy once, cry once.

Also need a new extension ladder to go with it.

Appreciate any advice.
 
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mike93lx

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Richmond, VA
A leveler for indoors? I use one for sideways slopes. Are you trying to run perpendicular to a staircase?
 
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Voi

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Yes, for indoors. Carpeted stairway.

I'll be painting & hanging pictures both parallel & perpendicular to the steps.
 

jack stand

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Looks like they take out 10" of adjustment. 20230929_161425.jpg
20230929_161610.jpg
I happened to be right by this ladder when I read this post.
Of course the framing square was handy too.😆
This is the Werner pictured by Norton's shop above, just well used.
 

Stelzer

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Showing a pic of your particular stairway would be very helpful. As a painter of 35 years, I'm pretty sure I've tried them all, but I can't give you best suggestions without knowing your particular layout. As far as ladders, box stores will actually have a decent selection of quality offerings. For levelers, I'd avoid any that look like the levelers in this 1st pic since they require having to pick up the entire ladder and then place it back down as level as possible in order for it to level "automatically". They become increasingly cumbersome with larger ladders. I've all but phased these out on most of my vans, but still have a few stragglers. Nobody likes them.
1696017868181.png

Instead, I'd suggest looking for ones with the springs which can be adjusted individually. They have the ability to be exponentially more adjustable than the ones in the 1st pic. I've got about 14 pairs of these and some I've had for a decade or more. Very safe, reliable, and easy to use. Here's an example:

1696018583031.png


Depending upon your stairway layout, you may or may not need an additional piece of gear if your stairs are curved or if you're having to stretch pretty far out from the handrail. In those cases, I'll use a Pivit tool on the low side of the ladder. They're basically just a big triangle wedge with grippy rubber on the bottom and a skateboard grip tape texture on the top to set your ladder. They can be inverted to use the opposite angle, or they can act as a ladder jack if you had 2 to secure a plank, (but that's only advisable for more experienced users). Just trying to explain that it has many uses other than just a wedge. Here's what they look like...
1696019160776.png
 

Stelzer

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Here's an example of the Pivit used as a wedge as well as a ladder jack, just to give you a visual. This orientation is helpful for when working "inside" the stairway vs. having to span beyond the handrail.
1696020645143.png
 
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Voi

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I'll get some pictures up this weekend. Exhausted right now after drywall work.

Stairway doesn't currently have a handrail & won't for the painting phase but will when hanging pictures.
 
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jack stand

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Those "gorilla" type adjustable ladders would work well and allow for a walk plank to horizontal access.
Other than this use or someone wanting only 1 ladder I find them slow and heavy to use. (Folding, extending, and fooling with the pins.
There are other manufacturers than "gorilla" and available at the big orange or blue boxes.
 

jack stand

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They look like Werners model. I like mine as well. Totally hands free adjusting. Just hold the ladder an inch off the ground and lower it while it's plumb. It's locked at that point.
 

2Fast

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Instead, I'd suggest looking for ones with the springs which can be adjusted individually. They have the ability to be exponentially more adjustable than the ones in the 1st pic. I've got about 14 pairs of these and some I've had for a decade or more. Very safe, reliable, and easy to use. Here's an example:

1696018583031.png

I bought a set of the 'spring' type last year and installed them on my Little Giant Ladder. I needed to get ontop of a first floor roof to reach the second floor fascia board (which needed painting) and these worked great

leveler.jpg
 

firebirdparts

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Kingsport, TN
I have a big werner extension ladder with the werner feet. That really is a great invention and evidently pretty tough. My ladder is old and belonged to an electrical construction company. I think it's a 24, but whatever it is, it's a true statement that it takes a real man to use these levelers.

they are connected to each other through the bottom rung but they have individual locks on each side of some sort. I have no idea how that thing looks disassembled but I believe I saw it only cost $50 at Lowes/HD.

Indoors I am somewhat a fan of building a box that looks like a set of stairs that just sits on your stairs upside down. It's a little more (a lot more) flexible in terms how you position a ladder and you can use a step ladder also.
 
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240sxguy

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Madison, wi
Instead, I'd suggest looking for ones with the springs which can be adjusted individually. They have the ability to be exponentially more adjustable than the ones in the 1st pic. I've got about 14 pairs of these and some I've had for a decade or more. Very safe, reliable, and easy to use. Here's an example:

1696018583031.png

I bought a set of these on your recommendation as I have been doing work on the back of my house and the terrain is never really level. These things are incredible. I am pissed I didn't put these on my ladder 4 years ago.
 

Stelzer

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Portland, OR
I bought a set of these on your recommendation as I have been doing work on the back of my house and the terrain is never really level. These things are incredible. I am pissed I didn't put these on my ladder 4 years ago.
Really glad they're working out for you. Those things will not only save time by not having to cobble together some sort of leveling system, they're also much safer as well.
 
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