Restoring Fiberglass Ladder.

[gregdd]

Was using a 32 ft fiberglass ladder today. Has been outside at least 30 years when not in use it rides on a service van. The fiberglass sides have turned white and are poking you every time you touch it. Fibers blowing in your eyes ect. Dried out.
Has anyone had luck restoring one of these. I think it cost about $350 when new.
Greg

 

[The Cobbler]

I would question it's integrity if it's that bad .

 

[dutchgray]

I would bin it if I was the least bit concerned with its structural integrity, long ladders are not something to take a risk on, certainly wouldn't bother trying to restore a fiberglass ladder. Your not supposed to store a fiberglass ladder in sunlight anyway at least that's what I have been taught.

 

[Virgil Cain]

You could mix up some fiberglass resin and "paint" the exterior with it and then maybe slap on a coat of enamel, but as Cobbler suggests, I would question whether it's strength has been compromised.

 

[oldmxracer]

Buy a new one !

It is time !!!!

 

[LB-1911]

Was using a 32 ft fiberglass ladder today.

Has been outside at least 30 years when not in use it rides on a service van.

The fiberglass sides have turned white and are poking you every time you touch it.

Fibers blowing in your eyes ect. Dried out.

Has anyone had luck restoring one of these.

I think it cost about $350 when new.
Greg

Time to shop for a NEW ladder, Give the Werner 32 ft D Rung Fiberglass Ladder D7132-2 a look.

Werner Fiberglass Ladder Tech Manual

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Time for a new ladder, and store it protected from sunlight.

 

[beamrider]

I made the mistake of using a ladder in that condition ONCE.

I had fiberglass hairs embedded in my hands, fingers, arms...Didn't realise what was happening until it was too late. Had to have someone use a few rolls of stucco grade duct tape to de-hair me.

TITFA.

 

[countryroad82]

Yes restoration is easy on an old fiberglass ladder..

Step 1. Take your sawzall out of its compartment.

Step 2. Install your favorite brand of demolition blade. I personally like a fine metal blade as it feels so good.

Step 3. Cut that &itch at every rung straight across.

Step 4. Pitch all the remnants in the garbage.

Step 5. Go to your favorite outlet, home improvement, wherever and get/order a new ladder.

See? In 5 easy steps that hairy fiberglass ladder is completely restored! Good for another 5-10 years of service with outdoor storage use. I've destroyed many ladders at my day job due to the fiberglass delaminating (that's what yours is doing btw) it's not worth risking getting halfway up and the fawking thing breaking in half and killing you. I've seen my guys cringe when I see their ladder is getting fuzzy because they know it's dead then and there. I have literally thrown them off the truck rack and cut them up, ran them over with the forklift, bashed them with a backhoe, whatever I have handy I will kill that ladder before it kills somebody.

The reason I'm like that is due to a ladder I let go for too long and I got to take a ride I'll never take again! Sorry man but just get a new one.

For those saying to keep it out of the sunlight, yes you should. But if you work out of a service truck in the service industry, that's something that just don't happen. The ladder lives on the truck along with the rest of your tools/**** because if it's not there you will surely need to get up on a roof, so that means you have to drive BACK to where the ladder is stored out of the sunlight. Which means wasted fuel, wasted time, and the job isn't getting done. Or you can just buy a new ladder every few years and get lots of work done because you didn't fiddle fart about your ladder/other tools.

 

[James-W]

Personally, if it were me, I would go with an aluminum ladder.

 

[egnorant]

Our fix for broken ladders is to run over them with the tractor to remove the faulty thoughts of repairing them.

Bruce

 

[foghorn1966]

CountryRoad82 was spot on with his assessment & logic, James W, I suspect that if you were an electrician, you might think otherwise. Fiberglass vs aluminum, fiberglass could save your life if something bad happens electrically.

 

[TK-421]

If it's structural damage then buy a new one. If it's just finish damage then slap some resin on it and call it good.

 

[James-W]

CountryRoad82 was spot on with his assessment & logic, James W, I suspect that if you were an electrician, you might think otherwise. Fiberglass vs aluminum, fiberglass could save your life if something bad happens electrically.

He didn't say he was an electrician, he just said he had a fiberglass ladder that wasn't in the best of condition because it was outside on his service truck all the time. For all we know he cleans gutters or washes windows. I suggested an aluminum ladder because it won't be affected by heat/cold or ultraviolet light.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

30 years out of a work ladder...damn, your doing good. I thought I was cheap at replacing ladders every 20 years!

 

[RivennHewn]

L&I (pick your governing body in your jurisdiction) loves ladder violations.


Did you know you can get a fine for not having the correct manufacture's sticker/labels on your ladder?

The cost of a new ladder is Cheeeeeap compared to the fines.

 

[CGT80]

For me, fiberglass is too heavy for an extension ladder and they shed fibers when old, as talked about in this thread. For a step ladder, only fiberglass will do. They are more sturdy than wood or aluminum and not that heavy, unless you get the 300 pound versions.

It would certainly concern me that a fiberglass ladder could fail without notice. Fiberglass step ladders would slowly split down the leg and started at the bottom. We had a 4' or 6' ladder that did that and it eventually got tossed. Of course, we were extra careful with that one and it didn't bother us. Besides........the second set of legs on the step ladder is just so it stands while not being used.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Toss it! Why take the chance of someone hurting themselves. If a private individual would you be happy if your buddy or child ended up in a wheel chair. Or if your company would enjoy raised workers comp increases and have an employee laid up or worse. $200-300 replacement cost would look pretty cheap to me.

 

[Moparman390]

This reminds me, I found a parachute that's been sitting outside for the last 30 years, it's all frayed, how do I make it look better cosmetically so I can go jump out of airplanes with it?

 

[ddawg16]

A new ladder is a lot cheaper than a broken leg or head

 

[TracField]

Luck?! Lady luck is the cruelest mistress to depend on.OSHA would take that ladder out of service.Elsewhere what iI was told regarding a safety issue:this is not an osha regulated work place-My reply-Then iI refuse the job.I think they are a common ground of reason and law not to be negated.Then again 25 feet plus is not too far to fall?

 

[ddawg16]

Luck?! Lady luck is the cruelest mistress to depend on.OSHA would take that ladder out of service.Elsewhere what iI was told regarding a safety issue:this is not an osha regulated work place-My reply-Then iI refuse the job.I think they are a common ground of reason and law not to be negated.Then again 25 feet plus is not too far to fall?

The fall is not the problem.....it's the sudden stop

 

[dutchgray]

I fell from 4 rungs up when I was 14 and that hurt plenty enough for me to not want it to hapen again.