FEL/pallet forks as scaffolding

[OnekamaFarmer]

I bought my drywall lift for $150 at Menards for that very same reason as I usually do projects over an extended period. I figured I could sell it on Craigslist after I was done but I have held into it. Mine only does 11' high ceiling though.

Here is a 15'' one for $300:
Troy Drywall Lift 15-Foot Panel Hoist Dry Wall - - Amazon.com

Here is a 19' one for $500:
Red Line RLP916 Drywall Panel 19' Hoist Lifter Dry Wall Lift Tool: Amazon.com: Home Improvement

Nice to have the extra height capacity, usually more stable. Mine is good at about 10' but beyond that it is shaky.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I bought my drywall lift for $150 at Menards for that very same reason as I usually do projects over an extended period. I figured I could sell it on Craigslist after I was done but I have held into it. Mine only does 11' high ceiling though.

Here is a 15'' one for $300:
Troy Drywall Lift 15-Foot Panel Hoist Dry Wall - - Amazon.com

Here is a 19' one for $500:
Red Line RLP916 Drywall Panel 19' Hoist Lifter Dry Wall Lift Tool: Amazon.com: Home Improvement

Nice to have the extra height capacity, usually more stable. Mine is good at about 10' but beyond that it is shaky.

Ebay and Amazon are full of ones in the sub-$150 range.

I think getting the materials up and down is going to be a bigger challenge in this job than getting yourself up and down.

To me using the bucket as a man lift only makes sense if either you're going to be working in one spot for a long time and want something more comfortable than a ladder to stand on, or if you have a helper who can operate the lift so you don't have to climb. If you're going up and down a ladder anyway just use a stepladder.

 

[civilian]

I bought my drywall lift for $150 at Menards for that very same reason as I usually do projects over an extended period. I figured I could sell it on Craigslist after I was done but I have held into it. Mine only does 11' high ceiling though.

Here is a 15'' one for $300:
Troy Drywall Lift 15-Foot Panel Hoist Dry Wall - - Amazon.com

Here is a 19' one for $500:
Red Line RLP916 Drywall Panel 19' Hoist Lifter Dry Wall Lift Tool: Amazon.com: Home Improvement

Nice to have the extra height capacity, usually more stable. Mine is good at about 10' but beyond that it is shaky.

But with the extra height capacity, check out the loading height. You might have to lift the sheets higher to load the drywall lift. A friend and I went together and bought one from Northern Tool. Jon

 

[hslogger]

I had to use a pallet for a platform, working alone, using the ladder alongside it. Not the safest but I did work safe
The yellow man basket is a actually a double decker. Top section can be removed with four c clamps opened up and taken off.
If I had the smarts and access to one at the time, I would have used one of those totes. I don't think you can do it any better or cheaper than one of those.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Harbor Freight item 63050, $179.52 scaffold. I have one and they are great. Dry Wall Panel Hoist item 69377, $214.99. I have always been of the philosophy, rent something 3 times you might as well buy one. My life is worth more than $300. With a tractor you will be doing a lot of up and down and moving on a very unstable platform. I have done it once or twice for a one time thing. Would not relish doing it for several days.

Ron

 

[Doofy]

Two points.

Plywood on the ceiling is not the best idea. It will cost a little more but liner panel metal sheets are lighter, easier to install, permanently painted in white. In a few years you will wish you used metal if you put up plywood.

Scaffold is much safer and easier to use than the FEL. I bought to used sections of rolling bakers scaffold and a high lift drywall lift to do my pole barn. I clamped the two sections of scaffold together to give a larger working platform. You may need to sections to get the height you need. My ceiling is just 12 feet. I'm not the most comfortable person with heights so I found having a larger working platform to be much more secure.

As an alternative, you might consider building a platform on your truck bed. I would do that before I used the FEL.

Ditto on the platform on the truck. Much safer. I spanned across the bed with 2x4s and a 3/4" piece of plywood and was very comfortable working at 12 feet. My old truck was a F-350 and was tall to begin with.

 

[cat fever]

I guess I fit into the unsafe category. Here is how I built my barn. Used the homemade platform on the pallet forks every day.

 

[4570Man]

I guess I fit into the unsafe category. Here is how I built my barn. Used the homemade platform on the pallet forks every day.

View attachment 536409

I’m still waiting for proof it’s actually not safe. I know it’s not a certified lifting device, but I guess when we start looking for “proof” a lot more people have been injured by ladders. Which brings the question can someone find a single reference of someone getting hurt by doing this and were using a basket with a railing. Heck you can make it any combination of events you want as long as the injury was caused by malfunction of the machine and not falling off the platform.

 

[cat fever]

I never did feel unsafe nor did it bother me that my son's were on the platform either. Of course, we were careful since no side rails were used. Heck if I followed all the OSHA rules I'd still be building it.

 

[Einthewoods]

Thanks for all of the replies, very helpful. I'll check out a couple of the scaffold that you pointed out.

Final question: when using your tractor pallet forks as scaffold/ladder, did you leave the tractor running while you were up? I assume so to keep hydraulic pressure but thought I'd ask.