Is anyone here familiar with scaffolding?

[3Ts]

The hard part about this is trying to think of every use scenario. That sounds like a good setup, but let me throw out two thoughts:

First, there is a certain usefulness to having all of your frames the same size, that way they're interchangeable. The three-footers aren't that much lighter or cheaper than the five-footers, it might be more useful to get a five foot frame instead of the three-footer. The three-footers also aren't walk-through, so if you're working side-to-side you have to go down a level and go back up to go sideways.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as the lawyers say, I sometimes wish I had some 6.5 foot frames for the bottom two rows. When you've got your feet on solid ground the bigger frames aren't any harder to handle, and you get up 13 feet without leaving the ground. If your bottom two frames were 6.5 feet you wouldn't need the extra three feet. At ground level the 5' frames are kind of a pain because you have to duck to go through them.

All this is true, but as for the 3' frames, there are times where the 5' can be to tall - especially when working under a soffit. Even if the 5' fit under the soffit or ceiling, I find it hard to kneel, so I set my frames so I can stand. All my frames are 5' but I also have 1 set of 3' frames and they do require different cross braces. (I've also used the 3' as a really big work table when we built our cabin.)

 

[KilroyJC]

All this is true, but as for the 3' frames, there are times where the 5' can be to tall - especially when working under a soffit. Even if the 5' fit under the soffit or ceiling, I find it hard to kneel, so I set my frames so I can stand. All my frames are 5' but I also have 1 set of 3' frames and they do require different cross braces. (I've also used the 3' as a really big work table when we built our cabin.)

I figure with the three footers I can get that extra bit of height without standing on a couple of stacked mil crates on top of three 5’sections. . . I mean, the whole purpose of this exercise is to work safely, isn’t it?

 

[KilroyJC]

Don't forget the pigtails to tie the sections together. The way I read this is that you plan to have an 18' tower with the guard rails at the top. You'll need 16 pig tails for each tower.

Thank you - this is the type of info I need!

 

[copytmpmzl]

Good Morning!

I will have to do some major home improvement projects, most notably re-staining/sealing our log home, and I don’t want to do it on a ladder. A scaffold (or two) would make for a much easier and safer job.

I have never used scaffolding before.

-EDIT/UPDATE: Terrain and deck preclude the use of a manlift or skyjack.-

My feet need to be 18’ to 20’ above grade level to be able to access all the way to the peak of the roof.

I plan on permanently attaching eyes to the sides of the house in order to rig guys to the scaffold for stability.

What do I need to know when buying scaffolding? There are so many options. I don’t want to rent, because I will have other projects in the future where it will be used, and if I own it, I won’t feel rushed to get it back to the tool rental and maybe screw up or get careless.
childrens etiquette training
thank you for any suggestions, comments etc!

Awrite guys gotta shout offshore overseas but all the company uses is van thiel and layher. I'm a tube and fitting lad an pretty handy with most prefabricated systems but only stumbled over this van thiel gear a few times. I'm pretty sure there's a progressive pattern with the wedge doubles, there was a debate on the forum last year that when building an independent/hanger you needed to fit one of the handrails on the outside in order stop the wedges interfering with one another but I'm sure there's a pattern to follow when fixing these nasty couplers to prevent this. Any info from the van thiel guru's out there would be much appreciated. (Heard there's a few company's in UK using it) apparently rapid system to those familiar with it. Cheers in advance guys

 

[quicksandfarmer]

It's important to realize that scaffolding can be dangerous. I'd like to relate what happened to me today as an example of the potential hazards.

I had noticed that a woodpecker had made a hole in the cedar shingles above one of the second-story windows. I decided I should put some putty in it to try to keep him from making it bigger. I got out my 24' extension ladder, but it was just a little bit too short to reach the hole so I decided to use my trusty scaffolding. As I was putting it up, Mrs. Quicksand spotted me, and said, "I want to wash the outside of that window while you have that there."

I got the scaffold up and quickly patched the woodpecker hole, but I realized that there were a few spots on the trim over the window that really needed caulking. So I had to go down and find a caulking gun and a tube of caulk that hadn't hardened and took care of that. When I came down a noticed a piece of cedar shingle on the ground, one of the shingles under the window had come loose. So I went and got a hammer and some siding nails to tack it back up. I noticed some of the other shingles on the same row were loose so I put a few nails in them as well.

Mrs. Quicksand then washed the window. She commented that when we had the house painted the painter for some reason had painted the frame of that window the wrong color. She hadn't noticed it right away but it has bothered her ever since. So I went and found a brush and the can of paint in the basement. It turns out I got the wrong color and had to go back and find the right color. Then she commented that where I had caulked the trim you could really see the caulk so I had to get another can of paint to paint over that.

By then it was lunchtime, and half the day was gone! And that's the danger of scaffolding, once you get up there you find all kinds of things to do.

 

[MossRoad]

Nice!!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

In my experience, when a woodpecker, or raccoon, or squirrel, makes a hole in a house, the only way to stop them is to put a metal plate over that hole. The metal covers for electrical junction boxes work the best. Once screwed over the hole, I caulk the edges and paint to match. It's still visible, but it blends in well enough not to be an eye sore.

 

[2manyrocks]

Woodpeckers could be trying to make a nest or they could be going after insects.

 

[gstrom99]

I have some scaffolds (Bil-Jak) but the upper pieces are very hard to assemble without extra help. As noted before, rent a boom/man lift. The drive to the rental place may seem far, but most also offer delivery. Kinda pricey. Self propelled are real nice, but may not be needed, depends on the terrain. You won't be sorry.

 

[copytmpmzl]

It's important to realize that scaffolding can be dangerous. I'd like to relate what happened to me today as an example of the potential hazards.

I had noticed that a woodpecker had made a hole in the cedar shingles above one of the second-story windows. I decided I should put some putty in it to try to keep him from making it bigger. I got out my 24' extension ladder, but it was just a little bit too short to reach the hole so I decided to use my trusty scaffolding. As I was putting it up, Mrs. Quicksand spotted me, and said, "I want to wash the outside of that window while you have that there."

I got the scaffold up and quickly patched the woodpecker hole, but I realized that there were a few spots on the trim over the window that really needed caulking. So I had to go down and find a caulking gun and a tube of caulk that hadn't hardened and took care of that. When I came down a noticed a piece of cedar shingle on the ground, one of the shingles under the window had come loose. So I went and got a hammer and some siding nails to tack it back up. I noticed some of the other shingles on the same row were loose so I put a few nails in them as well.

Mrs. Quicksand then washed the window. She commented that when we had the house painted the painter for some reason had painted the frame of that window the wrong color. She hadn't noticed it right away but it has bothered her ever since. So I went and found a brush and the can of paint in the basement. It turns out I got the wrong color and had to go back and find the right color. Then she commented that where I had caulked the trim you could really see the caulk so I had to get another can of paint to paint over that.

By then it was lunchtime, and half the day was gone! And that's the danger of scaffolding, once you get up there you find all kinds of things to do.

thank you so much for your suggestion