Am I being narrow minded.

[nakulak]

I have always had a certain fondness for aluminum ladders. I think they are much more dangerous though. Fiberglass ladders usually break into a million pieces when they fly off of a truck and get run over a few times, but the aluminum ones are extremely dangerous and can be deadly.

 

[petersonra]

CPSC data show that between 1990 and 1998, more than 300 people in the U.S. were electrocuted when an antenna or pole they were holding touched a high-voltage power line. During this same timeframe, CPSC is aware of nearly 150 electrocution deaths due to ladders coming into contact with an electrical line.

So it would seem that for safety sake it would make more sense for poles and antenna masts to be made of fiberglass than ladders.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I have always had a certain fondness for aluminum ladders. I think they are much more dangerous though. Fiberglass ladders usually break into a million pieces when they fly off of a truck and get run over a few times, but the aluminum ones are extremely dangerous and can be deadly.

Sounds like your the dangerous one. Rule # 1--- Tie those ladders on the truck before you leave the job. :grin:

 

[LarryFine]

So it would seem that for safety sake it would make more sense for poles and antenna masts to be made of fiberglass than ladders.

Agreed. I have never seen a pole made of ladders. :grin:


"I once knew a man with a wooden leg named Smith."

"What was the name of his other leg?" ~ Mary Poppins

 

[Brady Electric]

Am I being narrow minded

Am I being narrow minded

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!At!!!!!!!!!!!!ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with most post especially those against aluminum ladders, wouldn't have one if you gave it to me.
I'm just glad I lived through the wooded ladder faze.
All my aluminum ladders last a long time and I have a big aluminum A ladder that's about eight years old and still looks new and I only need it about twice a year but its good to have.

I-Wire you had me scared with your comment until I read the last sentence.
Glad you were on board, but the first comment was true but not in I-Wire tradition.
Semper Fi Buddy

 

[220/221]

Fiberglass ladders usually break into a million pieces when they fly off of a truck and get run over a few times, but the aluminum ones are extremely dangerous and can be deadly.

When they fly off the truck?

I agree with most post especially those against aluminum ladders, wouldn't have one if you gave it to me.

I have a big aluminum A ladder that's about eight years old and still looks new and I only need it about twice a year but its good to have.

 

[DanZ]

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!At!!!!!!!!!!!!ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with most post especially those against aluminum ladders, wouldn't have one if you gave it to me.
I'm just glad I lived through the wooded ladder faze.
All my aluminum ladders last a long time and I have a big aluminum A ladder that's about eight years old and still looks new and I only need it about twice a year but its good to have.

I-Wire you had me scared with your comment until I read the last sentence.
Glad you were on board, but the first comment was true but not in I-Wire tradition.
Semper Fi Buddy

Hey aluminum has it's place. Just not when you're working close to wires or energized circuits. Hasn't anyone else seen those POCO commercials, not Luie the Lightning bug, the other ones...:grin:

 

[Brady Electric]

Am I being narrow minded

Am I being narrow minded

Just haven't seen there place!
I agree of course about they have there place, I personally don't own one
I have seen HO and contractors using aluminum ladders getting into trouble when using them and they come into contact with wires they shouldn't have.
To me fiber glass ladders are much safer and are much studier.
Semper Fi Buddy

 

[petersonra]

An electrician I once ran across had a picture of an aluminum ladder in his tool box. It was maybe a 30 foot extension ladder, and the top extension was bent at about a 30 degree angle.

When I asked about it, he said he had it propped up against a building to get up on a roof, and about 2/3 the way up, it started to bend on him, and kept bending until it came up against the wall. he said he was lucky because another fellow was on the ground under the ladder to steady it, and when it started to bend the guy on the ground was able to keep it vertical so he could hang on long enough to scurry down.

You can imagine his opinion of aluminum ladders. Me, I once went to use a wooden ladder and the first rung just broke when I stepped on it. I think I was about 16 when it happened, and it always made me nervous about wooden ladders.

 

[LarryFine]

Fiberglass ladders are the way to go, no question. They have all of the advantages of both aluminum and wood ladders, without the disadvantages of either. Any damage is easy to spot without finding it the hard way.

We just recently got a new 22' Little Giant fiberglass ladder to add to our collection through a special Costco promotion. It came with a wall-hanging rack, a stand-off/stabilizer, and a rung-step platform, all for under $400.

 

[cschmid]

A little giant fiberglass ladder new to me..

So what does OSHA say about your aluminum ladders..What are the weight limits on your aluminum ladders..I am the oh ish an aluminum ladder......

 

[LarryFine]

A little giant fiberglass ladder new to me..

Here comes one now:

 

[highendtron]

It may just be my imagination, but either work has really slowed or most of you are really bored!!!!!

 

[cschmid]

Here comes one now:

How does it compare weight wise..how many positions does it have..I actually own one of thous in aluminum and really like it but use it for construction and painting only..might have to get one of thous fiberglass jobbers..

 

[LarryFine]

How does it compare weight wise..how many positions does it have..I actually own one of thous in aluminum and really like it but use it for construction and painting only..might have to get one of thous fiberglass jobbers..

It functions identically to the aluminum ones. It locks at every rung, and folds flat, a-frame, and straight. As for weight, it's probably slightly heavier than yours, but it's a lot lighter than their fiberglass ones from years ago.

They also have tri-pod step-ladders in fiberglass, by the way.

 

[480sparky]

How does it compare weight wise..how many positions does it have..I actually own one of thous in aluminum and really like it but use it for construction and painting only..might have to get one of thous fiberglass jobbers..

Try going to the maker's website.

 

[DanZ]

It may just be my imagination, but either work has really slowed or most of you are really bored!!!!!

Yup. Pretty much. :grin:

 

[brian john]

but either work has really slowed or most of you are really bored

NEITHER, just genuinely concerned about the safety of fellow tradesmen.

 

[electricalperson]

that 22 foot little giant ladder must be incredibly heavy. my uncle has a smaller one and it weighs about 100 pounds. i couldnt stand using one of those all day long

 

[LarryFine]

that 22 foot little giant ladder must be incredibly heavy. my uncle has a smaller one and it weighs about 100 pounds. i couldnt stand using one of those all day long

As I mentioned above, the newer fiberglass Little Giant ladders are lighter than the older ones.

Does your uncle's ladder have black hinge knobs? If so, that's an older one. Those are heavy indeed.