Ken9876
Senior Member
- Location
- Jersey Shore
Starting into contracting and I need a good ladder was considering buying a fiberglass little giant ladder, 19' extended and 9' step plus everything in between. Any thoughts
Ladders
- Thread starter Ken9876
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Ladders
The fiberglass little giant is a great ladder when you need it. On stairs, hills and ramps they are a big help.
However it also weighs a ton, I would not want to haul it around all day when a normal, light weight 6' or 8' fiberglass ladder would work as well.
On the truck I have two 8's a 6', 10' and 24' fiberglass ladders with me all the time.
The little giant only comes along if it is needed.
[ September 04, 2005, 09:54 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
The fiberglass little giant is a great ladder when you need it. On stairs, hills and ramps they are a big help.
However it also weighs a ton, I would not want to haul it around all day when a normal, light weight 6' or 8' fiberglass ladder would work as well.
On the truck I have two 8's a 6', 10' and 24' fiberglass ladders with me all the time.
The little giant only comes along if it is needed.
[ September 04, 2005, 09:54 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Re: Ladders
I have a little giant, and only use it on stairways. It's too friggin heavy. Use a regular ladder at all times, unless the little giant is the only one that will do.
I have a little giant, and only use it on stairways. It's too friggin heavy. Use a regular ladder at all times, unless the little giant is the only one that will do.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Ladders
I went to the Little Giant site and found the fiberglass model 22 Type 1A weighs in at 56 pounds.
Then I went to another ladder site and found that a Type 1A fiberglass 8' weighs in at 30 pounds.
A 24' extension type 1A comes in at 52 pounds, still 4 pounds less than the little giant.
Not saying I can't carry 56 pounds but if you are going to spend the day moving the ladder the weight is going to slow your production down.
I went to the Little Giant site and found the fiberglass model 22 Type 1A weighs in at 56 pounds.
Then I went to another ladder site and found that a Type 1A fiberglass 8' weighs in at 30 pounds.
A 24' extension type 1A comes in at 52 pounds, still 4 pounds less than the little giant.
Not saying I can't carry 56 pounds but if you are going to spend the day moving the ladder the weight is going to slow your production down.
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Re: Ladders
Since I'm old work resi mainly, I carry two 5', one 8', and a 24'. The little giant stays in the shop until needed for a special occasion, next to the the scaffolding and the 10' and 12' stepladders.
Since I'm old work resi mainly, I carry two 5', one 8', and a 24'. The little giant stays in the shop until needed for a special occasion, next to the the scaffolding and the 10' and 12' stepladders.
larryl
Senior Member
- Location
- wrentham ma.
Re: Ladders
i've been on a 3'werner,model # 7203,,for over 20 years,,great ladder,,
i've been on a 3'werner,model # 7203,,for over 20 years,,great ladder,,
Ken9876
Senior Member
- Location
- Jersey Shore
Re: Ladders
Thanks for the info, I did check out there web site. I have a 6' fiberglass ladder that I use most of the time. I figure I look into those ladders, most of the homes around here are a ranch style. And was trying to avoid buying ladder racks for the pickup.
Thanks for the info, I did check out there web site. I have a 6' fiberglass ladder that I use most of the time. I figure I look into those ladders, most of the homes around here are a ranch style. And was trying to avoid buying ladder racks for the pickup.
jwelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- North Carolina
Re: Ladders
If doing residential work a five gallon bucket works wonders. The insurance companies nor OSHA have a very good liking of them.
These buckets are great at break time, just have a seat. They work our great for hanging fixtures in an eight foot ceiling, step up and down not to hard.
Now for the most valuable reason for having this bucket. On those cold days when doing finish work in the house, the rock people are finishing their rock, the heater is going full blast, and yes it is nice and warm in this house. To help set the stage for what is about to happen, we had a very large lunch after leaving home in a hurry this morning. Ever been to a port-a-john in the middle of winter?
The old trusty five gallon sheet rock bucket can be a beautiful tool, just remember to carry a couple of napkins in the back pocket.
[ September 05, 2005, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: jwelectric ]
If doing residential work a five gallon bucket works wonders. The insurance companies nor OSHA have a very good liking of them.
These buckets are great at break time, just have a seat. They work our great for hanging fixtures in an eight foot ceiling, step up and down not to hard.
Now for the most valuable reason for having this bucket. On those cold days when doing finish work in the house, the rock people are finishing their rock, the heater is going full blast, and yes it is nice and warm in this house. To help set the stage for what is about to happen, we had a very large lunch after leaving home in a hurry this morning. Ever been to a port-a-john in the middle of winter?
The old trusty five gallon sheet rock bucket can be a beautiful tool, just remember to carry a couple of napkins in the back pocket.
[ September 05, 2005, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: jwelectric ]
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Re: Ladders
LMAO.....Originally posted by jwelectric:
The old trusty five gallon sheet rock bucket can be a beautiful tool, just remember to carry a couple of napkins in the back pocket.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Re: Ladders
i thought bathroom humor had been deemed inappropriate.
i thought bathroom humor had been deemed inappropriate.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Ladders
on residential i always carry my 4 footer and an 8,park a 6 footer at panel
on residential i always carry my 4 footer and an 8,park a 6 footer at panel
bobbyho
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Connecticut
Re: Ladders
I bought a 16' step ladder for those stupid open foyers,BAD IDEA, ways a ton, needs 2 people to set up (I'm a one man shop,oops) Got it up on my truck alone, went to work on parking lot light in winter, pulled 80 muscles in my back trying to get it off, walked into the customers office bent over and gave them a number of an EC with a bucket truck. Any other ideas for inside foyers? I wish Klein had a jet pack.
I bought a 16' step ladder for those stupid open foyers,BAD IDEA, ways a ton, needs 2 people to set up (I'm a one man shop,oops) Got it up on my truck alone, went to work on parking lot light in winter, pulled 80 muscles in my back trying to get it off, walked into the customers office bent over and gave them a number of an EC with a bucket truck. Any other ideas for inside foyers? I wish Klein had a jet pack.
jeff43222
Senior Member
- Location
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: Ladders
Every now and then I get a call from someone needing work done in a 20' ceiling. I simply tell them to call someone else. Those kind of jobs just aren't worth pursuing as a one-man shop, especially one like mine that works almost exclusively in pre-WWII houses (no high ceilings).
Every now and then I get a call from someone needing work done in a 20' ceiling. I simply tell them to call someone else. Those kind of jobs just aren't worth pursuing as a one-man shop, especially one like mine that works almost exclusively in pre-WWII houses (no high ceilings).
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Re: Ladders
For high ceilings and high entry ways, I use what's called a "Baker Scaffold". It's narrow scaffolding. When erected, it's maybe 2' wide and 5' long, and you can go as high as you need to (supposed to add outriggers after a certain height). I set up 2 or 3 decks high for high ceilings. I can set it up easily by myself, since each part is not heavy, and I can set it up without beating up the walls like a tall ladder might. Plus, the flat deck gives me a place to sit things around like chandelier parts and lamps and such, without having to crawl up and down all the time. For mine, I have two sets of wheels. One "dirty set" for construction, and one "nice new clean set" for setting up on carpeting on service calls.
For high ceilings and high entry ways, I use what's called a "Baker Scaffold". It's narrow scaffolding. When erected, it's maybe 2' wide and 5' long, and you can go as high as you need to (supposed to add outriggers after a certain height). I set up 2 or 3 decks high for high ceilings. I can set it up easily by myself, since each part is not heavy, and I can set it up without beating up the walls like a tall ladder might. Plus, the flat deck gives me a place to sit things around like chandelier parts and lamps and such, without having to crawl up and down all the time. For mine, I have two sets of wheels. One "dirty set" for construction, and one "nice new clean set" for setting up on carpeting on service calls.
cselectric
Senior Member
- Location
- Wisconsin
Re: Ladders
For ladders I carry a 4' two 6' and two 8' and a 24' extension at all times. depending on the job, I have a couple of 10' available for use, and, like MD, I swear by my Bakers. I use them for high lights, but also use them as rolling work carts.
I do a fair share of commercial lighting service and retrofit work. For that we set up single section Bakers, load 'em up with lamps, ballasts, and everything else we need then pull them beside us as we work off of drywallers stilts. That being the "built for speed" approach to lighting service. Anything that can't be reached from stilts and we go to rental platform lifts.
For ladders I carry a 4' two 6' and two 8' and a 24' extension at all times. depending on the job, I have a couple of 10' available for use, and, like MD, I swear by my Bakers. I use them for high lights, but also use them as rolling work carts.
I do a fair share of commercial lighting service and retrofit work. For that we set up single section Bakers, load 'em up with lamps, ballasts, and everything else we need then pull them beside us as we work off of drywallers stilts. That being the "built for speed" approach to lighting service. Anything that can't be reached from stilts and we go to rental platform lifts.
Re: Ladders
[The old trusty five gallon sheet rock bucket can be a beautiful tool, just remember to carry a couple of napkins in the back pocket.
[/QB][/QUOTE]
Man, that is bad! I haven't laughed like that for a while. I'm going to tell the guys at work about this, they will love it.
[The old trusty five gallon sheet rock bucket can be a beautiful tool, just remember to carry a couple of napkins in the back pocket.
[/QB][/QUOTE]Man, that is bad! I haven't laughed like that for a while. I'm going to tell the guys at work about this, they will love it.
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Ladders
Highlight the text you wish to quote, right click on it and select copy, click the post button then there will be 10 button selections below the text box click on the
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Re: Ladders
I was at Menards the other day. They had a neat little scaffold system doohickey that looked like it would be really slick for some kinds of jobs. Was only $89. I almost bought one on the spot. Its only about 5 feet across and is on wheels. Has adjustable aluminum plank sitting at about 1 or 2 feet off the ground.
I still may go back and buy it.
<added>
It looks exactly like this.
http://www.scaffoldingdepot.com/mini_scaffold.htm
[ September 07, 2005, 11:35 AM: Message edited by: petersonra ]
I was at Menards the other day. They had a neat little scaffold system doohickey that looked like it would be really slick for some kinds of jobs. Was only $89. I almost bought one on the spot. Its only about 5 feet across and is on wheels. Has adjustable aluminum plank sitting at about 1 or 2 feet off the ground.
I still may go back and buy it.
<added>
It looks exactly like this.
http://www.scaffoldingdepot.com/mini_scaffold.htm
[ September 07, 2005, 11:35 AM: Message edited by: petersonra ]
cselectric
Senior Member
- Location
- Wisconsin
Re: Ladders
I've seen a lot of tapers and painters use scaffolds like that. It's somewhat similar to a baker, except a Baker has a full width platform, isn't foldable and can be stacked (I can't tell if that one can have more sections stacked on top.)
I've seen a lot of tapers and painters use scaffolds like that. It's somewhat similar to a baker, except a Baker has a full width platform, isn't foldable and can be stacked (I can't tell if that one can have more sections stacked on top.)
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