Ferdinand Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) This thread is for different types of work platforms and scaffolding towers. What do you have, and is it easy to use? Stengths and weaknesses? In my case ideally I need something that will reach perhaps 8m working height (ie 6-7m platform), but will work with a narrow base (side path) and can be carried in a car or trailer. This is a little different to most self-builders, in that I have several houses to maintain and a greater need for transportability. It would be useful if others could add more traditional scaffold towers. I will post videos of a few I have found. All have different strengths and weaknesses. (Currently, there is a Youngman scaffolding tower for sale in the Buildhub Marketplace.) Ferdinand Edited August 23, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 Youngman Minimax. Platform height up to 6m. Fits through standard door. Good quality. To get the one to reach 5m or more, it will be £2-3k new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) The Teletower. The mechanism is innovative, like a telescopic ladder - but the platform height is limited to 2m. Fits in an estate car. Cost from around £750 new. I am not really sure what this adds functionally over a £150 Youngman Work Platform from Wickes (I currently have one of these and it easily fits in a small car) which also reaches 2m platform height, apart from the guard rails and perhaps better passive safety if in continual use. Edited August 23, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) A personnel lift powered using a cordless drill. Take a spare battery. Slow but can reach considerable heights (eg M20 mpdel nearly 5m platform height) - good for swapping high bulbs, for example. It fits through a normal door. I do not know cost or availability in the UK. Apologies for the 70s pornfilm music. Edited August 23, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crofter Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I've got the loan of a Haygrove (sp?) tower. Afraid I don't know what these cost to buy. Pros: completely disassembles into a set of flat panels and planks. Can be set up as a 6x4ft base, or you can just use all the shorter panels to make a shorter 4x4 tower. Quite light. Set includes diagonal brace. Cons: tubes can easily jam inside one another. Dismantling it when on your own can be very frustrating- not too bad with two people. Limited number of platform heights possible. Can feel a bit shoogly (that's a technical term) once you get onto a third lift or beyond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpmiller Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 what about the more "lightweight" towers from the likes of BPS? http://www.laddersandscaffoldtowers.co.uk/acatalog/DIY-Scaffold-Towers.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I have never understood the terminology of scaffolding. a quick look at that ladders and scaffold towers site just left me more confused If you take the 5m diy tower, it has a height of 4m, a maximum platform height of 3m and a maximum working height of 5m. I just want to paint my windows and fascia on a bog standard house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 The thread would not be complete without a mention of the system scaffolds like Kwikstage and cuplock. I have a load of Kwikstage that has done my whole house right up to 4 lifts high for the end gables. While it is normally 2.4 metre by 1.2 metre (5 planks wide) I also have a few short transoms that make a narrow 3 board wide section, and a few shorter ledgers and planks that make 6ft long bays instead of the usual 8ft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 16 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: I have never understood the terminology of scaffolding. [...] Quite. Lets try defining the following Working height Platform height Tower height 'Lift' Working height = does this assume a standard human height above the platform? Does that height exclude above head height working? Platform height = simple, exact, measurable (is this the only measure we really need?) Tower height = with or without adjustable feet? And does this include the guard rail height? Lift = one complete section which could form the base for a platform? I have tried to find out the answers for myself by doing a Google search, but the results always disappear into way too much discussion of detail. And so I also looked for images which might simplify the answer to the questions posed above. As ever, just trying to keep it simple............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I look forward to the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 "liftt" is just how many platforms. e.g with Kwikstage, you can put a platform at 50cm intervals. So for my gable wall, the first platform was 2 metres above ground, the next 2 metres above that, etc. I had 4 platforms to reach the gable so "4 lifts" My guess is it stems from the process of "lifting" planks up to the next stage. Someone will come along and explain that much better than I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 4 hours ago, recoveringacademic said: Quite. Lets try defining the following Working height Platform height Tower height 'Lift' Working height = does this assume a standard human height above the platform? Does that height exclude above head height working? Platform height = simple, exact, measurable (is this the only measure we really need?) Tower height = with or without adjustable feet? And does this include the guard rail height? Lift = one complete section which could form the base for a platform? I have tried to find out the answers for myself by doing a Google search, but the results always disappear into way too much discussion of detail. And so I also looked for images which might simplify the answer to the questions posed above. As ever, just trying to keep it simple............ My impressions reading around before posting this thread. Working height - height of highest thing you can work on standing on the highest aallowed platform. Seems to be 1.6m-2m above Platform Height. Maximum Platform height - height of highest level you can stand on. I think this is the more useful one to use, since we are different heights. Tower height - a bit ambiguous. Seems to be the height of the tower without someone standing on it. In my mind this includes handrails. 'Lift' - do not know. Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crofter Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I got caught out by this when I bought a set of ladders from B&Q. I needed something in excess of 16ft, and the set I chose were described as 5.2m ladders. Except they turned out to be about 4.6m long at full extension, and the advertised length was actually 'working height'. Kind of annoying because it left me perched precariously on the top step when I was doing work on the ridge ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I have just emailed that ladders and scaffold towers site and asked them if they would like to comment. I did mention that they should not try and sell us anything, just technical advice. Maybe something will come of it, who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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