Do affordable(to buy) work towers exist?

[YodhrinForge]

My project is going to involve me working extensively up and around some old 3m victorian ceilings(stripping popcorn if it tests negative for asbestos, cutting out strips of the lath around the room perimeters to carry airtight and insulation layers through to the floor above then making good with plasterboard, fixing new cable conduit, plumbing pipework, and MVHR ducting, then constructing and attaching a new false ceiling to conceal all of it) and being both a hefty chap and a bit of a klutz a platform with stabilizers seems like a much safer choice than teetering on a ladder. Then I started looking around for one and jeezo, 600+ quid including VAT for even the most basic shortest one with no stabilizers or wheels?! More like 1200-1500 for a heavier duty one with stabilizers and a little extra height. Am I looking at the wrong thing or is that about what I can expect to pay no matter where I look? Because I'm pretty sure I could fab something similar with a hundred quid's worth of tubular material and a couple of hours stick welding, so what am I paying for with those things, a wee sticker on the side saying it meets some certified specification?

[nod]

You can buy a cheap Ally tower on wheels  for a few hundred quid on eBay and sell it on for similar when you have finished with it 

[G and J]

It depends if you are a bargain hound.   I’m sad enough to get a buzz out of finding a bargain on gumtree, or at a pinch eBay (I’ve not graduated to buying on Facebook marketplace yet).

 

If you add up the time I spend browsing I’m probably working for £1 an hour but I got an Aldi platform for £20 which works nicely to 5’ platform level and a tower for £100 that goes to 16’.  But then, I’m a tight wotsit.

[Russell griffiths]

I would buy some second hand bandstands and new scaffolding boards, 3m isn’t very high so with you stood on top it only needs to be 1m high, cover the entire room so you have a full walkable surface without getting down. 
this will be far nicer than spending all day up n down, up n down. 
 

you will sell the bandstands for exactly what you paid for them, and probably loose 20% on the boards. 

[Canski]

I have some ‘bandstands’ and boards left from my build for sale if you want some. In Evesham for collection. 

[crispy_wafer]

Yep, invest and treat like a long term rental, stump up and buy wisely and come the end you'll get your money back.

[G and J]

10 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

I would buy some second hand bandstands and new scaffolding boards, 3m isn’t very high so with you stood on top it only needs to be 1m high, cover the entire room so you have a full walkable surface without getting down. 
this will be far nicer than spending all day up n down, up n down. 
 

you will sell the bandstands for exactly what you paid for them, and probably loose 20% on the boards. 

In fairness dude that is inspired.  Why didn’t I think of that?

[YodhrinForge]

On 07/02/2025 at 08:58, Russell griffiths said:

I would buy some second hand bandstands and new scaffolding boards, 3m isn’t very high so with you stood on top it only needs to be 1m high, cover the entire room so you have a full walkable surface without getting down. 
this will be far nicer than spending all day up n down, up n down. 
 

you will sell the bandstands for exactly what you paid for them, and probably loose 20% on the boards. 

Brilliant notion thanks chief, even brand new those are much more in the realm of what I had in mind costwise. I might even keep most of them for future DIY stuff.

On 07/02/2025 at 09:09, Canski said:

I have some ‘bandstands’ and boards left from my build for sale if you want some. In Evesham for collection. 

Thanks for the offer but alas I'm in Edinburgh and don't drive.