I missed your question, but I've done that many times. I don't recommend itunless you're really careful. On most surfaces you'll still want to either:1) nail a brace to the wall you're working on, C-clamped or whatever to oneor both of the stepladders; or 2) prop the stepladders with a long 2 x 4from behind. I put a stake in the ground, nail the 2 x 4 to it, and clampthe 2 x 4 to the stepladder. I use two braces, one to each stepladder.Using stepladders that way has long been a way to set up a low scaffold, butyou'd better have good balance and not try to get too high with it. It doeswork, however. Using the braces slows the whole process down. It's aquestion of how you feel about broken bones.I've also built homemade scaffolds and it's a real PITA, in my opinion. Iuse 2 x 4s for the verticals and 1" electrical conduit for diagonals. Nevercount on those diagonals to handle compressive loads; use two, crossbraced,so the load is always in tension.The slickest solution I've used is two regular ladders with ladder hooks fora scaffold plank. I'll go up about ten feet with that, but no higher. Again,you want to nail a brace to the wall. Use a short plank or else make sureyou're using genuine scaffold plank, which is undressed and thicker thanframing planks.--Ed Huntress

I'm with you. It's scaring the pants off of me.I'll tell you one thing: I'm going to make darned sure I keep my hair cutshort...--Ed Huntress

Re: What have been the worst home handyman accidents you've had,or seen so far ?

Sep 08, 2007 62 Replies

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Just Wondering 18 years ago

Here ya go:

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're welcome.

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Gunner Asch 18 years ago

Also to prevent major lice infestations.

Cops used to wear uniform shirts with those nifty epaulets on the shoulders. Great hand holds for the bad guys.

I cut mine loose and put velcro on the shirt and epaulets. First bad ass to grab one as he had so many before, stood there staring at it with a surprised and stupid look on his face, long enough for me to chop him down like an oak with my baton.

Gunner

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willshak 18 years ago

How times have changed. When I started, I wore a Sam Browne belt with the leather shoulder strap over a dress blouse. It wasn't until the 70's when the strap became a hazard, and we became pigs, that it was removed.

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