A ladder is the most dangerous DIY tool I have, I'd get a normal ladder where all the parts are visible and build a special storage area for it
[george]ps time i got my ladders > (I'm re-sending this because whist Agent says it has been sent, I
They certainly can be, like many things in fact if you aren't careful and respect them.
I agree there is some comfort in being able to see it all and why I wouldn't buy a second hand telescopic one.
And that's the thing ...
I have one boat on the landing so there is no room for the ladders. ;-)
Cheers, T i m
+1 I wonder if the multitude of answers have also been "lost"?
I wonder how narrow some of the rungs would be with a longer telescopic ladder? The top rungs would be OK because of the narrowness of the side rails but for the lower rungs the side rail has to accommodate all the other side rails inside of it.
With my 3.Xm telescopic ladder and wearing fairly wide safety shoes that climbing down I tend to start touching the side rail and have to adjust my position which can be a PITA when carrying something down.
As other have commented the better quality telescopic ladders are not particularly light and a 6m to 10m may be quite heavy if it is not to flex too much when using it.
Not to the ones I've replied to in this thread but I still can't see any others? ;-(
Maybe I'll fire up TB on ES and see if I can see them that way.
Cheers, T i m
I would assume (but don't know) that they would make the longer ladders slightly wider (at the base) to accommodate that?
Understood.
I think 'flex' is one of those things you would get (or have to get) used to and learn it's 'par for the course', compared with a rigid ladder. Like stepping out onto glass floored viewing platform at the top of a tower or skyscraper and trusting that it's not going to crack and you fall though.
Flex on a telescopic might be like flex with a reed rather than the stiffness of an oak tree etc.
Cheers, T i m
Unless designed to crack
But is it flexing because you and your load are too heavy for it. They seem to only give the static load not any dynamic load figures. Is climbing and descending a ladder a static load?
I was balancing on the top rungs to paint windows and finials so I bought a new ladder a few months ago
10.63m Werner from Wickes.And I have a standoff for the top to clean gutters etc
And I tie the top of the ladder as soon as i can.
I think UK statistics have more deaths from ladders than chainsaws and anglegrinders!
george
;-)
Yup, that's the question that will be answered over time and use.
Good question, however, if they are rated as '150kg max load' you can be fairly sure that won't be close to the failure point and in the worst case of usage (eg, lower than 70 degrees or with someone 'bouncing' on it).
If they were a real / practical 'death trap', I'm guessing we would have seen the on Watchdog. ;-)
Or might it be a case of 'Dead men don't talk'?
Cheers, T i m
Woah, that's a long ladder.
I'm not surprised!
I was thinking of getting something like that as well.
Or rip you arm off before you hit the ground. ;-(
Good idea.
I wouldn't be surprised. The thing is, they might not look dangerous, angle grinders and chainsaws typically do.
Cheers, T i m
Always when there are shareholders. No-one is going to stand up in a board meeting and advocate a policy that reduces profits.
I'm talking about businesses. The only ethic is, 'maximise profits'.
Ah now, leaving aside my point below, some people have the attitude that you display, whist others think, "There might be a rainy day ahead. I need to maximise my income and save." When my wife became gravely ill I was 62 and planned to retire at 66 or 67. But because I'd grabbed at every cent for years I was able to retire and look after her.
Yes of course, but you're confusing 'society' with 'business'.
Bill
The problem is, the top of the ladder gets dangerously steep when there's too much flexing. You can't beat a good strong ladder. It wants to feel like you're climbing a staircase.
Bill
Only the mercenary ones that seem feature in your world.
It depends why the profits might become reduced. There are many modern / progressive companies who have shareholders specifically because of their green or human rights considerations.
As am I.
See above, 'in your world'.
Yup, and there is nothing wrong with that ... and it can be done whilst not fleecing anyone.
That worked out well for you both then at least.
I'm not. I never volunteered for overtime or any extra work because I valued my home / personal life. I wasn't / am-not unique in that. However, if it was required that I work long / late I would but I generally swapped that extra time for time off.
For some people, *and businesses* money isn't the most important thing. Of course it *is* important, in that they need to cover their costs, pay wages and invest in their future, it'd just many have good ethics as well.
Cheers, T i m
Sure, but I don't think they are made of rubber. Watching my not-exactly-lightweight mate working on his CCTV camera at about 3m on his telescopic ladder and I can't remember seeing it flex much at all?
Till you want to get it *in* the back of your hire van or in a lift? ;-(
Oh, sure, but what if you don't have the storage options for a 'real' ladder ... or enough of a predictable need but still have a (especially domestic) need?
Could (and this is back to the $100 question) a 'good' 5m telescopic ladder give me useable access to a gutter 5m off the ground?
Cheers, T i m
No, you need a ladder longer than 5m to reach 5m unless you intend to rig your ladders in the same way as Fred Dibnah. In addition, and as mentioned previously, for gutter work (clearing gutters) you need a ladder to extend beyond the gutter level by maybe 0.6m.
Now now! That's a bit harsh! I can only speak as I find. There is some genuine philanthropy in business I grant you, but there is far more virtue signaling, publicity gaining, tax avoidance, and green-washing.
See above. Public relations.
Of course it can. That's what I did. And I paid my taxes. And I did freebies for hospices and dogs' homes.
Can't beat my ethics Tim. I think you're falling into the trap of thinking that only people with your mindset can be ethical.
Bill
Never mind the theory. Any ladder that you plan to use, place it fully extended horizontally on the ground, supported only at the ends by saw horses or piles of beer crates or whatever. Climb onto the midpoint carrying any likely load. If it takes that it's OK. That was my periodic test of ladders for all my years of using them.
Bill
Well that means it's alright then, assuming he had it at a sensible angle.
Incidentally, most 'ladder guides' suggest angles that are too steep. That's because they worry about the ladder sagging. But a decent ladder can be put at more of an angle, which is very much safer.
Like I said, I have two telescopic ladder for restricted access situations.
Surely you can find somewhere for a triple that extends to six metres? You can stand such a thing up in the corner of a room, and a domestic quality one would be fine for you, and they don't weigh much, and you can remove one section and it gives you a really useful double, and there's no hidden 'works' and catches that can fail.
No because you need a ladder that extends well above the work height, and you need one that won't flap about like a big girl's blouse, or suddenly collapse due to a catch not latching properly.
Tim, all I'm trying to do is advise you from experience, in the hope that you don't break your bloody neck. If you want to be stubborn about it that's fine, but don't expect me to visit you in the spinal rehabilitation centre.
Bill
It isn't when you use the word 'always' when it's obviously not the case (and you go on to admit).
We are back to the circles you move in then? ;-)
Yes, I'm sure there is some of that.
So can we at least agree that millions of people around the world are dying from pollution that weren't say 200 years ago?
Can we agree that people living *with* nature are likely to have a lower carbon footprint (and the demonstrable results stated above) than say you?
If you can concede such things then I would be interested to hear what you think we should do (if anything) to try to combat a further escalation?
As an experiment, just try to think there might be people out there who naturally consider others (inc other animals) along with themselves? (Crazy I know but give it a go). ;-)
Good.
Good.
You say that like you were being benevolent. ;-)
That wasn't just virtue signaling and publicity gaining then?
Erm, only when it comes to *some* other animals?
OOI, *why* are you happy to care for a dog but not happy to care for a baby sheep? What is it about either that makes you differentiate in such a polarised way? What logic or ethics do you use to treat those creatures so differently?
No, not at all, I just go by what people (say they) do.
Eg, you initially stated 'always' and have now accepted that it wasn't 'always'. You say you care for animals but clearly only care for
*some* animals. The devil re someone's ethics 'overall' can sometimes be in the detail, even if you can't actually see it yourself ... yet. ;-)Cheers, T i m
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