Where do you buy props from?

[Seri]

Hello all and a happy new year to everyone.

Quick question, where the heck can I buy props from? I need to replace two joists and fit a new window at some point so I figured it was a good time to make the investment, but a search on google etc for Acro/Acrow/Akro/etc just gives me hire shops.

Any advice? I'm in the South London area but don't mind a bit of a drive (75 mile radius).

Thanks all

Seri

[Tony Bryer]

Machine Mart?

in Croydon and Twickenham (though not everything stocked at each branch of course). If you come to Twickenham the wonderful D&M tool emporium is just a few doors away from MM

[Rob Morley]

Anywhere that sells scaffolding. A quick Google came up with these people in Redhill

I'm sure there are more around. Have a look on eBay too.

[Seri]

Thanks Tony, can you believe that I searched ebay/google/froogle and a few other locations but never actually searched uk.d-i-y (must have had a brain blank). Just did and noticed someone else asked the same question a while back.

Will call into the Croydon Machine Mart tomorrow seing as it's right near by.

Thanks again

Seri

[Christian McArdle]

Why would you want to buy instead of hire?

Brandon Hire are showing 6 pounds for one prop for an entire week. That's just pocket money for this sort of job and they even dispose of them after you've finished, so they aren't clogging up your storage!

For just two jobs, it would never be worth it to buy, unless you can get them cheap off eBay and sell them on, which is serious hassle.

Christian.

[Seri]

Why buy instead of hire? Apart from the fact that I've turned into the DIY equivalent of a magpie, at a further future point I have some ceilings to replace/repair so they'll also be ideal for holding up plasterboard. There's also the aspect that I may need one at some future point right when all the stores are closed... Thanks all for the help.

Seri

[Rob Morley]

A regular Acro is much too heavy to be easy to handle for this sort of job - get a lightweight prop that's made for the job, or use the traditional third-hand - a couple of bits of timber in the shape of a T and cut to the right length.

[Rick Hughes]

Don't ..... just hire them, far too expensive for one build use.

[jacob]

Scan small ads for long enough and you'll find them for about 5 to 10 quid each. If you put in an ad asking for them someone will be reminded of them at that back of their shed or steal them to order. Job over sell them on - might even make a profit.

cheers

Jacob

[Mike]

Please don't try this. The prop will fall over and clobber you. Machine Mart do a lightweight ratchet prop made for the job.

But I would buy rather than rent - they're often going s/hand for under £20. New aren't much more.

[Seri]

Thanks, not having actually dealt with full strength props I wasn't sure if they would be any use for light lifting but I guess not. I'm going to see if I can find a decent price for some second hand and if not then I'll go to the local hire store.

Thanks again.

Seri

[raden]

In message , Seri writes

You normally hire them from a hire shop or nick them from a building site

[N. Thornton]

Fwom:Seri ( [e-mail]) Subject:Where do you buy props from?

replace

Lot quicker and easier to use a bit of 2x4 - for all those jobs except the window, to hold a wall section up needs bigger wood than 2x4.

NT

[Seri]

Going ever so slightly OT from my original post but thought I'd share here for anyone in the South London area.

I was just ringing around every builders merchants in the area just in case there were some going cheap and I was recommended to hire them from a store called Bingham Hire Centre, phoned them and they do them for =A31.90 a week. For that price I scrapped thinking about buying any (strongboys are =A36.30 a week from them). Hope this might help others in future.

Seri

[Rick]

You hire then, they are *REALLY* cheep to hire, and a PITA hanging arround when you don't need them ......

Rick

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Surely the beauty of Acros is they are adjustable? Tighten things up until they groan?

[r.rain]

Yes I can vouch for that. I've had 8 7ft buggers clogging up my pathway for the last 3 months. I off hired them after 2 weeks use and they still haven't been picked up. They have one more chance and after that I'll flog em to the highest bidder or better still charge them for storage @ =A310 PW.

Richard

[Dr-E]

Hi Seri, why don't you try HSS Hire

if you want you can hire o buy from them.

have fun DR-

-- Dr-E

[N. Thornton]

With 2x4 just cut it half an inch too long and ram into place to desired force. On nicely finished surfaces, add chipboard and do something to prevent anything slipping. If the support is critical as it sometimes is, add something to make sure it cant move. Not as pretty, but miles quicker than half a days travelling, all that mucking about, and money spent without need.

For more exact work, use a wedge at top or bottom. Realise this reduces load capacity and reduces stability, so fix it in place once set. For ultraprecision, make the support fully self-stable and add a car jack. All options anyway.

The other plus with wood is you can cut it to fit any support job: last time I used wood support, the support was approx ___/ shape, an acro would have been a poor substitute. And of course its easy disposal, cheap, etc. Well, free actually.

If I were a full time builder I'd want acros as well, but for the rest of us the travel to go get them isnt worth it imho, far quicker to use wood.

NT

[raden]

In message , Seri writes

What did we tell you ?