Ladders work great for changing a lightbulb, but for jobs such as hanging drywall, painting, or installing crown molding, platforms work much better. I also like that I can use them as a workbench of sorts. I’ve owned various types of work platforms over the years, but I recently bought a pair of Werner’s AP-2030L Aluminum Work Platforms for $160 each at my local home center, and they became my new favorite the first day I used them. These platforms have two unique features that make them a force multiplier compared to standard platforms. First, the adjustable legs allow you to raise the bench height from 20 in. to 30 in., which allows you to work on both 8-ft. and 9-ft. ceilings comfortably. Raised all the way up, they are as tall as many sawhorses; I have used them as an outfeed table when ripping long material like composite decking on my tablesaw, and I’ve used them as miter-saw extensions and even as a miter stand on occasion.

But perhaps the best feature of these platforms is that you can link them together to create a longer surface. I recently linked my platforms together to install a single-stall garage door, and this probably saved me two dozen trips
up and down a ladder. There’s no limit to how many platforms you can connect. Each 46-in. by 14-in. platform can support up to 300 lb., and even with the extra features, it’s still lightweight and folds up just as compactly as my other platforms do.

—Chris Lange, a remodeler in West Concord, Minn.

Photo: courtesy of the manufacturers.

From Fine Homebuilding #319

RELATED STORIES

• Drywall Lifting Tools
• Modern Drywall Hanging Tools, Methods, and More
• The Right Way to Set Up and Climb a Ladder

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