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Discussion Forum

joining 2 werner pics together????

Hazlett | Posted in General Discussion on January 30, 2009 11:29am

I am sure this is technically a big safety no/no– but i am wondering if any of you all have ever done this????????

about 15 years ago we were working a job that required 2 pics set up.- A siding guy showed me a trick we used that day— personally I have been afraid to ever do it again. He set up one pic on ladder jacks as usual(2 ladders)—- then set up a 3rd ladder and ladder jack–set one end of the pic on the 3rd ladder and nested the end rung handles of the 2 pics together— threaded a piece of 2×6 through the 4 handles and put a pair of C clamps on the 2×6 to prevent the 2×6 from slipping out—- 2 pics set up on 3 ladders

we worked on that all day—– but I have never done it since.

so- how many osha violations do you think THAT was???
stephen

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  1. seeyou | Jan 30, 2009 11:34pm | #1

    I've joined them like that over an alumapole jack, except I stick a crowbar thru the handles.

    http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jan 30, 2009 11:42pm | #3

      You get power back?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

       

      They kill Prophets, for Profits.

       

       

      1. seeyou | Jan 31, 2009 12:44am | #4

        Yeah - about 2pm. I'm not rolling the cords up yet. I talked to somebody earlier today who'd had theirs back on for 24 hrs and lost it again. It's melting a little, but it's supposed to get windy tonight.

        You still got juice?http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

        1. User avater
          Sphere | Jan 31, 2009 12:59am | #5

          Yeah, we still have ele and the water is back from the tower.

          Everything around us is closed. Berea is worse off as are parts east of us. I was wondering about Tom over there in the hollow..I bet his drive is a mess.

          Sounds like with the wind and single digits we might not be out of the woods yet..my trees are still encased and not happy looking. Fixing to start cutting my way out when some of the ice is shook off.

          Hang in there, eat hot peppers.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

          Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

           

          They kill Prophets, for Profits.

           

           

      2. User avater
        DDay | Jan 31, 2009 06:41am | #6

        Hope everything works out for you guys down there. Every year you seem to be just enough north but not quite enough for it to be cold enough and get snow. But you would think that after a few ice storms it would knock down all the weak trees so it wouldn't happen again, but it ain't so.

  2. theslateman | Jan 30, 2009 11:37pm | #2

    Stephen,

    Why not just set up the fourth ladder to hold that end instead of trying to join them.

    Aluma Pole decks can be joined with their propriatary equipt.

    If OSHA comes by they'll find plenty to write you up for.

    Walter

    1. User avater
      JeffBuck | Jan 31, 2009 07:12am | #7

      Walter ...

       

      I think it was your idea we used today.

      on top of aluma poles ... 36ft poles and we needed a coupla extra feet to reach the gable peak ... so ...

      decided a 6ft step would be the least death defying.

      my helper has commercial experience so he brought out his tie wire reel and wired a 2x4 to the pic. That was our toe board to keep the step ladder feet from slipping into the abyss ...

      I then drilled 2 holes and set 2 eye bolts thru the wood sheathing planks and into the studs. Wrapped and hooked a ratchet tie down strap around the ladder and hooked it to the house.

      It was locked down and rock solid.

      we were pretty much at the top of the poles, but the day before the helper had wired a 16ft 2x6 across the very top of the poles ... so we had a nice guard rail behind us.

      Pretty sure I read that U tie off ladders by sinking the occasional eye bolt.

       

      who ever gave me the idea ... Thanks!

      felt like one of the safer things we've done over the last week.

      Jeff    Buck Construction

       Artistry In Carpentry

           Pittsburgh Pa

      1. theslateman | Jan 31, 2009 02:41pm | #8

        Jeff,

        I'm not sure it was my idea exactly - but I do tie off things that can slip or blow down- religously.

        Glad you felt safe and were able to complete the work without being nervous.

        Walter

        1. Hazlett | Jan 31, 2009 03:07pm | #9

          walter--- it's been a long time------- I can't quite recall why we did it that way---- we probably didn't have another ladder there on the job. I was driving down that street a day or so ago and saw the house---- it was a Gambrel with a big 3 car gamberel garage/apartment above across the way.
          funny- i can remember who was working with me then-where he lived--- but I can't recall why we didn't use another ladder---- can't even recall where we got the other pic from cause I only owned the one at that time .
          stephen

          1. theslateman | Jan 31, 2009 03:20pm | #10

            My thought is that it would stress the ladder and jack holding up the side of two planks and the weight on them beyond it's rated capacity.

            I've done far worse at times , but thankfully not had an accident.

            I often set up two decks on 4 ladders to give 50' of eave stagings instead of two seperate set ups.

            Walter  

            Any word on your carraige house project yet ?

          2. Hazlett | Jan 31, 2009 03:30pm | #11

            no word on the carriage house yet--- I will contact him again in march/april I am 99% sure I will do the roof for him in one form or another---- it just remains to be seen if it will be slate.
            A typical roof here in the neighborhood I usually work is 28' to 32' wide.
            I have a 24' 2 man pic--- which works OK ish--- but there is a bit of a reach at both ends----and the 2 man pic is a ball buster to set up alone each morning thinking I am gonna buy maybe 2 one man 16' pics which will be childs play to set up alone( though I generally have a helper or 2 with me now. If need be I can always team up the old 24' pic and one of the new 16 pics which will let me work the occasional 40'plus run--- i think the 16' pics will be muchg easier to manhandle up onto porch roofs as well
            stephen
            BTW--- sign of the economy---or coincedence? sold 2 jobs this week---- both to previous customers who happened to be landlords. I generally avoid landlords like the plague, however I did do some roofs for both of these guys 20 years ago or so--- one I haven't done anything for in 16-18 years- the other I did some things for a few years ago.- anyhow-- I was tempted to turn them both down---- but I remember quite clearly what the economy was like here 20 plus years ago-- and current conditions look very familiar to me,LOL--- so we do what needs to be done and we make sure we get paid for it!
            stephenEdited 1/31/2009 7:32 am ET by Hazlett

            Edited 1/31/2009 7:36 am ET by Hazlett

          3. theslateman | Jan 31, 2009 04:41pm | #14

            Stephen,

            Those 16' decks are a treat to set up when alone. I like using them a lot.

            Setting 24's alone is a lot of energy expended if you're 20' in the air.

            As I get older I try to find easier ways to set up thru a number of different methods- pump jacks included  <G>

            Walter

  3. MikeSmith | Jan 31, 2009 03:56pm | #12

    the junction may work fine.... but it overloads the center ladder and the ladder jack...since the center ladder is carrying half the weight of each pic

    i assume you ladders max out at 300#... so it doesn't take much to overload it

    two center ladders would make this work

    Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
    1. Hazlett | Jan 31, 2009 04:31pm | #13

      I have no intention of ever doing it again--- but I don't think it necissarily overloads the center ladder at worst- the center ladder is carrying 1/2 the weight of each pic( so maybe 100# totall--- plus a man standing directly on itthis assumes you have 3 ladders,2 pics and one man up there but again- i can't recall WHY we did it that day-- and i have no intention of doing it againstephen

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