Replies

1. 
   IronHelix | Sep 27, 2006 01:11pm | #1

   Never seen a set of plans in all my 30+years in the retail building materials business.

   Why go through the materials and labor and frustration to build what you can buy for under $100, which will be less than your materials costs alone?

   Just thinking aloud...no insult intended..........Iron Helix

1. 
   Crabby1 | Sep 27, 2006 05:15pm | #2

   yep as you say there's only about $100.00 worth of materials in it and that's the frustrating part but the commercially available unit is selling in the shops for AUD$880.00 here in Sydney Australia. I guess it's imported from overseas. I reckon I could probably fudge the measurements of the timber work OK but the curvature of the iron work and the way it is setup is beyond the realm of guesswork. Good comment though and no insult perceived.

2. 
   PaulBinCT | Sep 27, 2006 05:30pm | #3

   880 bucks? Holy smokes!!! If you want to research the shipping involved, I'd be happy to pick one up here and send it to you. We can arrange it through PayPal... has to be a lot less dough.

   PaulB

1. 
   Crabby1 | Sep 28, 2006 06:26am | #4

   Yes Paul,that's right . it's the shipping that is the unknown quantity and any import duty customs decides to levy. It's all a tad iffy. Years ago I did see a plan in a book somewhere but can't recall where. never mind I'm in no hurry so i'll continue to pose the question on various web venues. much abliged. Max

1. 
   mizshredder2 | Dec 02, 2006 06:14am | #5

   Did you ever find any plans?

   Or would you possibly benefit from some pics, and dimensions and make plans of your own from there...?DUM SPIRO SPERO:  "While I breathe I hope"

1. 
   Crabby1 | Dec 02, 2006 06:51am | #6

   G'Day Mizschreder, many thanks for replying to my stale post. No I never did find a plan. I figured I could probably fudge the design of the ladder ok by fixing a string line at ceiling height down to the floor at a 60 degree angle and work it out that way. Having an electric welder, the hinges would not be a problem either.  but the length and design of the bent metal arms and counter balance spring equipment is just a tad too difficult. By all means if you are able to take diamentions and or trace the shape of the metal parts onto tissue paper and fold them up and post them to me it would be much appreciated although to the more computer literate there is probably a simpler method. I appreciate you worrying about my bone of contension. As you can see I have attached a photo

   Regards

   Max

   Edited 12/1/2006 11:11 pm ET by Crabby1

   Edited 12/1/2006 11:11 pm ET by Crabby1

1. 
   dedubya | Dec 02, 2006 05:51pm | #7

   Crabby I live in an older house, and the attic ladder is one solid

   piece that pulls down, no hinged pieces on the ladder itself,it is

   a factory job and heavy duty as all get out ,the only drawback is

   you need quite a bit of headroom in the attic when it is being pulled

   down, when it is in the closed position the ladder length is resting on

   the attic floor ,the whole thing is balanced so a person can opperate it

   with one hand , if you want I will free hand some drawings and mail them

   to ya if you think that is what you need.

2. 
   Crabby1 | Dec 02, 2006 10:53pm | #9

   G'Day again, it sounds as though its weight is somehow counter balanced by a dead weight not springs. The layout of my garage is such that I would need to fit the three section folding type shown in my attachment as a one piece unit would far  be too large. I am prepared to wait as I do have  a step ladder that I use to gain entry to the ceiling void to hide Christmas presents from the Grandchildren etc. It is rather a heavy unit as it is of steel construction and requires me lugging it from around the side of the house to the accompaniment of my creaking arthritic joints so an Attic Ladder would be a step in the right direction. Pardon the pun.

   Edited 12/2/2006 2:55 pm ET by Crabby1

3. 
   joeh | Dec 03, 2006 03:22am | #10

   I made one once from steel tube.

   It was one piece that hinged at the top between 2 of the rafters. It was raised with a rope & pulley. Thought about a counter weight but never got to it as the owner decided he was happy with it as it was.

   Worked great, completely un code though as it had no rails. Fun project, it was so slick when finished he was like a kid with a new toy. 

   Joe H

4. 
   mizshredder2 | Dec 02, 2006 06:40pm | #8

   Well I make bread crumbs outta stale bread dontcha know sooooooooo, no worries re response to a "stale" thread. <g>

   My house has basically the same design, type of attic access ladder as those you posted.  Some minor details seem to be a hair different.  Mine was a pre fab unit made by an outfit in Smyrna TN, USA, by name of:  "Davidson Manufacturing"; and it has a duty rating of 250 lbs.

   I've got my digital camera charging.  Can take some pics for you and write up dimensions (and scan those sheets as a PDF file to send to you) if you'd like still given the info the other poster has made to you above, let me know?DUM SPIRO SPERO:  "While I breathe I hope"

3. 
   BryanKlakamp | Dec 04, 2006 06:03am | #11

   Have you looked at this one from Werner?

   http://www.wernerladder.com/newprods/televator.php

   I am thinking about using this to access the two attic spaces I have.

   Has anyone else used this ladder? And, if so, what are the pros and cons?

   Bryan

   "Objects in mirror appear closer than they are."

   Klakamp Construction, Findlay, Ohio