Haven’t seen this addressed in at least a year.
Which do you prefer? Or is there another method.
I prefer pump jacks. I feel 10X as safe on them. Scaffold freaks the daylights out of me. I get on them and feel that any moment they’re gonna topple.
You?
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Replies
Are you using aluminum poles or doubled up 2x4s for the posts? At what intervals do you brace them to the structure?
I see these guys in Hong Kong using bamboo tied with grass for scaffolding up to 90 floors. Crazy. They've been doing it for years though. Every now and then one comes down.
Either - it depends on the situation. I must have about 16 pumps and twenty some headgear. My main framer has enough pipe sets to run all around a decent sized house. He feels better with it than on pumps, but there are places you can't set steel on uneven ground.
IMO, If your steel piupe staging is that rickety feeling, you aren't setting it up right. You absolutely have to have it on blocks and level with the first set before you start up, and then tie to the building every so often with wire.
Same basic idea with pumps. If you don't use enough bracing or spread them out too far, you can kill somebody, but put them close enough and brace off and it is like working on the ground.
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I like the pumps better, they give an infinite range of heights. When I work on scaffolding it seems I always have to do something with a bar in my way.
How about for amateurs?I've rented scaffolding many times and always take great care to set it up properly. I've admired the pump jacks when watching the pros do it and have a neighbor that offered the use of his sets. I've got to tear off and reside my place with cedar next year and like you find the infinite range a plus.Do you think pump jacks are home owner freindly?
I'm on the verge of popping for some pump stuff. I figure that it'll be a lot easier to set up and tear down working alone. My plan is to work my way around the house, top to bottom, 8 - 12 ft. wide at a time. Conventional scaffolding is probably better for the pros, who set up around the whole building at once, and leave it for the duration of the job.
-- J.S.
-- J.S.
It depends on what task it is you're doing too.
Pump jack staging,either wood or aluminum,is ideal for sidewall work i.e. siding installs,painting,window installs.It doesn't work as well for roofing,masonry,or other heavy jobs.
With pipe staging,leveling jacks,side arm brackets,end arm brackets,etc. you can configure some wonderful set ups that are very heavy duty rated.
Like Piffin said you must tie in to the structure to make it safe and OSHA approved..
The big difference is that conventional staging is tied to the structure as a safety measure, while pump jacks can't even be set up without being attached to an existing structure. In the film industry, it's common to build two or three levels of pipe as free standing lighting platforms for exteriors.
-- J.S.
We use both, some areas on this current job are blocked by a pergola..we used the poles, then the pics can extend to a tower of pipe scaffold.
When I say both, I should clarify, both together. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
You think that's funny? Watch THIS!...I can only do it once tho'
Yes john you're correct-tie in for pipe is at 4 levels high.I also build 2 and 3 high lifts and use them freestanding.
When you use 7' aluminum decks which perfectly fit the lifts it helps stiffen them from racking too.
It's hard to roof with pumps because of their closeness to the structure and the top braces are usually in the way of walking the "pic" from end to end.
You can rent pipe reasonably and lately an outfit here started renting pumps as well.
I really don't like either one, so I bought a 31" R/T scissor lift. Now I can have a workbenck, chop saw, cooler, etc. up there with me.
Yeah, I'm trying to talk my boss into a Lull, now that would be some nice staging.
What kind of terrain can your scissor lift handle?
Mike
I don't know, it's all flat around me. It's 4wd and I know they give the specs on it but it didn't matter to me because I'd have to go 50 miles to get so much as a hill. The machine I bought is an Upright LX31. I actually bought it on E-bay.
I'm pretty much a weekend warrior and it sure makes it easy to set up for a short period.
"Do you think pump jacks are home owner freindly?"neither kind are especially freindly for one man to set up alone, if that's what you mean.Also, a HO is usually only doing it once, so pumps can be cheaper, if you consider price a freindly thing. And you use fewer planks, I think, with pumps, so that saves some bucks too, but you might need more ladders.
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what no more trolling in the tavern ;)?
just kidding....
If I had a choice for siding a house I'd want to use pump jacks, I bet you could set them up with help, if you're borrowing them from a neighbor maybe offer him a case of beer or something to help you set them up and make sure they're safe to use.
The only thing I don't like about pump jacks, if you're the only one up on the planks, it's a pita to raise and lower.
I'm multi-tasking. :)
Yes, a little learning curve but not bad. Make sure that they are secured top and bottom. Use good, straight lumber. And a safety line or makeshift railing. You can use strapping or rope for this.
Fortunatly my neighbor is quite experienced with pump jacks and has offered to not only loan them to me, but also to help with the set up.
I've always wondered a couple of things about pump jacks:
1) How do you do the siding in the spots where the polls braces are attached to the wall
2) How do you connect braces to walls that are framed 24" OC? All the braces I've seen have the legs spread to 32" (for 16" OC walls)
Both of these issues would seem to make scaffolding a better choice for doing siding...
Edited 8/16/2005 2:01 pm ET by Soultrain
1) How do you do the siding in the spots where the polls braces are attached to the wall
Attach them to the roof rafters.
2) How do you connect braces to walls that are framed 24" OC? All the braces I've seen have the legs spread to 32" (for 16" OC walls)
They are adjustable.
> 1) How do you do the siding in the spots where the polls braces are attached to the wall
Tie points are a problem either way. With conventional scaffolding and stucco, you can cut the wires and patch as you work your way down disassembling the scaffold. Or, just cut the wires and patch later from a ladder. Pump jacks and stucco are probably not a good combination, as the pumps don't tolerate abrasive crud too well. With other materials like Hardie, you have to work your way up to where the ties are in the way of the next piece, then put new ones in the finished work and cut the old ones away.
2) How do you connect braces to walls that are framed 24" OC? All the braces I've seen have the legs spread to 32" (for 16" OC walls)
The ones I've seen are hinged. If they weren't, you'd have to put them on the top plates of walls.
-- J.S.
I used to get frustrated with my old wood-pole pump jacks--they's get stuck, too wobbly, short spans, etc. But now where I work we have alumapoles with 20' pics, and they are awesome. Eliminates all the old problems, very comfortable to work on.
But, sometimes it's easier to just set up a lift of pipe staging. Mostly we use the pipes for inside work, like setting ridge poles or doing cathedral ceilings.
Mike
Another good use of steel is to set three pieces together in the largest room of the house and you have a great racking system to place and sort all your trims in the various ladders
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Good idea. I get tired of tripping over various piles spread out on the floor and shorts leaning against walls waiting to be knocked over.
I prefer pump jacks. Only because they are easier for me to transport, and store. Two jacks, 1 pick, and some extensions is all I need for almost any siding job. I only own one section of scaffolding, and I use it as a rolling scaffold for interior work. I don't do enough exterior work to necessitate a ton(literally) of scaffolding.
I've seen some pretty nice aluminum scaffolding, but I imagine it's pretty expensive.
I vote for the staging most times. I feel that they are stronger (span on the planks is shorter?) and if you are so inclined and want to put the planks on, you can go nice and wide for a dance floor. Downside is they are a pain to set up and move - especially alone and have limited adjustment.
I've worked on pumps and they are a pain if they aren't oiled and kept up with. It's no pleasure running back and forth on them to go up and down either. Like I said, I feel the planks bounce more too - especially with two people.
Don (f/k/a Hammerlaw)
The negatives you mention about pumps - half of them only happen when not used or set up correctly. For instance, If one man is making a plank bounce he has the palnk far too long for safety.
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Piffen
No question about overextension. On the other hand, I've seen movement with aluminum staging planks too. There's something about poles that lends them to being spread a little, can't do that (as easily) with scaffold. I've seen poles that sway too and I don't like that either. 4 feet on the ground just feels better to me. That said, I have, and will use, pumps, when it's appropriate.
Don