Replies

1. 
   Shoeman | Mar 24, 2005 03:07pm | #1

   bump

2. 
   Mongo | Mar 24, 2005 03:47pm | #2

   Two basic flavors of wall jacks. A style made by Proctor and another made by QualCraft.

   With Proctor, you only lift the wall a fraction of an inch to slide the plate under the wall. With QC you have to raise it several inches, maybe 6-8?

   Proctors ride on a metal post, QC ride on a 2x4.

   You pump Proctors up while standing on the deck. You pump QCs at the top plate, meaning that as the wall rises up, you have to rise as well. You'll need a ladder as the QC raised wall goes up, or you can fashion a longer pump arm.

   Safety? They both have about the same rating weight-wise, but I like the Proctor as you stand on the deck and can easily get out of the fall zone should something go wrong. QCs work fine, but following the wall up can be a pain, especially if you're raising walls solo. Up/down/up/down.

   The Proctors are a little more versatile than the QCs, raising beams, pulling posts, etc. QCs can do other things, but it's easier to do them with the Proctors.

   Proctors are more expensive, but price out everything you'll need to raise a wall, then compare.

   So:

   1. Brand: what brand of wall jacks do you recommend? Proctors work a little bettter.
   2. Supplier: can you recomend a supplier in central NC (Greensboro or Raleigh areas; or even Danville, VA)?  Or a mail order outfit?  Noithing local, no. A quick Google might find you a supplier close to home, or call either company to find a retailer near you. QC pumpjacks are sold at HD, they may sell the wall jacks as well.
   3. Experience: if the framing crew has never used wall jacks will they take some getting used to, or will they be productive right away? I think the Proctors are easier to get used to and comfortable with than the QC
   4. Raising by hand: What length of sheathed 2x6 wall 10' tall, 16" o.c.  (sheathed) can 4 men lift (I know it depends on how many headers ...), I'm just looking for a ballpark? If you can keep the top plate stiff or supported, 40' walls are easy.They're rated for 1000#.
   5. Standard wall sections: I bought 14' 2x6 for the top and bottom plates (as opposed to 16' which breaks even on the plywood), is this going to mess him up if he can only do short sections of wall by hand?  should I get 16 footers to make short wall sections easier? Buy the longest piece of straight wood you can find for the top plate. Just offset it a couple of stud bays to keep it from breaking at the ply seam.
   6. Other: any other advice would be helpful. Proctors are more expensive, but easier and I'd say safer to use. Look for a set on eBay, or after you buy them you can resell on eBay to recoup your costs should you not need them anymore.

    

    

   
   

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   Edited 3/24/2005 8:50 am ET by Mongo

3. 
   Diamond | Mar 24, 2005 04:56pm | #3

   I just raised a 9' wall 50' long, sheathed and with 7 windows in it with a pair of procter wall jacks with no problem. A pair that are new will run you about $900. The Qualcraft jacks are around a $100 a piece and I have them also. If you use the Qualcraft make sure you use vg fir 2x4's . I feel much safer with the Proctor's.

1. 
   gdavis62 | Mar 24, 2005 06:49pm | #4

   What's your tip on usage, to prevent the wall tipping and falling outboard when all the way up?

1. 
   MikeSmith | Mar 24, 2005 10:43pm | #5

   gene.. two things will keep the wall from falling off or out..

   first is the hinge at the bottom plate.. this used to be 8d toes.. but now we nail strapping to the bottom and the deck... we cut the straps after the wall is plumbed and nailed off.. the strapping can be webbing, steel packing straps, plumber's straps.. etc..

    the scecond thing is  that the Proctor has a positive stop that you set for the wall ht... when the wall gets to plumb, it hits the stop and can not go out beyond plumbMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   gdavis62 | Mar 25, 2005 02:15am | #6

   Them Proctors make a hypoteneuse when the wall's up at 90.  Will I need my trig?

1. 
   MikeSmith | Mar 25, 2005 02:45am | #7

   no, your reading glasses...

    there's a wall ht. chart printed on the side of hte jackMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore