scaffold tower

melipona

I am thinking of getting a 7m scaffold tower so that I can access the eaves/guttering and prune the conifers in my garden. It would only get occasional use but looking at some of the prices I think that it would pay me to buy rather than hire.

Has anybody got any advice or experience on what to look out for? Any particular good purchases?
Thanks

ManAtHome

I have a 6m one from BPS http://www.laddersandscaffoldtowers.co.uk/acatalog/diy_aluminium_scaffold_tower_6m.html It's actually a 4m + 2m extension kit - their 7m one will be a 5m base with the same 2m extension, so you get the outriggers which are useful for garden work.

Does what it says on the 'tin' (advert really), and it did turn up the next day. Dunno whether it's the best deal around - it was about the best non-ebay at the time - but has been a good buy for me (no more wobbling about on ladders or steps!).

iamcornholio

All I can say, is that these are scary to work on above 5m .... and even scarier to erect and dismantle the higher you go. I would not fancy using one of these for a conifer

I don't recall the standard they should be made to, but there is one so look for it on the prospective systems. Make sure to get 4 rakers/outrigger legs not just 2. Look for wind locks to stop the stage boards lifting. And if you are doing conifers you will need more handrails than normally supplied

diable

Storing it afterwards may be a problem.

keystone

melipona wrote: »

I am thinking of getting a 7m scaffold tower so that I can access the eaves/guttering.....

You've got damned high gutters then. For standard height gutters you shouldn't need more than a 3 or 4m tower.

........and prune the conifers in my garden.

You'll never get it close enough to the tree to be usable. Get yourself a ladderbrace for ordinary pruning. If the conifers are that high don't do it yourself - get a pro in.

It would only get occasional use but looking at some of the prices I think that it would pay me to buy rather than hire.

As already observed where on earth would you store it?

Cheers

keystone

ManAtHome wrote: »

.......it was about the best non-ebay at the time.....

anyone buying safety critical kit off ebay needs their bumps feeling.

no more wobbling about on ladders or steps!

Perhaps you weren't using the ladders/steps properly?

Cheers

ManAtHome

Blimey...

7m tower is 'working height' of 7m - feet-off-floor' height 5m - you might manage a bungalow with a 3 or 4m tower.

I can easily get close enough to use loppers and a trimmer on the conifers - depends how conical you prefer your conifers I suppose.

Hardly a massive storage space - no more than a 'racking' shelf unit - mind you, I'm not really short of storage space. The 'storage space required' on the BSP site is pretty accurate if stored flat.

Agreed about ebay - that's why I specifically mentioned it!

Ladders/steps - maybe not using 'properly' - maybe most DIYers don't, so probably a good idea to shell out for a tower...

keystone

ManAtHome wrote: »

7m tower is 'working height' of 7m/

Yeah right - of course it is. OP still has massive eaves height to warrant a working height of 7m!

So if you can't stabilise a ladder properly to use it safey how do you hope to do the same with a tower?

Cheers

ormus

all depends on your budget. steel is a lot cheaper than the alloy ones.
the pro brands are Boss Youngman etc,... very expensive.

melipona

Thanks for the comments so far.
I need to replace my wooden ladder, which is a little short for some jobs and was considering either a 10m ladder of maybe spending more for a tower.
Our house is on a gentle slope which means that the vertical height of the gutters and eaves is higher than normal on one side of the house.
I have adequate storage space.
One of the reasons for preferring a tower over a ladder is that my good lady is rubbish at being a safety man:) and supporting the ladder.

Aluminium is more expensive, but I assume it needs less maintenance, some of the cheaper ones don't have adjustable feet, how do they cope with uneven ground? A 7m tower has the platform at a lower height but how much lower?

ormus

you can get the adjustable feet/legs for almost all of em. its usually at an extra cost.
if not, then you use wood blocks to level the thing. with outrigger legs it should be ok.

and/or tie it onto a pole, inside a bedroom window. the H&S hitlers would go mad, but it works.

however..........