I'm thinking of buying one, approx 4-5m high - does anyone have any
recommendations for a good outlet? What can I expect to pay? As a
starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand which is a
bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?
Thanks
David

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:47:16 GMT, "Lobster"
wrote:

I'm thinking of buying one, approx 4-5m high - does anyone have any
recommendations for a good outlet? What can I expect to pay? As a
starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand which is a
bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?
Thanks
David


Go to the Exchange & Mart site and search for DIY and then Scaffold
Towers.

This usually produces a list of the bulk mail order suppliers. But
remember it may pay to spend a bit.

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking of buying one, approx 4-5m high - does anyone have any
recommendations for a good outlet? What can I expect to pay? As a
starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand which is a
bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?

That's at the low end of the range for that sort of height. Unless you
intend to make considerably more use of a tower than most DIYers, you are
much better off to hire.

Colin Bignell

But
remember it may pay to spend a bit.

What sort of things do you need to look out for when buying a scaffold?

Colin

"Colin" wrote in message
...

But
remember it may pay to spend a bit.

What sort of things do you need to look out for when buying a scaffold?


If you've ever had to put one up, you'll know to buy aluminium, not steel.

Colin Bignell

I got mine from http://www.scaffold-towers.co.uk/index2.html their
cheapest - working height 18ft. Wobbly at full height - needs
out-riggers or better still bolting to wall which is a good idea
anyway i.e. eye bolts and string ties. Very cheap, quality OK.

cheers

Jacob

I'm thinking of buying one, approx 4-5m high - does anyone have any
recommendations for a good outlet? What can I expect to pay? As a
starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand which is a
bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?

That's at the low end of the range for that sort of height. Unless you
intend to make considerably more use of a tower than most DIYers, you are
much better off to hire.

Colin Bignell

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking of buying one, approx 4-5m high - does anyone have any
recommendations for a good outlet? What can I expect to pay? As a
starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand which is a
bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?
Thanks
David


==================
The sizes you've quoted (approx 4-5m high ) give approximate working heights
of 19' and 22' (5.7 m and 6.9m) and both of these heights are a bit more
than is required for the average semi so you might get away with something
smaller depending on your needs. Having said that, I've been using two
lightweight steel towers (6' x 4') with a nominal working height of 18'.
'Working height' is usually based on the height of the actual tower plus the
height of an average man so my towers are about 12' high and my height
brings the working height up to the notional 18' 'working height' which is
adequate for working on gutters.

I got my towers from a firm in Wolverhampton (C & J Products, Noose lane,
Willenhall, Tel. 01902 366655) about 8 years ago and the cost then was about
£60-00 each plus the cost of plain timber boards from a local timber
merchant. These have proved very satisfactory for all the work I've done but
I wouldn't recommend them for anything which involved heavy loading such as
large stacks of bricks etc. Because they're made from lightweight steel
they're quite easy to erect and dismantle and subject to not overloading
they should be OK for most DIY work. Occasionally I've added a few extras
using standard scaffolding clips and poles so they're actually quite
versatile for unusual situations like getting over a porch.

Cic.

Lobster wrote:
I'm thinking of buying one, approx 4-5m high - does anyone have any
recommendations for a good outlet? What can I expect to pay? As a
starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand which is a
bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?

I bought a galvanised steel one for about £150 a couple of years ago,
I saw it advertised in the local paper. It was new and the seller
claimed it was from a contract that fell through. He had several
dozen of them to sell.

I've since seen others advertised at around the same sort of ball park
price so maybe it really is what they cost (or are worth).

Anyway mine has been very useful indeed and I wouldn't be without it.

--
Chris Green

"nightjar" nightjar@ insert_my_surname_here.uk.com wrote:

"Colin" wrote in message
...

But
remember it may pay to spend a bit.

What sort of things do you need to look out for when buying a scaffold?


If you've ever had to put one up, you'll know to buy aluminium, not steel.

Not my experience, my steel one is fine to put up. OK, if I was
assembling and disassembling it daily it would become hard work but
that really isn't normally the case for DIY use. Mine can be moved
once assembled so I can go along a wall for example without taking it
down and putting it up again.

Given that steel appears to be a *lot* cheaper than aluminium in my
case it's a choice of a steel tower or no tower at all.

--
Chris Green

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:47:16 GMT, Lobster wrote:

As a starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand
which is a bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?

For Ali, yes. Exchange and Mart has been mentioned and you'll find
suppliers of steel towers for much less cash.

Note the HSE legislation mentioned in the Screwfix cat that says
anyone who can potentially fall more than 2m uses a fall protection
system. It take that to mean a safety line and fall arrest block,
rather than just safety rails/kicking boards but could be wrong.
Anybody know?

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.com...
On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:47:16 GMT, Lobster wrote:

As a starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand
which is a bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?

For Ali, yes. Exchange and Mart has been mentioned and you'll find
suppliers of steel towers for much less cash.

Note the HSE legislation mentioned in the Screwfix cat that says
anyone who can potentially fall more than 2m uses a fall protection
system. It take that to mean a safety line and fall arrest block,
rather than just safety rails/kicking boards but could be wrong.
Anybody know?

The guidance to the regulations states that a rail, not less than 1.1m high,
with a second rail at half that height and a kicking board is deemed to meet
the requirement for protection aganst falls. However, you still have to get
up the tower, which will require a securely fixed ladder if you don't have a
safety line. The towers with integral ladders in one end comply if there is
a cage or other system to prevent you falling backwards once you get above
2m.

Colin Bignell

wrote in message ...
"nightjar" nightjar@ insert_my_surname_here.uk.com wrote:

"Colin" wrote in message
...

But
remember it may pay to spend a bit.

What sort of things do you need to look out for when buying a
scaffold?


If you've ever had to put one up, you'll know to buy aluminium, not
steel.

Not my experience, my steel one is fine to put up. OK, if I was
assembling and disassembling it daily it would become hard work but
that really isn't normally the case for DIY use. Mine can be moved
once assembled so I can go along a wall for example without taking it
down and putting it up again.

I would be dubious about the safety of moving a 5m high tower about
(presumably outside) unless it were on a very level surface.

Given that steel appears to be a *lot* cheaper than aluminium in my
case it's a choice of a steel tower or no tower at all.

I don't need one often enough to justify buying over hiring. I've borrowed a
steel one and hired aluminium. Because the aluminium ones were made for
commercial use, they had latching fixings to hold the tower components
together and extra diagonal bracings, which made the tower a lot more stable
than the steel one. They also had an integral ladder, leading up through a
trapdoor in the platform.

Colin Bignell

"nightjar" nightjar@ insert_my_surname_here.uk.com wrote:
If you've ever had to put one up, you'll know to buy aluminium, not
steel.

Not my experience, my steel one is fine to put up. OK, if I was
assembling and disassembling it daily it would become hard work but
that really isn't normally the case for DIY use. Mine can be moved
once assembled so I can go along a wall for example without taking it
down and putting it up again.

I would be dubious about the safety of moving a 5m high tower about
(presumably outside) unless it were on a very level surface.

I think mine is about three or four metres, I agree that moving
anything five metres high would have to be done very carefully.
As my house is not very tall (upstairs rooms are partially in the
roof) it's not a problem for me. The only time I've used the tower at
full height is when topping some very tall Leylandii and to do that I
tied the tower to the tree (below the bit I was cutting off!).


Given that steel appears to be a *lot* cheaper than aluminium in my
case it's a choice of a steel tower or no tower at all.

I don't need one often enough to justify buying over hiring. I've borrowed a
steel one and hired aluminium. Because the aluminium ones were made for
commercial use, they had latching fixings to hold the tower components
together and extra diagonal bracings, which made the tower a lot more stable
than the steel one. They also had an integral ladder, leading up through a
trapdoor in the platform.

I think the choice for most DIYers lies between buying a steel tower
and hiring an aluminium one. For me the availability of the tower for
'spur of the moment' jobs is a real boon, especially as most jobs for
which one needs a tower are weather dependent. It's also (for me) a
long way to any hire ship as we live out in the country.

--
Chris Green

"nightjar" nightjar@ insert_my_surname_here.uk.com wrote:

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.com...
On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:47:16 GMT, Lobster wrote:

As a starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand
which is a bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?

For Ali, yes. Exchange and Mart has been mentioned and you'll find
suppliers of steel towers for much less cash.

Note the HSE legislation mentioned in the Screwfix cat that says
anyone who can potentially fall more than 2m uses a fall protection
system. It take that to mean a safety line and fall arrest block,
rather than just safety rails/kicking boards but could be wrong.
Anybody know?

The guidance to the regulations states that a rail, not less than 1.1m high,
with a second rail at half that height and a kicking board is deemed to meet
the requirement for protection aganst falls. However, you still have to get
up the tower, which will require a securely fixed ladder if you don't have a
safety line. The towers with integral ladders in one end comply if there is
a cage or other system to prevent you falling backwards once you get above
2m.

The aluminium (and professional looking) tower that the painters
recently used at our office had an external ladder with no protection.
Otherwise it looked very stable and sturdy and safe so I don't think
it was 'a cheap bodge'.

--
Chris Green

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking of buying one, approx 4-5m high - does anyone have any
recommendations for a good outlet? What can I expect to pay? As a
starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand which is a
bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?
Thanks
David


If it's for own use then Machine Mart have a good aluminium one with
outriggers for a few hundred pounds. B&Q also used to do a steel one for a
similar price but haven't seen it recently.

But if for professional use you must get the more expensive approved ones
which are often but not always steel.

"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert_my_surname_here wrote in message
. ..

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.com...
On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:47:16 GMT, Lobster wrote:

As a starting point, the ones on Screwfix seem to be around a grand
which is a bit mind-boggling; is that about par for the course?

For Ali, yes. Exchange and Mart has been mentioned and you'll find
suppliers of steel towers for much less cash.

Note the HSE legislation mentioned in the Screwfix cat that says
anyone who can potentially fall more than 2m uses a fall protection
system. It take that to mean a safety line and fall arrest block,
rather than just safety rails/kicking boards but could be wrong.
Anybody know?

The guidance to the regulations states that a rail, not less than 1.1m
high,
with a second rail at half that height and a kicking board is deemed to
meet
the requirement for protection aganst falls. However, you still have to
get
up the tower, which will require a securely fixed ladder if you don't have
a
safety line. The towers with integral ladders in one end comply if there
is
a cage or other system to prevent you falling backwards once you get above
2m.

Colin Bignell

Bought some from:
Lansford Access Ltd

Unit 8A East Park Trading Estate

Gordon Road

Fishponds

Bristol BS5 7DR



1.5 inch dia galvanised steel tube 6 feet by 4, 27 feet high with boards
and outrigger legs- about 400 quid



You have to check the goods carefully as their delivery service tends to
damage a few bits, but they replace quickly. Stable and so far fine.



Peter Scott