I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

Has anybody tackled a project like this and if so would they have any
useful links that explain how to go about it.

TIA.

--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/

On Sun, 6 Jun 2004 16:20:51 +0100, Frank Shute
wrote:

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

I really wouldn't do this.

Steel tube scaffolding is quick to assemble and because it's re-usable
afterwards, the cost is reasonable. A free-standing steel tower is
even better.

For timber, then I know how to build semi-permanent staging. This is
strong, safe, and perfectly adequate to work from. However it takes
appreciable work to assemble it, even if the timber cost is free.
There's no way I know to build something with the ease and low labour
costs of steel tube and scaff clamps. I can do it, but not quickly.

If the timber is truly free, or if you're buying it anyway for some
other reason, then maybe this will work for you. But I can't really
see it, because of the extra workload and time involved.

It's also illegal to do this in the UK, unless it's entirely on your
own property, it's more than some magic distance from the nearest
public road, and no public or even other tradesmen have access to it.
The rules changed a few months ago and any "scaffolding" must now be
of approved design and checked by a qualified scaffolding rigger (NB -
you can still assemble it yourself, so long as they OK it). Given the
public hazards caused by some dodgy scaffolding in the past, then I
don't have a problem with this ruling.


BTW - You might like to post in uk.d-i-y too.


--
Smert' spamionam

On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 23:24:00 +0100, Andy Dingley
wrote:

Steel tube scaffolding is quick to assemble and because it's re-usable
afterwards, the cost is reasonable.

Especially if it's rented. That's "hired" to some of you across the
pond. G

Barry

In article ,
Andy Dingley wrote:
On Sun, 6 Jun 2004 16:20:51 +0100, Frank Shute
wrote:

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.
...
...
It's also illegal to do this in the UK, unless it's entirely on your
own property, it's more than some magic distance from the nearest
public road, and no public or even other tradesmen have access to it.
The rules changed a few months ago and any "scaffolding" must now be
^^^
of approved design and checked by a qualified scaffolding rigger (NB -
you can still assemble it yourself, so long as they OK it). Given the
public hazards caused by some dodgy scaffolding in the past, then I
don't have a problem with this ruling.

So if I want to put up a scaffold about 5' high, 8' long and 3' deep
to work on the top half of an outside house wall - I'd need to follow an
"approved design" and retain a rigger to OK it?

Isn't this bureaucracy run amok? Or is it really not "any", and only
applies to scaffolding above some size?
--
--henry schaffer
hes _AT_ ncsu _DOT_ edu

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 00:58:27 +0000, Henry E Schaffer wrote:

So if I want to put up a scaffold about 5' high, 8' long and 3' deep
to work on the top half of an outside house wall - I'd need to follow an
"approved design" and retain a rigger to OK it?

Isn't this bureaucracy run amok? Or is it really not "any", and only
applies to scaffolding above some size?

No, Henry - it's bureaucracy attempting to counteract what Darwin said was
natural.

-Doug

--
"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always
depend on the support of Paul." - George Bernard Shaw

Isn't this bureaucracy run amok? Or is it really not "any", and only
applies to scaffolding above some size?

No, Henry - it's bureaucracy attempting to counteract what Darwin said was
natural.

So it playing with high-rpm spinning carbide, but we all do it.

I built staging to help with my addition 2 segments, just under eight feet
wide with crossbars at 4-feet and 7.5 feet high, so that I could change
platform height. These segments were light enough that I could drag them
around where I needed them. With the 2 segments and a platform in between I
had about a 23' run.

X-braces (10' 2x4's) front and back provided stability and a good climbing
surface to mount it.

Perhaps I cheated darwin :-)

I would not have attempted to go higher than that.

The OP did not tell us the scale of work that he had in mind.

-Steve

Have you folks looked into renting scaffolding? YMMV but when I did it I
figured it was cheaper than buying lumber.

In my case, I doubt it. I used those babies for more than a year. It was a
long project :-)

The I recycled most of the 2x4's. I believe that some of them became and
outfeed table (OWWM).

-Steve


"Greg" wrote in message
...
Have you folks looked into renting scaffolding? YMMV but when I did it I
figured it was cheaper than buying lumber.

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 00:58:27 +0000 (UTC), (Henry E
Schaffer) wrote:

So if I want to put up a scaffold about 5' high, 8' long and 3' deep
to work on the top half of an outside house wall - I'd need to follow an
"approved design" and retain a rigger to OK it?

No, because that's too small (low) to be regarded as scaffolding. The
major rules on "working at height" kick in when there's a chance of a
fall 2m.

Frank Shute wrote in message ...
I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

Has anybody tackled a project like this and if so would they have any
useful links that explain how to go about it.

TIA.

Frank, I built ladder type scaffold that I use over and over again.
Consists of 7"-6" 2x4 posts. 5/4 x 3 1/2" x 30" horizontal members and
4pcs 1x3 X braces.The 2x4 posts are mortised 3 1/2" wide on 12"
centers. The first mortise is 18" from bottom. I kept the total height
under 8'-0" so I can use it inside a house as well. I keep a ladder
nearby to climb up on scaffold. Total width is 30" ,height 7'-6". Nice
and light to use,rigid if you brace properly.If you need more height
an A frame type scaffold can be built. Does not allow for different
heights though.

mike

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 11:42:47 -0400, Stephen M wrote:

Isn't this bureaucracy run amok? Or is it really not "any", and only
applies to scaffolding above some size?

No, Henry - it's bureaucracy attempting to counteract what Darwin said was
natural.

So it playing with high-rpm spinning carbide, but we all do it.

I built staging to help with my addition 2 segments, just under eight feet
wide with crossbars at 4-feet and 7.5 feet high, so that I could change
platform height. These segments were light enough that I could drag them
around where I needed them. With the 2 segments and a platform in between I
had about a 23' run.

X-braces (10' 2x4's) front and back provided stability and a good climbing
surface to mount it.

Perhaps I cheated darwin :-)

It sounds to me like you built something similar to what I want so
maybe I'll cheat Darwin too


I would not have attempted to go higher than that.

The OP did not tell us the scale of work that he had in mind.

Picture of the house he

http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/pho...niitt_hse1.jpg

I'm only planning to go up one lift.

--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/

On 7 Jun 2004 14:56:39 -0700, mike wrote:

Frank Shute wrote in message
...

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

Has anybody tackled a project like this and if so would they have any
useful links that explain how to go about it.

TIA.

Frank, I built ladder type scaffold that I use over and over again.
Consists of 7"-6" 2x4 posts. 5/4 x 3 1/2" x 30" horizontal members and
4pcs 1x3 X braces.The 2x4 posts are mortised 3 1/2" wide on 12"
centers. The first mortise is 18" from bottom. I kept the total height
under 8'-0" so I can use it inside a house as well. I keep a ladder
nearby to climb up on scaffold. Total width is 30" ,height 7'-6". Nice
and light to use,rigid if you brace properly.If you need more height
an A frame type scaffold can be built. Does not allow for different
heights though.

Sounds good. I don't suppose you took any photos of your erection?
....if you'll pardon the expression.

I think I get the picture. How did you tie the braces to your your 2
ladders though?

My main problem is that the ground around the house is uneven in parts
which doesn't help matters.

--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/

On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 23:24:00 +0100, Andy Dingley wrote:

On Sun, 6 Jun 2004 16:20:51 +0100, Frank Shute
wrote:

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

I really wouldn't do this.




Steel tube scaffolding is quick to assemble and because it's re-usable
afterwards, the cost is reasonable. A free-standing steel tower is
even better.

The problem is that I can only manage to spend a couple of months a
year there and at that rate I'll only be able to finish the work on
the outside (re-clad and insulate) over a few years.


For timber, then I know how to build semi-permanent staging. This is
strong, safe, and perfectly adequate to work from. However it takes
appreciable work to assemble it, even if the timber cost is free.
There's no way I know to build something with the ease and low labour
costs of steel tube and scaff clamps. I can do it, but not quickly.

If the timber is truly free, or if you're buying it anyway for some
other reason, then maybe this will work for you. But I can't really
see it, because of the extra workload and time involved.

The timber is cheap and I can always use it on another project once
the outside is complete. I understand what you're saying about time
but cost is important to me whereas I'm not too bothered if the job
takes longer..


It's also illegal to do this in the UK, unless it's entirely on your
own property, it's more than some magic distance from the nearest
public road, and no public or even other tradesmen have access to it.
The rules changed a few months ago and any "scaffolding" must now be
of approved design and checked by a qualified scaffolding rigger (NB -
you can still assemble it yourself, so long as they OK it). Given the
public hazards caused by some dodgy scaffolding in the past, then I
don't have a problem with this ruling.

This is in Finland so I can always plead ignorance



BTW - You might like to post in uk.d-i-y too.


Thanks Andy. I was thinking of which other groups to post to.

--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/

In article ,
Andy Dingley wrote:
On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 00:58:27 +0000 (UTC), (Henry E
Schaffer) wrote:

So if I want to put up a scaffold about 5' high, 8' long and 3' deep
to work on the top half of an outside house wall - I'd need to follow an
"approved design" and retain a rigger to OK it?

No, because that's too small (low) to be regarded as scaffolding. The
major rules on "working at height" kick in when there's a chance of a
fall 2m.

I have faith that the bureaucrats will issue a "ruling" that the fall
is to be measured from the center of gravity of the person to the
ground. With the average workman's CG being 33" above the soles of the
shoes, that brings the "fall height" to 7' 9" 2m and therefore under
the scope of the scaffolding rules.
--
--henry schaffer
hes _AT_ ncsu _DOT_ edu

Doug Winterburn wrote:

Isn't this bureaucracy run amok? Or is it really not "any", and only
applies to scaffolding above some size?

No, Henry - it's bureaucracy attempting to counteract what Darwin said was
natural.

-Doug


I like the way you think.

Wes

--
Reply to:
Whiskey Echo Sierra Sierra AT Gee Tee EYE EYE dot COM
Lycos address is a spam trap.

Frank Shute wrote:

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

Has anybody tackled a project like this and if so would they have any
useful links that explain how to go about it.

TIA.

I don't have links but you should be able to come up with something if
your inate sense of proportion and reasonableness is not far off the
mark. Many have an eye for what just isn't going to work and others
do not. Have things you engineered in the past fell apart or held up?
If they tended to fail then maybe renting scaffold would be the best
plan for you.

On a couple houses I helped my brother build, we resorted to digging
5' deep holes and dropping tree's we cut into them for the vertical
sections and then just slapping some 2x10's to sides with some osb on
top to walk on. No railings but they could have been added. I
*never* crawled up on them since my balance isn't perfect though my
brother is a monkey when it comes to that. The tallest scaffolding
was 28' which we achieved with some 40 foot poplars we cut down off
the property and used a back hoe to maneuver into the hole we dug.

Wes

--
Reply to:
Whiskey Echo Sierra Sierra AT Gee Tee EYE EYE dot COM
Lycos address is a spam trap.

Frank Shute wrote in message ...
On 7 Jun 2004 14:56:39 -0700, mike wrote:

Frank Shute wrote in message
...

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

Has anybody tackled a project like this and if so would they have any
useful links that explain how to go about it.

TIA.

Frank, I built ladder type scaffold that I use over and over again.
Consists of 7"-6" 2x4 posts. 5/4 x 3 1/2" x 30" horizontal members and
4pcs 1x3 X braces.The 2x4 posts are mortised 3 1/2" wide on 12"
centers. The first mortise is 18" from bottom. I kept the total height
under 8'-0" so I can use it inside a house as well. I keep a ladder
nearby to climb up on scaffold. Total width is 30" ,height 7'-6". Nice
and light to use,rigid if you brace properly.If you need more height
an A frame type scaffold can be built. Does not allow for different
heights though.

Sounds good. I don't suppose you took any photos of your erection?
...if you'll pardon the expression.

I think I get the picture. How did you tie the braces to your your 2
ladders though?

My main problem is that the ground around the house is uneven in parts
which doesn't help matters.

No pics Frank.The braces are screwed to the ladder frames, simple and
easily changed from one length to another. I used 2" screws, flathead
,roundhead, whatever I had in my pocket.When the ground is uneven ,
take the time to place a short mudsill where the legs go and level it
off. If your ground varys a lot in height you might be better off with
a patent scafffold with screwjacks. I have set my scaffold on ground
that varied about a foot in 8'-0". Takes a little work to safely level
off the mudsills, maybe two or three minutes per section when the
ground is uneven.
mike

pics posted to abpw.


"Frank Shute" wrote in message
...
On 7 Jun 2004 14:56:39 -0700, mike wrote:

Frank Shute wrote in message
...

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

Has anybody tackled a project like this and if so would they have any
useful links that explain how to go about it.

TIA.

Frank, I built ladder type scaffold that I use over and over again.
Consists of 7"-6" 2x4 posts. 5/4 x 3 1/2" x 30" horizontal members and
4pcs 1x3 X braces.The 2x4 posts are mortised 3 1/2" wide on 12"
centers. The first mortise is 18" from bottom. I kept the total height
under 8'-0" so I can use it inside a house as well. I keep a ladder
nearby to climb up on scaffold. Total width is 30" ,height 7'-6". Nice
and light to use,rigid if you brace properly.If you need more height
an A frame type scaffold can be built. Does not allow for different
heights though.

Sounds good. I don't suppose you took any photos of your erection?
...if you'll pardon the expression.

I think I get the picture. How did you tie the braces to your your 2
ladders though?

My main problem is that the ground around the house is uneven in parts
which doesn't help matters.

--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/

Frank Shute wrote ...
I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but there is a book published by
Taunton Press/ Fine Homebuilding called _Working_Alone_ IIRC. In there I
believe it explains how to do this.

--

Cheers,
Howard

----------------------------------------------------------
Working wood in New Jersey -
Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org

I just inspected a nice scaffold made by a friend of mine for work on
a high interior ceiling in his house. He made it out of bamboo lashed
together by filament tape (tape with nylon filaments in it). He harvested
and cut the bamboo which is 3 to 4 in. in diameter. Works fine. The
platform on which you stand is 10 ft. in the air. The scaffold did
begin to lean a little so he straightened it by placing some wires inside
the scaffold.

Not so surprising really, because in a lot of the world they use bamboo
for practically everything.

Zaster Sap


"Stephen M" wrote in message
...
pics posted to abpw.


"Frank Shute" wrote in message
...
On 7 Jun 2004 14:56:39 -0700, mike wrote:

Frank Shute wrote in message
...

I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Since softwood lumber is plentiful and cheap there I was thinking of
building it myself.

Has anybody tackled a project like this and if so would they have any
useful links that explain how to go about it.

TIA.

Frank, I built ladder type scaffold that I use over and over again.
Consists of 7"-6" 2x4 posts. 5/4 x 3 1/2" x 30" horizontal members and
4pcs 1x3 X braces.The 2x4 posts are mortised 3 1/2" wide on 12"
centers. The first mortise is 18" from bottom. I kept the total height
under 8'-0" so I can use it inside a house as well. I keep a ladder
nearby to climb up on scaffold. Total width is 30" ,height 7'-6". Nice
and light to use,rigid if you brace properly.If you need more height
an A frame type scaffold can be built. Does not allow for different
heights though.

Sounds good. I don't suppose you took any photos of your erection?
...if you'll pardon the expression.

I think I get the picture. How did you tie the braces to your your 2
ladders though?

My main problem is that the ground around the house is uneven in parts
which doesn't help matters.

--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 09:58:15 -0400, "Zaster Sap"
wrote:

He made it out of bamboo lashed
together by filament tape (tape with nylon filaments in it). He harvested
and cut the bamboo which is 3 to 4 in. in diameter.

Not so surprising really, because in a lot of the world they use bamboo
for practically everything.

In a lot of the world, it's as cheap as grass. You have no idea what
we pay for a couple of sticks to hold up peas. Any suitable for
scaffolding would require a second mortgage.

Bill.

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 09:09:06 -0400, Howard Ruttan wrote:

Frank Shute wrote ...
I need to put up scaffolding around my summer house in Finland in
order to do some work on the outside.

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this but there is a book published by
Taunton Press/ Fine Homebuilding called _Working_Alone_ IIRC. In there I
believe it explains how to do this.


I got a post off-newsgroup from a guy who says that there is an
article in "Fine Woodworking on Joinery" on building a scaffold in the
Japanese style using posts and wire to seize them together. To quote
my correspondent:

It shows how to use #9 annealed wire and 4-5inch poles for quick
building. The article is by Len Brackett. He was in Japan and
observed how they use this method for scaffolding. He used it to
build a 2400sq.ft. sawing mill shop on site. The method is sound.

I'll definitely look into that.

Many thanks to all who answered. Assuming I get to build it, I'll
post pictures on my site with a description of how to build it.

Despite frantic googling, I still can't find any decent articles
on the web


--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/

Bill Rogers writes:

In a lot of the world, it's as cheap as grass. You have no idea what
we pay for a couple of sticks to hold up peas. Any suitable for
scaffolding would require a second mortgage.

Bamboo will grow outdoors in Southern California. I never saw any as big
as 4" diameter.

Brian Elfert

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 09:58:15 -0400, Zaster Sap wrote:

I just inspected a nice scaffold made by a friend of mine for work on
a high interior ceiling in his house. He made it out of bamboo lashed
together by filament tape (tape with nylon filaments in it). He harvested
and cut the bamboo which is 3 to 4 in. in diameter. Works fine. The
platform on which you stand is 10 ft. in the air. The scaffold did
begin to lean a little so he straightened it by placing some wires inside
the scaffold.

Not so surprising really, because in a lot of the world they use bamboo
for practically everything.


When I was in Hong Kong a few years ago, I saw bamboo scaffolds rising
several storys.

It's not unusual for scaffold to blow down in high winds over here but
in Honkers their bamboo scaffold seems to survive typhoons!

Unfortunately, bamboo doesn't grow too well in these parts...and even
less well 400 miles south of the Arctic circle where my house is in
Finland.

Pine, birch and aspen grow well though. I've had the forest harvested
this year but I might consider cutting my own boards one year. I'm
****ed off with spending a fortune on timber when I've got 30 acres of
forest.

Anybody know what aspen is like for furniture making? I think silver
birch is OK.

--
Frank

http://www.freebsd.org/