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Alum-a-pole/Ultra-Jack questions/value

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#21 ·
I agree with AW Those wood poles are heavy as hell. But the aluminum seem to be getting heavier each year too. I would say storage is a big factor. I have like 8 aluminum. They consume a lot of area. I have a contractor buddy that has only an occasional need for poles but doesnt like racks on his truck so he throws together some wood ones on the sight. They work just fine.
 
#22 ·
I take the jacks off my poles for storage, About 15 years ago two old timers were building a house across the street from where I lived. They had older steel jacks on wood poles bit the jacking stirrup was off to the right side instead of over the scaffold plank. I though they were neat. I have never seen such a jack since.
 
#23 ·
I use wooden poles with steel jacks. I think they work fine, but you have to follow OSHA. First don't build 'em higher than 30feet - osha code. Use steel mending plates at the junctions, stitch 'em together with 10penny nails. And if the pole is high - put another brace somewhere in the middle of the pole - code is every 10 feet. And I always put a 2x6 for the backing board and screw them into the jacks where the workbenches are - that ties the two poles together. I use aluminum pics for the most part.
 
#24 ·
A-l-u-m-i-n-u-m-

I have 6 24' poles and 6 12'' extensions i can go 45 ft up and 70 ft wide with 24' by 24'' planks it's like a sidewalk in the sky.I was asked to finish a house for a builder one time and was told the scaffolding was already up and ready to go!! Well when i got there the section that needed finishing was a 5 sided bump-out four stories in the air! the Amish master craftsman had assembled a system of wooden pumpjackes and planks screwed together? I finished the job but man it was scary there was no bracing and once i took apart the platforms those jacks bowed like 4 feet ,i was like man never again will i do that i had my jack's; but they said it was staged so i didn't bring them. That was my first and last experience with wooden jacks!!
 
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#26 ·
i just priced out the poles with ext jacks connectors everything i need to set up and go for $1700.00 erie materials i use wood now but changed do to they were getting to heavy for me switched to ladders with jacks and alum planks but to much work and up and down stuff involved so i am going to try the aluma poles but want to know should i get the ones that i can use a drill gun to get up and down? (man i sound lazy!)
 
#27 ·
vinylguy said:
i just priced out the poles with ext jacks connectors everything i need to set up and go for $1700.00 erie materials i use wood now but changed do to they were getting to heavy for me switched to ladders with jacks and alum planks but to much work and up and down stuff involved so i am going to try the aluma poles but want to know should i get the ones that i can use a drill gun to get up and down? (man i sound lazy!)
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I didnt find it was worth the extra cost, plus you have to have dedicated guns for them. If you work smart, like we do, and go up once and come down once, your not doing a whole lot of moving anyways. You can also crank down faster by hand than you can with a drill
 
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#30 · (Edited)
This beats them all!

Got my hands on this honey last year. Haven't broke out poles or ladder jacks ever since! Works on almost any terrain and no attachment to the house. Takes two men 30 min to set up and moves around on wheels. When your done, break it down and tow it away. The platform is 20' long and can go up to 25' high.

It's a Rustgo work platform
 
#33 ·
I should add that I don't do siding exclusively. Truth be told ; I didn't pay retail price for this either.

It was part of a barter on a bill that a General contractor couldn't pay. The value of the trade was about 2k. The lift goes for 6k new.

All in all it has worked out well when it can be put into play.
 
#34 ·
the way it is set up in that picture, what keeps it from leaning over into the house when you have the platform loaded with workers, and say a gables worth of hardiplank
 
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#35 · (Edited)
There are 3 counter weights on each axle at the end of the turnbuckle that have a combined weight of 800 lbs when all six are in place. The turnbuckles at each pole allow you to level up each side individually in case the land slops differently from one end to the other.

Here's a picture from there site: www. rustgo.com

The house in the previous picture is mine; just before the Hardie siding went up. (had a few rolls of left over house wrap to use up)

Edit: It is OSHA compliant as well, were as ladder jacks and pole jacks are not. No safety issues from my comp. provider
 
#37 ·
thesidingpro said:
We used to do that until my old boss fell from about 25ft. I won't do it since that day.

You wouldn't catch me on the wooden pole setup either.
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Hey, I worked with a guy siding before that didn't have any 32 foot ladders so to do the 2 story house we set up a pick on 24 foot ladders on top of a pick that was on 24 foot ladders. Talk about sketchy situations.:eek:
 
#39 ·
I went out and picked up a new 24x24 alum a pole for 3 grand for the set up you can't possibly go wrong..and no worries of failing on you except when i used it after a freezing rain storm we had..dropped a few inches before it caught again..wakes you up in a hurry!
 
#40 ·
I picked up the following for $1800 slightly used. Gotta love Craigslist, I look all the time for more

2- 24' poles
4- 12' poles
4- extensions to join poles togeather
1- 24' ladder
1- 16' extension ladder (great)
1- 8' step
6- house jacks
2- roofing harnesses
couple of bull horns and some other mics stuff
 
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