stilts

[spred1]

was thinking of investing in a pair, anyone use these? iv got on fine using scafold boards and band stands. but seem like a gd idea getting some

 

[Micilin]

was thinking of investing in a pair, anyone use these? iv got on fine using scafold boards and band stands. but seem like a gd idea getting some

Durastilt copies on ebay, £80 . You'll wonder how you managed before.

 

[roy c]

Stilts are the way to go if you can get used to them. And usually with a bit of practice you will. I have had a few pairs of " dura -stilts " and am now waiting for the price of "sky walker" stilts to come down,They are easier to put on and take off and seem to be the "Bee's knees" in plastering stilts. Just remember everything has to go up a "lift" when working off stilts, and you have to make sure if you are working on your own that you have everything set up so you can take them off and put them on when you clean tools and second coat. But if you work with a labourer then there's no probs... Go for it.. Have a look on the "Axminster Tools " site they were the cheapest I could find and have had a few pairs from them.If you are looking for stilts on any site ,be careful as some sites advertise stilts as "Skywalker" and they are "Dura". You can tell the difference as "skywalkers" have one leg, and "Dura" have two legs.

 

[jrplastering]

im goin to offer an anti stilts point of view sorry guys no offence, i think thier banned on comercial sites now so if thats your game then no dnt do it theres a reason their dangerous trip on your cable trip anything your in trouble. also if you do trip what happens to the special trowel that you have spent years and years wearing in to perfection, you either throw it and f#ck it up or you keep it and risk cutting your self to ribbons with it and proberly f#ck it up aswell as haveing to deal with the blood haha. i know this is an extreme but im just trying to give a different perspective to the argument and its very easy to loose your balance on the stilts

 

[roy c]

I know where your coming from jr and I agree with you, but all my work is "private" and I don't do site work.But your right in telling spred 1. As I am not up to speed with anything to do with site work.. And I forgot to say that the floor area that you are walking on should be free of debris and obstacles.

 

[jrplastering]

haha its personal preferance really i prefer to scaff a room out each to thier own

 

[Micilin]

They are not banned on any commercial site that I know of .I stand to be corrected, but no major builder I know have banned them . even Carillion and INspace, -the Gestapo of HEalth and SAfety- who will not allow you up on a bench (it must be a platform or podium handrail checked by a scaffolder) allow and even encourage stilts.

Because of health and safety, every scaffold has to have no gaps in it , or gap around the edge. In order to plaster a ceiling you have to be able to trowel it from one end to the other in a continuous sweep, not from hop ups, benches or podiums - so every room in the country will have to have a proper full deck if the ceiling needs plastering.

You won't be able to have two men on a scaffold unless they are the same height (RSI, muscle damage , etc) every scaffold will have to be ergonomically set up for the individual, other trades won't have access to that room while the scaffold is up, you won't be able to walk from room to room without ducking under the door and most importantly of all the cost in financial terms to builders if far greater than the cost in health terms to plasterers.

And at the end of the day, which is more important to the builders????

 

[Micilin]

haha its personal preferance really i prefer to scaff a room out each to thier own

You definitely would not be allowed to do that on a site (unless you are a scaffolder, use proper scaffolding and can ticket it). By the time you carry scaffold up and down stairs, you'd have the ceilings scrimmed , the stuff mixed and coated, and you can carry the stilts down in one hand with your toolbag in the other

You are right you have to be sensible with stilts - never walk backwards, keep the floor clean , don't rush, be prepared etc etc but I've seen more accidents off hop ups and scaffolds in my day. As with most things , human error is the bugger!!!!!

 

[trowelmonkey1]

good input Micilin! and worthy point of view jr in terms of safety and the importance of having a clean and tidy workspace.

have to say spred 1, i'm defo gonna get a pair! done a couple of ceilings recently that were low enough to work from the floor and difference was amazing, the finish was better as could trowel the whole length like micilin says and the speed in which i got it on was better too.

just gotta decide which size is best to get for my height.

 

[stevethespreader]

thier banned on comercial sites now

there not exactly banned as such i mean the goverment havent banned them its all down to the site contractors and what rules they have on h&s some sites dont even let you have a hop up and some sites you even have to have a step ladder permit but i was on a site last year where they let you have stilts

 

[Micilin]

thier banned on comercial sites now

there not exactly banned as such i mean the goverment havent banned them its all down to the site contractors and what rules they have on h&s some sites dont even let you have a hop up and some sites you even have to have a step ladder permit but i was on a site last year where they let you have stilts

That's right, steve- those contractors who ban hop ups, benches, step ladders still let you use stilts. The cost of all of those conditions they can pass on to the subcontractors. Until their surveyors can find a way to make it cheaper for them to scaffold out every ceiling than to alllow plasterers to use stilts as per their method statement and risk assessment (ie at their own risk), they won't ban them. To the best of my knowledge no major player has yet - but only as far as I know

 

[Micilin]

good input Micilin! and worthy point of view jr in terms of safety and the importance of having a clean and tidy workspace.

have to say spred 1, i'm defo gonna get a pair! done a couple of ceilings recently that were low enough to work from the floor and difference was amazing, the finish was better as could trowel the whole length like micilin says and the speed in which i got it on was better too.

just gotta decide which size is best to get for my height.

If most ceilings are 2.4m or 8', and you want to be a fist or so off the ceiling, can you work it out that way.

If you are working anywhere over the Dunstable / MK/ Aylesbury / side I can meet you and you can try mine . Mine are 18", I am 5'10" in my socks - a few ceilings the stilts are too high. My brother (6'2" ish) uses 12"
. I'll use his if I can on low ceilings.

Up and down a hop up , moving it around is not good for the body either!

 

[stevethespreader]

Stilts are the way to go if you can get used to them. am now waiting for the price of "sky walker" stilts to come down.

i have a pair of skywalker2s and the walking style is a lot different than skywalker 1 or skywalker 1 copies, if you have them at the highest setting its like trying to walk through mud they make your legs ache and you dont get the flexibilty your at the ankles you get on the 1s
the older style is much better you will see what im talking about when you get a pair ive yet to see a circus clown or street walker use mt2 they prefer dura and they spend at least 2-4 hours on them at a time if in any doubt which ones are best take a look at this boy on them hes dancing on them and in one video he straps one pair of stilts onto another so hes two stilts high about 13ft thats on the last video i think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGUMVARMNnM#
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGUMVARMNnM#
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thPFcf0y4oc&feature=channel

 

[Micilin]

Sweet Jaysus! He's able to go. I can't watch him on the two pairs

I bet he drops a lot of gear off his hawk though

 

[stevethespreader]

Sweet Jaysus! He's able to go. I can't watch him on the two pairs

I bet he drops a lot of gear off his hawk though

yes micilin i was lmao when i first see it but u gotta watch him go 2 stilts high lol and watch how easy he gets on and off them to tell the truth im crap on stilts as i have bad knees but im having one oporated on next month (keyhole torn ligament) not to mention arthrits setting in touchwood ill be able to use them after the op i think ill try a back flip