Replies

1. 
   James_DuHamel | Jan 27, 2000 10:36am | #1

   *
   I very rarely work in a room with ceilings higher than 9', but I do still need a boost sometimes. I made a set of platform shoes (plywood platform, and bolted some old tennis shoes to them). It works great for 8' ceilings, but I need more than this set up for taller ceilings, and for a professional set up.

   I too need some advice/info on stilts. No one here uses them, so any info I get will have to be from outside of my working region.

   I was in an accident in 1980 and lost partial site in one eye, and some equilibrium due to inner ear damage. I am wondering if working on these stilts requires intense balance, or if it is more like just walking around. My platform shoes are just like walking around normally, only you have to lift your feet higher to take a step.

   Great thread Stephen!

   James DuHamel

1. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Jan 27, 2000 11:56am | #2

   *When I was in high school we used to make stilts out of 2X4s that came about up to our knees with a block to stand on and a longer block to act as the "foot". I can't remember how we held them on, must have been a strap of some type across the toe and around the knee. Anyway, they were real easy to get around on, once you got the hang of it. (of course, when you're a teenager...) Around here, all the drywall tapers have those real nice aluminum ones and they look like they are walkin' normally. Any professional taper would have a pair, I'd think.

1. 
   chuck_a_crawford | Jan 28, 2000 11:09am | #3

   *I've used the commercial ones several times on 8' ceilings and they were great for running crown etc. Pretty easy to use once you got used to them. I tried a pair a drywall finisher was using on a 10' ceiling once and they were kinda scary to me, but he moved around like he was on the floor.But I was a lot more topheavy than he was. I'd make sure the floor was pretty clean, if you trip you cant do nothin but fall.I know a finisher who was taping a second floor ceiling and backed off a balcony, drove his stilts thru the plywood subfloor. It's a wonder they can still sell them what with all the liability lawsuits and all. Chuck

1. 
   Mike_Dufford | Jan 28, 2000 07:25pm | #4

   *I have finished drywall for 18 years and have used stilts for that long too. It took about 5 minutes to get used to walking on them and about a week to get comfortable. I can walk up and down stairs, on planks, and depending on how high they are, I can bend down and pick up a knife I dropped. It is like walking and takes little concentration. I use them for painting, masking, trimming or anything up in the air. Dura-stilts are available in 2 sizes. I generally use the taller set which gives you a 45" platform, I am 6' tall and extended fully can finish to about 11'6 (saves scaffold time) But all the way down I can still finish standard 8' work comfortably. Some places don't sell or stock the taller stilts because of liability, you may have to look around. Mike

1. 
   Dennis_Loeffler | Feb 06, 2000 08:38am | #5

   *I have tried just about everything, but I always felt I would go ass over tea kettle on these things.Dennis

2. 
   house_doc | May 13, 2000 02:42am | #6

   *Stilts take a little getting used to, but if you can ski or rollerblade or walk a top plate, you'll do fine. They are really handy when you need them and much more convenient than most anything you can make, besides scaffolding. I bought some used ones and I just saw some at our local goodwill store.

3. 
   Ted_Rowell | May 24, 2000 04:09am | #7

   *I live in Ontario Canada & as far as I know stilts are illegal here. I used to see drywallers use them all the time but havent in quite some time. I guess they hide them when the blue hats (safety inspectors) are around. I would assume they still have a few sets hanging around. They save you enough time that its worth paying a fine once a year.

4. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | May 25, 2000 01:29am | #8

   *I tries a set a while back on a job where the plasters were working along with us. Sat on the steps and put them on, hardest part was standing up! Took just a very few steps to feel of walking on level ground. Felt much more secure than I expected. Wasn't up to trying steps or planks, but everyone else was! One of purchases still in the planning stage. If I see a set used I'll snap them up. Never thought about running crown, that may put this idea on the top of the to-buy list! Jeff

5. 
   brisketbean_ | May 29, 2000 06:22am | #9

   *I been useing Dura stilts for about twenty five years, They are great for laying out joists and rafters on the plates, if you forget to do it on the ground, running crown, running soffit and facia, taping and painting, anything that your just about three feet too short to do without them. Bought my last pair at a pawn shop cheap, the new ones are about 275.00 or so.

6. 
   Pro-Dek | Aug 07, 2000 02:25am | #10

   *After falling thirty feet head first off a shake roof and landing on a brick wall I'm not standing on anything taller than my shoes.Shattered left forearm and wrist. I've got 90% use back thanks to modern external fixators and theropy. No I wasn't tied off so I got to pay $30,000 for a broken arm.My son wears them things like a pair of shoes muddin but I'm thinkin they look better on him than me.

7. 
   pat_r. | Oct 06, 2000 01:33am | #11

   *i have a set of 18-30" and i love them i do alot of swirled ceiling work in this area and i use them for painting, furing ceilings, insulating , and oh yes they work great for hanging christmas lights around the inside of the house ceiling line and cabinet tops

8. 
   blue_eyed_devil_ | Oct 07, 2000 10:03pm | #12

   *Ouch! I'll bet that $500 insurance premium looks small now!blue

9. 
   Heath_Jimerson | Jan 28, 2001 07:47pm | #13

   *I've been using stilts now for 10 years. I've fallen once and that was on the high ones (42 inches up). Instead of falling on my knees or on my hands I had the presence of mind to fall on my shoulder. I was a little shaken but after sitting down for a bit was fine. If I would have fallen any other way I could have broken my knee caps or my wrists. It took me about half a day to get the hang of them way back when. The best way is to just hug the walls for a while and then as you feel more comfortable start going out into the middle of the room. My wife is also quite proficient on them. She's a little shorter, lower center of gravity I suppose. She mastered them instantly, on the high ones (42 inches up). Made me feel my ego drop a few degrees! The time they save is immeasurable. walking up and down a ladder or scaffolding is for the birds.Heath Jimerson Construction

2. 
   Stephen_Angus | Jan 28, 2001 07:50pm | #14

   *
   Thinking about buying a pair of stilts for wiring, mudding, etc. in rooms with 10'+ ceilings. Any comments/suggestions?

   Much thanks.