Tower scaffolds - what to buy?

[RichD1]

Looking at buying a steel tower scaffold but have noticed that there appears to be two types of design for how the sections are slotted together.

Either a socket with a pinch bolt or swaged for a slide fit.

Any advice on which is better?

Richard

 

[vinn]

Best to hire and erect different types to find whats suitable for you. Then buy.

Erection is only part of it - how safe and comfortable it feels in use is more important.
I suppose you intend to buy off ebay say and then sell on when you've finished with it?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Most hire towers these days are aluminium for a very good reason - they are far lighter. This is a major factor when erecting and moving them from location to location and having owned steel in the distant past I would never recommend them because they are so heavy

 

[RichD1]

I had a small steel tower scaffold many years ago when we first moved into our property, now I've retired and our daughter has just moved to a new home (in the same road!!!) I thought I would invest in one again. Ours and our daughters front bay windows both need restoring and a tower would make it so much easier

Most of the ones I've looked at (4' x 4' size) will fit into the back of an estate car and each section weighs about 6 to 8kgs, so I'm not too worried about weight. Plus they are only going to be used near home.

Regarding safety, I'm going to buy outriggers and some tie-in sections. Regarding aluminium, I agree they are lighter but I feel the thinner section DIY types would be less strong, plus they are almost double the cost of a similar sized steel version.

Any thoughts on socketed or swaged sections?

Richard