Which Ladder?

[Johnno]

I'm looking into getting a Zarges Skymaster to use for the simpler jobs in lantern rigging but I can't figure out the working height available when the ladder is used in its free standing mode. Our FOH bars are at 15ft (5m) and our stage bars probably about 12ft (4m). I need the ladder free-standing for on-stage work but it can be used either way FOH. Below is the spec sheet from Zarges. Which would be the most appropriate ladder for me?

 

Product code____No. of rungs___Closed length (m)____Free-standing height (m)____Extended height (m)

___40227________3 x 6______________1.90______________3.00____________________4.10

___41097________3 x 7______________2.20______________3.60____________________5.00

___40228________3 x 8______________2.40______________4.10____________________5.80

___41099________3 x 9______________2.70______________4.70____________________6.70

___40229________3 x 10_____________3.00______________4.96____________________6.90

___40230________3 x 12_____________3.60______________6.10____________________8.60

___41231________3 x 14_____________4.10______________6.90____________________9.70

 

Regards.

John.

[Ben Langfeld]

I'd guess the 40227. Free standing, it's 3m high, so rigging from that height to 4m bars will be comfortable. It's extended height is 4.1m, and again, rigging to 5m bars will be comfortable. Sounds simple to me. Am I missing something?

[Brian]

If you can wait until tomorrow I'll be dragging my set out and will check which ones I have.

[mumbles]

I'd guess the 40227

I would have said 40230, or possibly 40229, if it would be a problems to store, or for the budget.

 

The 40227 would put you a metre below the bar, and as such I wouldn't be happy rigging anything more than a par can or a 1k fresnel. Ideally the ladder would be set so that the top is slightly below the height of the bars, so you can get to them comfortably, but at the same time you don't have a ladder in the way when trying to plug up or focus.

 

Also, if I can get away with it I don't like resting a ladder on LX bars, so if there are no handy RSJs to lean against, you would be stuck to leaning on the LX bar. On this basis, I would have definitely said to try to get one that you can use as a A-Frame, for the extra stability, and the ability to reach places where there is nothing to lean against.

 

EDIT to add quote to make more sense.

[gareth]

I'd say you need to go for the 10-rung at least, and ideally the 12. Contrary to root's suggestion, the 6-rung will be nowhere near tall enough for your purposes.

 

One thing to bear in mind is that when you get to the 12-rung Zarges, you're looking at something which is a pretty bulky and heavy piece of kit to move about. A 12-rung is just about manageable as a one-person carry by most people (although those who perhaps aren't quite as strong, or who are a bit vertically-challenged, will probably struggle a bit), but the 14-rung is a two-person carry for anyone except Geoff Capes and one or two members of the WNO touring crew :D. If you're looking for something that can generally be carried around by one person, the 12-rung is an absolute maximum IMO.

[Johnno]

.... Sounds simple to me. Am I missing something?

 

No, it's me that's a bit slow. Too many sherry trifles. Merry hicmas.

 

I can't figure out how high up the ladder you would expect to work when it's freestanding, therefore which I need to reach the heights I must. Presumably if I held onto the top rung for safety that rung would need to be close to my intended working height.

 

I'll have to get the smallest that will suffice, to keep within my budget. At present I've got a heavy wooden A-frame that has a platform at about 9ft which is no use FOH and I want to replace it. I've got a scaffold for real man's rigging jobs but it seems excessive when I just want to do a girly gel change :biggrin: OUCH! Girlfriend just read that and kicked my a-frame.

 

John.

[mumbles]

I can't figure out how high up the ladder you would expect to work when it's freestanding, therefore which I need to reach the heights I must. Presumably if I held onto the top rung for safety that rung would need to be close to my intended working height.

If you go for the 12 rung version, then you can always have it lower than maximum height, but with the ability to go higher if the need arose.

 

I'll have to get the smallest that will suffice, to keep within my budget.

Ah, well thats put paid to that theory, but I would still try to justify it, purely for the added safety of being able to work without having your hand stretched above your head, and being unable to hold in while focussing, or opening the gel fram holder, or tightening the bolt, or taping cables along the top of the bar, the list goes on.

 

If you really can't get the budget for a 12 rung, then the 10 rung is about the smallest I would be willing to go.

[TomLyall]

I'll have to get the smallest that will suffice, to keep within my budget.

 

10 rung is it then. They're not too bad to carry and should store fairly easily. Only thing is, as you get right to the top of the extended section, you'll find the ladder a bit bouncy, and you'll definately want someone at the bottom of the ladder. If you've not used Zarges before, it might be worth seeing if you can try a pair out at the kinda height you're intending to use them. Shouldn't be too bad on a 10 rung, but the top of a 12 or 14 can be really wobbly!

 

Edit: Quote Fixed.

[Neil Hampson]

I would most certianly go for at least one size bigger than you think you need to go. when Zarges are used as an extended A-frame at the longest extension they tend to get a little wobbly because there is only two rungs of overlap at the extension, I prefer to use a larger set and I can then rig with my feet on what would be the top of the standard A-frame, with the extension in front of me. I have used the 8, 12 and 14 rung versions and almost every time the 14 rung ones are worth the extra effort to get out of the storeroom.

On another note I would not try to save money on inferior copies (are Zargees the original?). some of them are not the most stable of ladders at the top. (I'm thinking of the Youngman, much lighter, but also a lot less stable)

In answer to your original question , to comfortably reach a 5m bar, rigging a big old profile, I would be using asking for a 12 rung, 10 as an absolute minimum.

[Pete]

Youngman ladders are very scary.

I had one at full extension, trying to do a swap out I have to admit that I wasn't at all comfortable doing it due to the wobble

[Stutwo]

Our bars are at about the same height as yours, and we definitely made the right choice in getting the 10 rung skymaster. It's a single person lift for a reasonably strong person, and is nice and solid. It's nice and manageable to erect and move with one person, and the ladder section is a nice size and handy for hard to get to places.

 

I would be uncomfortable using any less than the 10 rung at those heights, and any more would become a two man carry every time.

[Ben Langfeld]

I apologise, I had based my suggestion on standing at the top of the ladder. Quite obviously, this is a rather stupid oversight. Oops!

[gareth]

I had based my suggestion on standing at the top of the ladder

:D :) :o :o :o

[Brian]

FWIW mine is a twelve rung and my FOH bars are at 5.7m. With that version you get a decent amount of overlap meaning you get to stand on 2 rungs most of the while which is much kinder on the feet.

[Andygwk121]

Hi all

 

I am looking to buy a zarges ladder and was wondering what was the largest sky master you could strap to a lwb transit.

 

thanks

 

Andy