Scaffolding Rigging and Raising Methods.

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Thank's for the input Satmax,

No, not cheating at all. If the budget allows and the site area does too, we will use these and Lull type fork lifts all day long.  They are often better than a crane. Your photos again help illustrate where you could build a scaffold tower and rigging if the budget or site would not allow this kind of equipment.  Thank's for taking the time to put those photos up, they really help visualize things.

In this senorio, I would use a tower and probably a rigged I-Beam trolley assembly with a chain fall.  I could lift my load then role it over to the roof. Than is just one method.  Overseas, Japan, Eastern Europe, they seem to use scaffold assemblies in much more creative ways than we do here.  I have picked up many of my tricks that way.

Regards,  jay

[Satamax]

Jay, have you noticed the cantilever scarfold?   I don't know if it's in use outside of europe. But over here it's sometimes nice, since if you put scarfold on state owned land, you have to pay a usage fee. Here i didn't have the prob, but elswhere, like on a main street, i just have to have nets which will stop everything from falling. And i don't have to pay, exept for the crane space, which, if i'm not always on, i can avoid paying too :D

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Yes I have seen it, and think it's great.  I'm really glad you have joined in the conversation.  You can bring an entirely different perspective on things.  We are looking at a few barns in France, if we could sell one, maybe we could see each other.

The rigging and folks doing it seem to be more common over there than here. Then again, France has state sponsored Rock Climbers, and why many of my friends have moved there.  I almost did when I was guiding full time.  Everyone there seems to know something about knots, rigging and/or climbing.

Cheers,  jay

[Satamax]

Jay, i hang around with a fair bunch of rope access guys (steeplejacks in UK english) I've sailed a bit with centerboard boats, and before i got fat, i was climbing a bit. :D

One difference i've found between your type and our type of scarfolding, is the width. You use 6ft, we use 3' or one metre. The platform on mine is suposed to be 66cm, two boards of 33. Thought i'm using slightly larger AL ones that i got cheapish. We use a lot of tower cranes and telescopic forklifts in France. Telescopic boom cranes are seldom seen, mostly on industrial, or for fitting big tower cranes. And a lot of the roofers or brickies (well, they're pouring concrete over here) have their own truck with an arm like on my machine.  Mostly in the 40' range. There's nother thing we use, ladder elevators, where you have a ladder, a winch and a little platform going up and down with the stuff we need.

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Hey Satamax,

In that photo, is that the beginning of the Dolomite Range in the back ground of the photo?  It's been forever since I climbed there...now we are both getting old and fat.  :D :D :D ;D ;)

[Satamax]

Nope Jay, way far from the Dolomites. Something like 300 miles west. Just next door to the 2006 winter olympics sites. What you see is ancient volcanic, raised again by the formation of the alps. There's still traces of activity, in my village, we have hot water springs. The rocks here are nicer to the touch than that schrapnell of the dolomites.  ;D Tho it's the second highest massif of the alps.

[jander3]

Rigging Equipment

Below are a few of the items I've found are needed to make life reasonable at my cabin that is only accessible by ATV. 

Also, I am putting up derrick crane (log mast and boom) in the spring to assemble a structure.  Does anyone have some good photos that show what they used for hardware to attach the boom to mast and what arrangements they used to allow the mast to rotate.  My brother welded up some hardware for this, however, I am not liking the method we selected to rotate the mast.



 
Various rigging.   Rope and straps I often purchased from McMaster-Carr.   I've also found blocks and such at antique stores that only needed minor restoration.   



  
Had the base for this winch welded up on some C-Channel.  This winch can be carried by two men and boy.  But when you need it and you can't get any other power to the area, it works well.  Since it is battery powered it is not a day in and day out affair.



  
Welded clevis hooks into the loader bucket.  This made lifting and moving logs and beams with one man an easy and straightforward task.   It also minimizes the chance that will lift a log too high on bucket forks and have it roll back and crush the builder.



 
Business end of a lifting rig.  Chain fall is for the lifting. The eye splice and 3/4 Manila rope will be connected to a double sheaved block set up and used to boom the rig.



  
Another angle. Getting ready to use the chain fall to pull the rig to a vertical position.



 
Oliver 880.  Probable the best 3K I ever invested.  Points, plugs, and gravity feed gas so I can fix her.  This tractor has saved me years. 

[submarinesailor]

Hey Jon,

A while back I was looking at building derrick crane using a truck drive shaft with its rear universal and the yoke that bolts to the rear end.  I was going to find some way to drill a hole up into the bottom of the boom, slide the drive shaft up into it several feet and bolt/weld the rear end yoke to a plate and ring that tighten around the mast.  The universal would allow the boom to pivot as needed.  I talked with Gregg Mullin about this idea and he had reservations about the boom/shaft interface being the weak point until I told him I had planned on putting stainless steel banding strap every 4" where the drive shaft and boom interfaced. 

When I attended one of Gregg's shorten rigging classes, he had a pivot system that the top and bottom of the mast that allowed the whole rig to turn.  I can't remember what was at the top, but the bottom was a greased trailer hitch ball.  The whole rig sat on this ball and was able to be turned.

BTW – if any of you guys have the chance to take one of Dr. Gregg Mullins rigging classes.....DO IT!!!!  Out standing instruction, by a very down to earth guy.

Bruce

[Offthebeatenpath]

Bruce-
Do you have any contact info for Greg Mullins or a way to find out about rigging classes?  I'm always trying to learn as much as I can about rigging from those who have experience.

Jed

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Hey Jeb, et. al,

You can track him down on the net, and he will tell you for sure, loves to talk rigging.  If I see his son this spring, I can ask for this years schedule, (if he is doing anything,) or you can contact the TFG, they may have info as well.  I think Greg senior and junior will both be at the TFG conference in Burlington this year.

Regards,

jay

[Offthebeatenpath]

Thanks Jay.

Jed

[Heartwood]

It looks like we may have Grigg Mullen do at least one day of rigging workshops at the Timber Framers Guild Conference in Burlington VT in August, and we may ask him to stop at Heartwood on the way up for a couple of days. I'm helping with the program. Stay tuned; we'll post here when confirmed.

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Thank's Heartwood,

I knew Grigg would be lurking around someplace this year with a sheave and rope in hand ready to share his bag of tricks... :D :D :D

Keep us up to speed with what you get a bead on.

Regards,

jay