I have been so busy with all the projects, that I completely spaced posting the progress made with the rolling ladder during last week. Here are some more pictures!
After finishing the side rails, I clamped them to my welding table.
The ensure the correct width, I bolted the top plate to the side rails.
Another view, and checking that everything is nice and level.
To have the correct angle on all the steps, I cut a piece of 12ga steel to make a jig.
Here is the piece after bending it to the correct angle.
Welded some braces in place to make sure the angle won’t change.
The pockets were cut to allow some spacers to be used to set the treads at the correct height off the welding table.
The first tread is clamped in place.
Here is the spacer.
After welding the first tread in place, I clamped a piece of steel angle to the table edge as a stop, and set the tread jig at the correct spacing to continue to weld the next treads.
Here is a closeup of the stop.
The setup allowed me to weld the treads quickly and consistently in place.
After all the treads were welded in place, I welded the caster brackets to the bottom of the side rails,
Below the bottom tread, I welded a cross member to ensure everything will remain nice and square.
Here is a closeup of the caster brace.
All the welding on the ladder is complete!
Another view!
Ready to lift this heavy ladder into a rental truck to get it to JIT Powder Coating in Farmington,
Within a short time all the pieces were ready for pickup after the finish was applied! JIT did a great job, as always!
Reassembling the top roller section.
All bolted together on the top!
A closeup!
Here is a closeup of the caster bracket.
My friend Rob Reardon painted the wheel hubs white the match the ladder.
All ready to go to be installed by the beginning of next week!
