Making a Low Cost DIY Scaffold + Free Plans

This video looks at how to construct your own portable scaffold, allowing you to work to a height of 12 feet or 3.6m. It's designed to be assembled and disassembled by one person. The scaffold is made from cheap and readily available framing timber (70mm x 35mm).
Plans: drive.google.c...
Following is the cut list for the assembly:
Scaffold Base: (70mm x 35mm Framing Timber)
Studs: 8 x 3200mm
(Blocks)Noggings: 8 x 70mm
Cross Supports (Ladders): 8 x 900mm
Scaffold Extension: (70mm x 35mm Framing Timber)
Studs: 8 x 1870mm
(Blocks) Noggings: 4 x 70mm
Cross Supports (Ladders): 8 x 900mm
Connection Leg: 4 x 600mm
Floor Panels:
6 x 1570mm (70mm x 35mm Framing Timber) - Notched at ends
2 x 1570mm x 685mm (12mm Plywood)
Scaffold Support Braces:(70mm x 35mm Framing Timber)
4 x 2400mm
Safety Rails:
8 x 1570mm (70mm x 35mm Framing Timber) - Notched at ends

[@RobertJLessard]

I searched diy scaffolding and a few came up. I like your design best. 👍 Thanks for the ideas, renting scaffold is expensive.

[@mlutescu]

it would have been nice to see the final assembled scaffold. Nice work anyway.
Edit: I found your follow up video. Thank you!

[@diycave5144]

Let me know if you have any questions

[@easyspeak101]

Really nice, timber looks good enough. Glad opted for bolts l8r on👍

[@boots7859]

Nice design and build. My only nitpick would be to insure you are using construction-rated screws. Were it me, I'd probably use 3/8 bolts in place of the screws. A few bucks for overkill is worth it for something like this.

[@CaedmonOS]

Also using bolts makes it more disassembleable and reassembleable in the future if need be

[@dianevessels2632]

Very impressive. Good work.

[@kevinquevem]

Thank you for showing me this great design. You have just saved me €1500!
I'd like to build this myself with just the addition of large heavy duty braked swivel casters and maybe hinged braced outriggers in all corners. What do you think? Do you see this being able to reach to 7 meters working height?

[@diycave5144]

Thanks for your comments. I’m not sure about 7m working height. That’s almost double the working height of mine. You would definitely need to consider increasing the width and height for stability as well as the outriggers. Challenge will also be in putting it up as you will probably need at least 3 levels. Getting the extensions to beyond the second level probably will require at least 2 people (if you use framing timber’s) so you need to figure out a safe way of doing that.

[@toldja472]

Thank you.

[@davidhiggins293]

Brilliant design which I really appreciate you sharing with us.
Can I ask what height you are, as I’m wondering how easy it is for someone around 5ft 8” to lift and fit the uprights overhead to attach to the next level up?

[@robertlesnjak861]

Hi David I’m 5ft 7” and average build. There is a second video on how to put it erect it. It’s important to make sure the base is secure and braced (as per video) and then p

[@robertlesnjak861]

…and place side rails to ensure you are safely inside the platform. The extension rails then slide up on the outside. The bracing sticks out a little on those side rails. As you slide the top rail up you can rest the rail rung on these to reposition your hands but always keep one hand on the rail during this process.

[@robertlesnjak861]

…once the rail is slid all the way up it should lock into the the opening of the base rail. Keep the bolts in your pocket and then just secure through the pre-drilled holes. I put in all bolts first then tighten it all up.

[@shresthaji]

Whats the maximum weight base Scaffolding can support? Can it hold two adults?

[@aleksandrk9703]

An excellent design for a timber scaffold. Can you comment on warping issues over time and after exposure to rain. My timbers will be often exposed to rain and stored undercover outside when not. Also, do you have any advice on working on uneven ground.

[@diycave5144]

Great question. I bought some cheap paint to help protect it a bit from weathering. This seems to have worked well. Working with this scaffold I always will use additional bracing to either tether it to a wall or to the ground to support it from rocking and tipping. In addition when the ground is uneven you will need to to prop up with additional pieces of timber.

[@aleksandrk9703]

@@diycave5144 I may be naive in this question, but would 3/4" plywood be a more durable yet lighter alternative to the 35mm framing timber you are using?

[@diycave5144]

I don’t have much experience with plywood outside and it’s durability, however it should not be prone to warping like construction timber. I guess marine grade plywood maybe ok though?

[@gergemall]

Thx

[@GraemeCarse-q8x]

What is the chance of the wood splitting and what type of timber do you recomend

[@diycave5144]

I use construction grade pine

[@romanandyuliyaishchenko202]

Thank you so much we just both old cottage and doing renovation that is handy to have and saving a lot of money, amassing.... what is the measurement between - (Blocks)Noggings Kind Regards Roman

[@robertlesnjak861]

Hi Roman, I have set out those blocks at around 900mm spacing. But you can adjust the spacing a little if you need to. Just do the same on all uprights once you have the first one done. Good luck with your project.

[@GraemeCarse-q8x]

With the notched rails do thay sit and what timber is the scaffold made from

[@diycave5144]

I use construction grade pine

[@CaedmonOS]

can you release your sketch up file

[@robertlesnjak861]

Yes it can 200kg

[@lovetrump1088]

Great Idea, but with the cost of the Lumber now...(thanks Bidenski/NWO), this is more costly than most alternatives...a couple of ladder jacks would be best.

[@alexbowser9801]

If buy square steel tube at places like Gumtree it would be cheaper and possibly have less weight

[@georgeburns8447]

Impressive. But why the heck is a Brit using the metric system? That's like the worst measuring system ever invented. Stick with the British imperial system. That's what we use here in America and it's far superior for framing and pretty much every other kind of measurement in comparison to metric.

[@DavorZdralo]

Nice sarcasm.

[@georgeburns8447]

@@DavorZdralo Wasn't sarcastic. It's the truth. The metric system sucks.

[@DavorZdralo]

@@georgeburns8447 I know you weren't, I was making a sarcastic joke that your opinion is so stupid that people mistake it for sarcasm.

[@georgeburns8447]

@@DavorZdralo What's stupid is the metric system, whose increment of measurement jumps from the centimeter to the meter with nothing between. Absolutely ridiculous. Instead of saying something is a simple measurement of, let's say one and a half feet, with your dumb -a$% system, it forces you to say it's 45.72 centimeters. What kind of nonsense is that? I win. You lose. CASE CLOSED.