How to make a 10 foot tall stable platform/tower?

CLARKcon · Post by **CLARKcon** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:18 pm

Hola

Have had this idea for months now...I want to create a 10 foot tall platformed (open scaffold type) structure as a mini fun/look tower for COFFEE CAMP 10'. Some of the constraints would like to keep in mind is:

-able to support two standing or sitting people
-can be eaisily built on-site
-possibly reusable (made of metal?)

Any ideas or suggestions very welcomed

If anyone has built such a deck (sidenote: I see a shit-ton of massive constructs there, surely, a baby 10 ft. tower isn't out of the question

!) then let's talk shop! Sure will eventually hash a form out, but want to consider all perspectives. Thanks

!!!!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:05 pm

Construction scaffolding comes in 5' tall sections, so you need two sections. Plus you should have a set of railings for the top. The foot print size is usually 5' x 10'.
Rent from construction equipment rental yard or buy used on Craigslist. Make sure you get good deck planks. Scaffolding beats the heck out of home-cobbled lumber.

CLARKcon · Post by **CLARKcon** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:40 am

Dig it Elliot, will do my homework, thanks

Just want it to be crazy simple: ease to set up/break down & stability-that's it...

...and maybe have a megaphone stationed up there...and possibly a gong (to ring to signal that coffee's hot)... n' binoculars and a rotating amber light, but THAT'S IT

Post by **Sham** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:06 am

10 feet?

If you do 3 sections, you can make it 15 feet.

If you do 4 sections, you can make it 20 feet.

If you do 5 sections, you can make it 25 feet.

If you do 6 sections, you can make it 30 feet.

If you do 7 sections, you can make it 35 feet.

If you do 8 sections, you can make it 40 feet.

If you do 9 sections, you can make it 45 feet.

If you do 10 sections, you can make it 50 feet.

If you do 11 sections, you can make it 55 feet.

If you do 12 sections, you can make it 60 feet, but this would be dangerous.

THINK BIG!

CLARKcon · Post by **CLARKcon** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:15 am

Ha

! I like it Shambala, which leads me to another qustion/tip: anchoring. Wondering if rebar (a ton of it) would be enough to hold in place, or if there is a better notion or method...

Post by **Sham** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:29 am

I'm no engineer, but if you can use 4 sections as a base, and then build up from there, you could probably go up 25 feet and still have a stable structure. The open scaffholding tubing would be very friendly in high winds. You of course would want to build this at home and test the daylights out of it.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:10 am

Make it taller than the Man.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:12 am

Ugly Dougly wrote:Make it taller than the Man.

Larry would have such a cow.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:15 am

Scaffold blows over just like anything else. Use guy lines.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:05 am

For two people? Put two of these next to each other.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/g ... x?a=560081

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:38 am

Scaffolding can be assembled side-by-side into any size footprint. Build a pyramid (actually, a ziggurat -- a small flat platform on top, as opposed to a point), and it will be fairly stable.
If Clarkcon is happy with ten feet height, three sections could be used to build it with a 15 x 10 footprint. Or am I too sleepy today?

shiznicks1 · Post by **shiznicks1** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:56 pm

Im building my first tower this year too! What I have settled on is pallet racking. Its plenty strong and easy to set up. You can get it used for a fair price and it will last you forever. Plus its easy to add on if you ever want it to be BIGGER, or should I say when you want it bigger :)