One of the most important tools for a Siding Mechanic or Painter is a Pump Jack Scaffold. If you have ever visited or passed by a construction site you have probably seen one of these systems attached to the side of a house.
There are three basic parts of a pump jack system.
The pole that the jack rides up and down on
The pump jack which is pumped with your foot to go up and hand cranked to go down
and the scaffold planks
You can purchase either a steel pump jack that rides up and down on a wood pole made of two 2x4s that are nailed together or a solid wood post or an aluminum pump jack that rides up and down an aluminum pole that has a rubber tread attached to the outside to prevent slippage.
Either system is pretty identical in its use and setup.
The pole base is supported on the ground by a stake that is driven into the ground or by a special footing that accepts the post.
At the roof line or at a point on the wall there is a top bracket that is nailed into or lag bolted into hopefully the 2×4 studs in the wall or rafters in the roof. It is important to have a strong attachment but often times only the sheathing is penetrated which is not as stable.
The pump jack will accept a scaffold base for standing on and this is usually made out of aluminum and is made just for this purpose. The base where you stand has holes in it to allow mud from your boots or water to shed onto the ground and it is made in such a way that its internal framing is both light and not flexible. This is good because normal lumber would have a deflection rate too high to allow someone to safely stand in the center of the scaffold without it sagging.
The pump jack will also accept a work area which is often just another aluminum scaffold base but this should never be used for standing on.
For safety there is a nylon netting that surrounds the outside of the scaffold and it should be strong enough to catch both tools an a person if you were to slip.
A pump jack system really needs 2 or better 3 people to install it.
The first thing you do is install the top support system bracket to the pole and then install the pump jack at the base of the pole about 2 feet up.
Once both poles are assembled you can then lift and rest the pole against the home and someone will need to climb a ladder to the roof or to the side of the wall where it will be attached.
With one person holding it steady at the top the 2 people at the bottom can lift the pole and insert it into the post base.
Next the top bracket is attached and then the rest of the assembly can be completed at ground level.
To make the pump jack go up on the pole you use your foot in the pumping mechanism to climb the pole about 6 inches per pump. It is best if 2 people work the scaffold into place but in a pinch one person can pump one jack and then walk to the other side and raise the other side.
When you want to go down you need to use the hand cranks to lower each side.
Working on a pump jack is not as difficult as getting it in place but going up and down does take some time so you should have ready all your materials and tools for an hour or two work.
Remember that you should always follow the manufacturers recommendations as to the loads you can carry and also the safety precautions needed to work safely.
Pump jacks are relatively inexpensive but if you feel that you are uneasy working on one you might want to rent an electric sizzors ladder. You may also want to invest in a safety harness that can be tied off to the roof or sidewall. OSHA may not require a safety harness if you install the protective safety net but it is a secondary means to catch you in case of an accident.
For more information or if you would like to purchase a pump jack system checkout our store offerings for discounts.