So reading through the post on the sectional vs. extension ladders I noticed some sectional guys talking about technique on stacking so you don’t kill yourself at heights. Would one of you guys mind post a vid that shows the proper stack method? I’m thinking about picking up a set of sectionals but I want to know what I’m doing before I go to a customers house.
I don’t use sectionals but here is a video from youtube.
//youtu.be/- YouTube
Yeah, I’ve seen that video but he doesn’t really talk about proper technique of putting them together for taller reaches.
Not sure what you are asking. You put 5 sections together the same way you’d put two sections together.
The way the guy in the video put them together he was balancing them. The taller you go, the harder it is to balance them. So all you have to do is lean the top against the house as you erect them.
That’s it. Enough said.
Oops, missed this part. I would suggest you practice erecting your sectionals before you attempt to at a customers house.
Alright, I thought I read that to go higher you needed more than common sense. Maybe it was “little” more than common sense. Thanks guys, I’ll give it a shot.
I was talking about common sense on one of my posts. Another way of saying it is “If you have two left feet sectionals aren’t for you.” If that’s the case you should buy an extension ladder because they are much easier for a beginner to use. Nobody goes on line asking about training videos on how to set up an extention ladder.
The learning curve for sectionals is a pain but well worth the effort. Once you’ve got it down you’ll never go back. 
Joel Andrews covers setting up sectionals on his window cleaning secrets of the professionals video and the IWCA has a ladder safety video that has some sectional set up info as well. The IWCA video is mostly about extension ladder safety and worth every penny. They cost about $50 and $80.
Education is expensive especially when you learn through the school of hard knocks!
There is alot more to effective sectional usage than what you will see on those two videos but they are a good start.
One thing that someone told me when I got mine that has served me well when stacking sectionals high is to keep your eye on the top of the top section. It helps in balancing the entire unit as you go higher. We never stack 3 high inside a home without two of us being there to help each other because it just makes sense to protect both the homeowner and us when stacking around valuable interior items. (although I have stacked them up many times alone inside)
When you receive your sectionals, take them outside your own house and stack them up several times. It does take some getting used to but you will find them to be a tremendous plus to your arsenal of tools because they put you where no other ladder can go in many situations.
Good Luck!
Thanks for the info guys. I don’t know what I’d do without the internet sometimes…
