Rolling library ladder experience?

[Jamie Buxton]

I can see three designs of library ladder on the market. Rockler sells the hardware for one (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=32227&site=ROCKLER). Putnam Ladder sells the hardware for another (http://www.putnamrollingladder.com/install.html). A third is available from Custom Service Hardware, Van Dykes, and others (http://www.cshardware.com/rolling-library-ladder).

Anybody have any experience with any of them?

[Mel Fulks]

I've worked on jobs that had that type ladder,but I did not install them. If you need it for a client they are ok. If its for you there are better solutions found in good British libraries. The rolling ladders are better for an old country store.

[Jamie Buxton]

What? Nobody has built a library ladder?

[Jerry Hillenburg]

Please note; I felt this post more appropriate in Woodworking Projects, so I made a new post there;
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?198566-Balcony-Library-Ladder-that-can-be-stored-in-a-horizontal-position&p=2057557#post2057557

This is what I call a "balcony ladder". It is similar to the library ladders of old.

The hinge is made from 2" brass rail parts. The steps are held in place with 1/4" solid brass dowel that is threaded on the ends and fastened by acorn nuts with a solid brass knob backplate as the washer.

The ladder legs are 5/4" popular that have been band sawn to create the bow. The steps are mortised into the legs.


When not in use, a piano hinged shelf on the opposite wall flips up, and after the ladder is above it, drops down to support it for horizontal storage. When people see it in this position the "Wow Factor" kicks in big time. A pulley system could be constructed using 1/4" sash cord and pulleys to support it from the ceiling.

The braces below 3 of the steps are intended to minimize racking - 3 sets seems to be the optinum number. They are not nesessariy meant to support weight - although they do.

[Mel Fulks]

The rolling ladders are usually not much different from the ones found on bunk beds .There was a popular type of library ladder that would swing vertically to fold into a round pole or square beam. It would have been folded and placed in a corner when not being used. T. Jefferson had one and its easy to find a photo of it on line.

[Jerry Miner]

Jamie--

I've installed a couple different library ladders. One was a Putnam, and the other came from Nall & Co. in San Francisco. Both work fine and install about the same. What do you want to know?

[Rick Potter]

I picked up two of them when a bookstore (Borders, or Barnes and Noble, can't remember which) closed. They had a dozen, and I got to pick out two great ones with all the hardware and tubing for $90 each. My brother also got one.

They are oak, and nice and heavy commercial ones. Found them on line for over a grand complete.

I will put one in a bedroom of our grandaughter who is a constant reader, and one in the office of my shop, but the project is at least another year away. With the rolling ladder you need a place to park it, and they go nicely behind the open door where I am going to put them.

Rick Potter

[Jamie Buxton]

Jamie--

I've installed a couple different library ladders. One was a Putnam, and the other came from Nall & Co. in San Francisco. Both work fine and install about the same. What do you want to know?

I'd been hoping to find people who had built and installed library ladders using parts kits from any of those suppliers in my first post, and who could say "this one worked well for me" or "this one didn't work well for me, and here's why...."