Building a ladder - Choice of materials?

[divander]

Seems like I'm the only one in the world who wants to build a ladder to use in the garden. At least it feels that way when I google and try to find info and tips, especially on materials. The only things I find are ladders for lofts, ladders from docks, and ladders to put flowers on.

Does anyone know which type of wood is more or less suitable? I'm thinking pine might be a bit weak, but maybe spruce could work. I seem to remember it's a bit tougher and it's also used to build oars. Or maybe ash? It's even tougher, and it's a material that used to be used for tools, etc.?

Anyone who knows, has a clue or suggestions?

 

[Mikael_L]

Here it is claimed elm.

Even here
http://www.tracentrum.se/media/1147/fakta_om_lovtra.pdf

But Wibe makes their wooden step ladders in pine
http://www.wibeladders.se/Stegar/fristaende-stegar/dubbelsidiga-trapp-och-pinnstegar/trastege/

 

[Oldboy]

Ash can be good, but it is heavy and has poor rot resistance.

If the ladder is normally stored under a roof and possibly equipped with replaceable "feet" and/or, for example, tarred at the bottom, any type of wood should work fine.

If the ladder will be exposed to a lot of moisture/rain/snow/wear, then pressure-treated pine might be an alternative? Or an aluminum ladder. They are available in varying lengths and are lightweight.

 

[Nötegårdsgubben]

I usually put together a couple of ladders for hunting towers more or less every summer from regular spruce beams and old decking boards or whatever is available.

Ugly as sin and heavy as hell, but on the other hand, they don't take many minutes to make if the tools are out.

Spruce is probably quite good if you're going to make a nicer ladder with round rungs, but as mentioned, it becomes much heavier than an aluminum ladder and is probably mostly for the enthusiast.

 

[Daniel_N]

Seems like I'm the only one in the world who wants to build a ladder to use in the garden. At least it feels that way when you google and try to find info and tips, especially on materials. The only things I find are ladders for lofts, ladders from piers, and ladders to put flowers on.

Does anyone know which type of wood is more or less suitable? I'm thinking pine is a bit weak, but perhaps spruce might work. I have the impression it's a bit tougher and that oars are also made from it. Or maybe ash? It's supposedly even tougher and a material that used to be used for tools, etc.?

Does anyone have knowledge, a clue, or suggestions?

I'm not an expert on ladders, but I know that pine is generally stronger and with better strength in all directions than spruce. The difference isn't huge, but undoubtedly in favor of pine. The most important thing is to choose the right pieces, without knots, defects, etc., as that will make both pine and spruce work.

 

[Nötegårdsgubben]

This, by the way, came up when I googled "build a ladder".

http://lundagard.blogspot.com/2014/06/att-bygga-en-stege.html?m=1

"Gran" and "tung" as mentioned seem to be reality for them as well...

 

[Nötegårdsgubben]

I am not an expert on ladders, but I know that pine is generally stronger and with better strength in all directions than spruce. The difference isn't huge, but definitely in pine's favor. The most important thing is to choose the right pieces, without knots, defects, etc., then both pine and spruce will work.

The advantage of spruce (if you have your own land) is that you will always have access to suitable small spruce trees to take down, debark, and use for ladder rungs.

 

[divander]

Yes, maybe it works with pine. I also saw that ladder made of a split log, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. I was thinking of building a fairly conventional ladder with flat steps (not round rungs) but I want it to come together at the top. This is to work better when pruning trees.