MAGIC ROLLING STEPS

Intro: MAGIC ROLLING STEPS

I saw this neat instcrutable by Phil B and realized....  
I needed to make one for my big ladder...After all instructables are for how to DIY...

The second amazing thing was that  I Had All The Parts On Hand  never had to leave the property for anything.....Zer0 trips to Home Depot..

The first amazing thing is the  IDEA  from Phil B to create this simple elegant concept for one handed ladder moving.

Here is a Tip about ladder sitting.  The un-retouched first picture is a clever Trick........ ;¬)

STEP 1: MATERIALS and TOOLS USED

Materials

• Two wheels which we saved and never threw out.
• One ten foot length of 3/8" re-bar
• Four 3/8" hex head bolts 2½" long with 1¼" thread
• Four 3/8" hex nylock nuts
• Eight large 3/8" washers 2" diameter
• Two concrete anchors for metal angles ( see a pic )

Tools

• Electric drill and bits, or a small drillstand.
• Hacksaw, I used a power hand held band saw
• Welder, I used a heliarc.
• Re-bar cutter / bender
• Tape measure
• Grinder
• Heavy bench Vice
• Wrench or nut driver set

STEP 2: ReBAR TRIANGLE and BOLT

Starting with a ten foot length of 3/8 inch re-bar;

• Cut two 3 foot lengths of re-bar and bend them in half 18 inches.
• Cut two 2 inch lengths of re-bar  for  holding the shaft bolts.
• Cut two 18 inch lengths of re-bar  for cross bolt or longer if you have a wider ladder.
• Cut two of the bolts at a 45º angle where the threads stop.

This bending is easier said then done, especially with that super bending tool
that I'm not as proficient in its use as I should be..

My first bend resulted in a 17" -19" triangle, so I bent the second 3 foot the same way.

This meant when welding the wheel shafts, opposing symmetry is important and
naturally the shafts were welded identical and wrong..

One wheel inside to the ladder, and one wheel outside to the ladder.
......That had to be cut, drilled out and re-welded..see picture # 4........

STEP 3: IRON CORNERS

The only suitable iron angle material I found was / are a bunch of concrete to wood anchors
left over from my porch construction years ago..

• Cut four iron corners picture # 5 from two concrete anchors..
• Then cut four corners as depicted in picture # 6 and picture # 7 to fit your ladder..
• Then cut four corners as depicted in picture # 8 to avoid a hurt sharp corner.
• Finally Drill a hole to clear the 3/8" .re-bar & bolt as depicted in picture # 8

STEP 4: WELDING

Lets weld the axle 3/8 inch bolts first;

• First lay the bent re-bar short side away from you over a metal plate with a 3/8" hole..
• Tack the 2" re-bar to the curved bend with the bolt hanging down perpendicular..
• If it looks like the pictures go ahead and weld the hex bolt in place..
• Now lay the second re-bar long side away from you over the same metal plate and hole.
• Tack the second 2" re-bar to the curved bend with the bolt hanging down perpendicular..
• If this looks like the pictures go ahead and weld the hex bolt in place..

Now weld the iron angles;

• Lay a re-bar with the wheel shaft pointing straight up.
• Clamp an angle iron to the re-bar and tack like picture # 3 and picture # 4..
• Clamp the other iron angle to the re-bar and tack.
• Both angles point inward towards each other like picture # 6..
• Go and weld them and clean up with a wire brush wheel.
• Repeat the procedure for the other side.

STEP 5: MAKE LONG BOLT

Now we need to make a long 3/8 inch hex bolt..

• Start by cutting two bolts at 45º see the pictures ( helps the welding to the re-bar )
• Weld the head to your 18" re-bar.
• Weld the threads to the other end ( try to keep it straight  ).
• See the fourth picture after a little grinding clean-up.

You can simply just buy a threaded rod, if welding is not your forte.
But you will need two more nylocks..

STEP 6: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Mount the triangles;
Pick a second or third bottom through step.
Make sure that it is not going to interfere with the ladder slide function.

I used a large thick washer on the hex head side through the ½" hole
and a lock washer under a nylock on the thread side through the 3/8" hole.
Tighten until there is no wiggling...

Mount the wheels;
Slide the wheels on using washers and nylock nuts.
Tighten until a wheel spin slows and back off ¾ of a turn..

Add a little Rust-o-ileum paint, some Levioto magic and your project is done and ready.

Comments

[ThanassisBerlin]

Eye catching + useful. The golden rule for an advertiser like me. A great idea and an even greater presentation!

[jamesabt007]

In an attempt to find the reason why you are levitated on that ladder, I read through the whole guide and I have two things to say. First off, I am still baffled and annoyed that you did not reveal the means by which you levitated yourself although upon first glance, I thought of a hidden strut behind the leg like another member previously stated. Secondly, this is a very detailed guide and very helpful although I was not particularly interested in making one of these initially but now I am. I am impressed by the technique you employed to grab people's attention. :]

[iceng]

It was a nice sunny day to show the ladder when I thought of the levitation TRICK.

I don't  want to cause you any distress. .

Had you read down a few comments, the reveal is described with a picture of the support frame.

For you Iv searched up an imperfect takeout image where my legs were off position !.

[jamesabt007]

Thank you so much! I can finally sleep stress free now! :)

[iceng]

Good to hear :)

[BMR11100]

Btw that's not magic

[iceng]

I pointed out Arthur C Clarke's idiom
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
It is a Trick

[BMR11100]

It's science

[iceng]

As the best comment

[BMR11100]

More like photo shop

[iceng]

I sit on my honesty

[3366carlos]

I don't access to the tools you used. I wonder if I can use bigger diameter wheels.

[iceng]

Sure, as long as they don't get in your way when you use it as a ladder ;-)

[GarthBock]

Excellent build ! I would like something like this on my Little Giant ladder because it is heavier than a normal one. Got me thinking.....

"Add a little Rust-o-ileum paint, some Levioto magic...."


Hermione (To Ron Weasley) : Stop, stop, stop! You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's LeviOsa, not "Leviota"!

[iceng]

Thanks for the wizz comment,
After all what's life without whimsey :-)

[timothyspirit]

woa this is so cool!

[iceng]

Thanks it was fun to make :-)

A

[qwerty987]

It looks like a clear square base. The gravel is compressed in one place and the shadow is bent. So i would guess that you are using acrylic or some other clear strong material.

[iceng]

Congratulations, your close enough for the full Reveal.

A rectangular box frame made of ½" square tubular aluminum
hidden by my legs and the gravel brushed over one of
the four tube floor segments. 
I'm sitting on a small plank of wood that shades what I do not.

This first photo is very carefully staged and Totally un-retouched..

A

[iceng]

Here is the support for pic #1....