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Idaho Falls, ID
Before diving into the what, when, and where to rent a scissor lift, let's take a look at what a scissor lift is used for and what the appropriate types are for different types of work.
First, what is a scissor lift? Well, as its name indicates, it's a lift. Specifically, it's a person lift used to reach areas high out of reach to perform work.
A lift provides a way to get higher than you could on a ladder and is more suited to a quicker job than scaffolding would be.
But what types of scissor lifts are there and why would you use one instead of another? Let's take a closer look.
As mentioned already, a scissor lift does as its name indicates. But you may be wondering what it means to call it a scissor. Nothing's being cut, right?
No, the better way to think of it is the action of a scissor. Think of it this way: when a pair of scissors are closed, the tool as a whole is completely narrow, like a knife blade. But when you open it up, it expands.
That's the same action you'll see with a scissor lift. When it's in its stowed state, it's completely collapsed at ground level. This makes it much easier to transport, as well as load people in. But when it expands, it rises like an accordion opening, to reach a height you couldn't reach before.
The accordion description is also apt in that when it collapses back, it comes together like an accordian. This is what sets a scissor lift apart from something like a telescoping lift.
When it comes to choosing the type of scissor lift to use, you need to consider the variety out there, the form and function of each type, and the location of the work.
For scissor lifts, there are basically two main types. Those types are the slab scissor lift and rough terrain slab scissor lift.
The slab scissor lift is the most common scissor lift used. It gets its name from the fact it usually operates on flat surfaces, like concrete slabs. The variety of these lifts usually comes down to capacity for the amount of people and tools it can support. The function, regardless of capacity, remains the same.
Another item that differentiates the types of slab scissor lifts is its source of power. There are two choices: electric or engine powered.
Electric scissor lifts are appropriate for smaller jobs requiring fewer people on stable terrain. The platform can usually only support two workers at a maximum and the unit itself is not meant for any type of rough terrain. They are also usually used for indoor work where emission limits are important.
Engine powered scissor lifts are exactly that: engine powered. As a result, these lifts tend to be bigger, support more workers and equipment, and are more rugged. These are the type of lifts used more in construction and repair jobs.
Rough terrain slab scissor lifts are exactly the same as most engine powered scissor lifts, only they're rated for rough terrain.
Rough terrain lifts have things like more powerful engines, the ability to shift between two-wheel and four-wheel drive, and oscillating axles to compensate for the terrain. They also usually have lug tread tires for increased stability.
With any of the above scissor lifts comes a need to transport them to the work site. Although you can drive them around the work site, you won't be taking these lifts out on the road.
So, you're going to also need a trailer scissor lift that's specifically designed for transport. The trailer comes with built-in loading ramps, independent wheel brakes, and installed lighting. It makes transport to and from the work site easy and efficient.
If you have a job that requires a scissor lift, now you know how to determine which type is best for the work. Slab lift rentals in Idaho Falls are usually just a phone call or email away. And if you need any more information on lifts or other equipment, please reach out.