Broken ladder - repair or replace?

Horsedoc wrote:
TIG weld at a local metal shop>>?

Extremely THIN aluminum tubing most likely even a good welder with aluminum welding experience might have tough time.. Not to mention what most good welders will charge per hr would easily exceed the cost of a NEW ladder..

To "fix" it (and that is a stretch), the tubing needs reinforced, internal tubing would be ideal.. Now you would have to find aluminum tubing of the correct diameter to fit snugly inside the existing ladder tubing.. Not easy to find tubing nor cheap in fractional sizes to fit inside or outside diameters..

Then one would HAVE to cut back the existing ladder tubing to get rid of any kinks or tears which would compromise the strength.. Making for a larger gap that one would have to account for in the steps (have to keep steps distance consistent otherwise risk a missed step).

Then once you get all that together then attempt to weld it without blow outs and hope that it all sticks together..

Aluminum like most metals also work hardens, bends or twisting or heating it can and will make it harden and get brittle.

If one was to attempt this repair, drilling through the internal and external pipe and using a bolt or even a through rivet would be easier and most likely safer in the long run..

But, in reality, for the measily $127 it costs for a new ladder, to me all that work and hassle is not worth risking my life on..