The LadderLimb is an third-hand accessory that fits inside ladder rungs, such as those found at the sides of aluminum ladders.
It features a tapered shaft, a handle to help with positioning, and a swiveling carabiner clip that can support tools, paint pails, buckets, tool bags, or anything else you might need while on the ladder.
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The LadderLimb is priced at $30 each, and discount pricing is available for packs of 6 and 12.
There doesn’t seem to be a weight rating for the LadderLimb, but you probably won’t want to suspend more than a few pounds from it anyways. A 5-gallon bucket, for example, would not be a good idea to hang.
More Info(via LadderLimb)
Update: the LadderLimb can support up to 22 pounds of weight.
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SteveR
To be honest, I don’t like the idea of hanging weight off to the side on an extension ladder. It tends to destabilize the ladder and makes a fall more likely. If you were to relocate a shelf or hanger to the inside (i.e., supported on a ladder rung), that would be much safer. You’d only give up a few rungs (height), but reduce the chances for an accident. This product gives the user a reason to “cheat”, climbing and working higher than he should.
Stuart
That would be my concern as well. The product doesn’t extend too far out, but I don’t think I would go near the 22-pound weight rating. Maybe 5-10 pounds is the absolute most I would support with this.
A spotter, or at least stability check, would be a must before I would use this on medium-height or tall ladders.
fred
I assume one would worry about tipping moment – but the arm doesn’t extend too far out beyond the rail . A gallon can full of paint weighs in at about 8 pounds – but some of the force will transfer downward along the rails. You probably could make some assumptions (ladder weight etc.) and do a vector diagram to calculate what suspended weight in the pictured paint can would result in the ladder tipping. The old cheaper solution hooked the paint pail to rung in the center of the ladder.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Workforce-Swivel-Pail-Hook-SPHHD/202284227?N=5yc1vZbtta
Stuart
How many users ALWAYS use ladders on level ground, with legs properly spread, or propped at recommended angles?
There is an inherent risk of injury associated with climbing up a ladder. Anything that increases that risk by even minute amounts should be evaluated cautiously.
That doesn’t mean this is a bad product, it’s just something that needs to be considered carefully before and during each use. If I thought it was a bad product, I wouldn’t have posted about it.
fred
You are absolutely right.
I was always taught that extension ladders were really meant for climbing only – 1 person at a time; that they should , whenever possible be tied (or hooked – e.g. onto a parapet ) in at the top and bottom, and that they were not meant to be used as vertical (or worse yet) horizontal work platforms. While I’ve sometimes worked from an extension ladder (e.g. windows or gutters) – for jobs of any duration – I prefer to work from staging. I also prefer not to carry heavy objects up a ladder to a roof – but rather erect a hoist, use a crane (sometimes an excavator) for this purpose – or use a dedicated ladder hoist.
I suspect that ladder accidents account for many injuries and deaths each year – and had a friend and his son who were both tragically electrocuted and killed using an aluminum extension ladder at their home.
fred
Something similar for step ladders:
http://www.shamrocksupply.com/itemDetailFilterPH.action?RFP=IFD&IDP=Y&codeId=10083158
Johnny
That probably works alot better than the broom handle that I use.
Galtha58
I use a wooden dowel with a notch in each end. Can hang a can on each end for better balance….lol.
Al
Great idea…I saw this on the DIY network show.
Kevin Smith
My old broken rake handle has been performing this task admirably for the last 20 years.
jesse
It looks as if the tapered portion is meant to be wedged into the rung. I could imagine it getting stuck, and the person on the ladder trying to jerk it loose, and going over the side in the process.
Rick
I use a Werner ladder stabilizer that has a hook for paint pails built into the devise. The stabilizer works great as you can feel confident reaching far out on either side of the ladder.
I have an older model, but here it is at Lowes:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_95493-287-AC78_0__?productId=3047885
Mac
Yeah, my old broom handle does the same thing too. Cost = a couple mins to cut it to size. Way too expensive a solution.