I may be buying a house with upstairs game room. The stairs look fine, straight not curved, wide and big landing to turn around but they are polished wood. I don't want to damage the wood wanted to see if anyone has used the Escalara and how it works on interior wooden stairs. Thanks
You should be fine as long as the wheels are free of debris that could scratch them and you are careful with the metal parts of the escalara. I have had the rubber feet leave marks on stairs before though but never any non repairable damage.
Just used my old used escalera from the early 2000s yesterday on painted hardwood stairs. Not a single scratch. The rubber grips, even when old, seems to do a good job keeping things protected. I'd say you'll be fine.
I was about to yell at Zach and asked the same question. Our new house has some really nice custom stairs and I will have 2 game rooms. 1st floor and 2nd floor so I will be looking to get a escalera soon.
If you use on carpet , be carefull of potential grease spotting. Happened to me a couple times. I found a product at Walmart called greased lightning works well. I carry it with me when using Escalaera.
Happy to help. So the steppers that take the weight when climbing the stairs are a hard rubber. I have never seen them damage wood. I have however seen the escalera mark up a metal door threshold if you are rough.
The rubber steppers are great at even grabbing the edge of a stair really surprising how well they stick. If you have any other questions, we’d be happy to assist as the pinball dealers for Escalera. They are the real deal and fantastic to have when owning pinball machines or...well...anything heavy.
Zach Meny
Flip N Out Pinball
flipnoutpinball.com
[email protected]
812.457.9711
Quoted from ZMeny:Happy to help. So the steppers that take the weight when climbing the stairs are a hard rubber. I have never seen them damage wood. I have however seen the escalera mark up a metal door threshold if you are rough.
The rubber steppers are great at even grabbing the edge of a stair really surprising how well they stick. If you have any other questions, we’d be happy to assist as the pinball dealers for Escalera. They are the real deal and fantastic to have when owning pinball machines or...well...anything heavy.
Zach Meny
Flip N Out Pinball
flipnoutpinball.com
[email protected]
812.457.9711
I was looking at the website and saw there is optional for larger wheels ie for grass. I have a nice heavy duty dolly that is ok for that but not ok for stairs my old house was a walk in basement so I did the grass with that but no stairs. Is it worth buying the optional wheels or better to just move around on ground floor with the heavy duty dolly and use the escelara just for the stairs. I mean do the small wheels work ok on carpet for example?
Also if I was to get the larger wheels would they interfere with the stair walking parts in any way. Finally my heavy duty dolly has tread parts to help it go up the stairs but they don't really move freely and were more hinderance than help, they always got in the way on the stair lip, that is want would really damage the stairs. I use on concrete or carpet never wood but I feel like the crawler part would damage the wood. I don't have any experience with the escelara but someone above said to watch for the metal parts on the wood (not the rubber climber parts). So is there a trick to prevent any contact with the stairs beside the wheels and the rubber feet?
Quoted from rai:I was looking at the website and saw there is optional for larger wheels ie for grass. I have a nice heavy duty dolly that is ok for that but not ok for stairs my old house was a walk in basement so I did the grass with that but no stairs. Is it worth buying the optional wheels or better to just move around on ground floor with the heavy duty dolly and use the escelara just for the stairs. I mean do the small wheels work ok on carpet for example?
Also if I was to get the larger wheels would they interfere with the stair walking parts in any way. Finally my heavy duty dolly has tread parts to help it go up the stairs but they don't really move freely and were more hinderance than help, they always got in the way on the stair lip, that is want would really damage the stairs. I use on concrete or carpet never wood but I feel like the crawler part would damage the wood. I don't have any experience with the escelara but someone above said to watch for the metal parts on the wood (not the rubber climber parts). So is there a trick to prevent any contact with the stairs beside the wheels and the rubber feet?
I strongly suggest you get the big wheels, they roll over uneven surfaces and grass very well. You have to take them off when you climb the stairs, but they go on and off in seconds
Quoted from Lermods:I strongly suggest you get the big wheels, they roll over uneven surfaces and grass very well. You have to take them off when you climb the stairs, but they go on and off in seconds
OK good to know, I have a nice non motorized dolly already that is good for grass so I don't think I'd want to bother with buying extra set of wheels.
Quoted from OilGuy:A must have for any pinball owner with stairs that wants to stay married!
and keep their friends.........
Quoted from rai:OK good to know, I have a nice non motorized dolly already that is good for grass so I don't think I'd want to bother with buying extra set of wheels.
Rai, with as much money as these units cost, get the wheels they make a huge difference. They balance the load perfectly and make moving on any surface a breeze. When moving up and down stairs the pinball machine is strapped on the Escalera, it would be a big pain to then unstrap and transfer it to a different dolly to finish the move.
Quoted from OilGuy:Rai, with as much money as these units cost, get the wheels they make a huge difference. They balance the load perfectly and make moving on any surface a breeze. When moving up and down stairs the pinball machine is strapped on the Escalera, it would be a big pain to then unstrap and transfer it to a different dolly to finish the move.
But don't you have to swap the wheels on/off the escalara which seems like it would take as much time as switching to a different hand truck. OK I was looking maybe the not that much trouble to switch wheels off. I though you would need to take the small wheels off to add the big wheels but seems like the big wheels just snap on/off.
Quoted from rai:But don't you have to swap the wheels on/off the escalara which seems like it would take as much time as switching to a different hand truck.
Like I said, it takes seconds, literally count to five, to remove and put the wheels on. I would not want to have to switch dollies when moving a game.
As other have said the big wheel accessory is really, really nice and it doesn't replace the wheels that are on the Escalara, it supplements them making it a four wheel dolly that you can pivot back to only roll on the big ones through grass and the like. When you need to climb or descend stairs you move a little lever and they pop off the Escalara, you get to the top or bottom and pop them right back on. Way faster than switching dollys.
Quoted from rai:OK I was looking maybe the not that much trouble to switch wheels off.
You have the two big wheels. A threaded rod between them with a big turn buckle. Turn that to unscrew or tighten. Unscrew and pop the wheel unit off. Hold them in place and retighten to have them back on. Maybe a minute of work. Easy. If the turn buckle is too tight to turn, stick a big screw driver or something inside the slot in the turn buckle for added leverage.
On my regular two wheeler. I used a black magic marker to mark where I wanted them, high or low, for what was best for my use.
LTG : )
Disclaimer : An Escalara is the only thing I failed to pick up when the video fad was on in 1980. And hardly a day goes by that I think about it. Someday.
OK sounds good, what's the best place to get one? Better at a regular store or online? I'm in Orlando if anyone knows a location.
Quoted from rai:OK sounds good, what's the best place to get one? Better at a regular store or online? I'm in Orlando if anyone knows a location.
https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ Don't delay call Zach today !
LTG : )
Quoted from LTG:You have the two big wheels. A threaded rod between them with a big turn buckle. Turn that to unscrew or tighten. Unscrew and pop the wheel unit off. Hold them in place and retighten to have them back on. Maybe a minute of work. Easy. If the turn buckle is too tight to turn, stick a big screw driver or something inside the slot in the turn buckle for added leverage.
Picture of wheels on my two wheeler. Same set up.
Turn buckle circled in red. When loosened spreads the sides out circled in green. Then lifts off.
LTG : )
DSC00284 (resized).JPGCan someone who has one comment on this : can u lift a machine with the pinball plate and easily
Move it around with carpeting ?
Thanks
Quoted from Oneangrymo:Can someone who has one comment on this : can u lift a machine with the pinball plate and easily
Move it around with carpeting ?
Thanks
Yes. The standard wheels work fine on any rigid surface. Including carpet. The big wheels which simple snap on an off with one foot kick is great for bumps, grass, anything really. Just watch some of the many videos posted on YouTube by Flippen out and your answers will be covered.
Quoted from Yelobird:The big wheels which simple snap on an off with one foot kick
This.
Ignore my posts and pictures. They are for the antique Escaleras . The company made them better and easier to put on or off.
LTG : )
Disclaimer : Teach me to not pay attention to improvements until I could buy one. Sorry.
Great info here, thanks guys!
One question for ya'll though. Do the Escalaras work on a curved wood staircase such as the one in this photo? Anyone tried this?
I'm worried about the mechanics just not gripping the stairs the way its supposed to. So far I've just used manual carrying (tough), and sliding up in a box on a blanket (easier but no cakewalk). It would definitely be nice to have something that doesn't rely on enlisting help every time.
IMG_2204 (resized).jpegQuoted from rai:OK sounds good, what's the best place to get one? Better at a regular store or online? I'm in Orlando if anyone knows a location.
I think we have Rai squared away thanks everyone for the help!!!! Great Escalera Club here!
Quoted from Oneangrymo:Can someone who has one comment on this : can u lift a machine with the pinball plate and easily
Move it around with carpeting ?
Thanks
Elaborate a bit. When you say pinball plate to you mean the forklift model with detachable extended plate? Or do you mean the typical toe plate on a standard escalera without forklift?
Quoted from Bdeuell:Great info here, thanks guys!
One question for ya'll though. Do the Escalaras work on a curved wood staircase such as the one in this photo? Anyone tried this?
I'm worried about the mechanics just not gripping the stairs the way its supposed to. So far I've just used manual carrying (tough), and sliding up in a box on a blanket (easier but no cakewalk). It would definitely be nice to have something that doesn't rely on enlisting help every time.
[quoted image]
Will it work? Yes. Will it be easy? No, unfortunately nothing makes landings or spiral stairs easy. My only concern would be the angle that the stairs take midway up. It looks like the path gets more narrow and turn is sharper.
Tell me this, have you used a regular appliance dolly hauling a pin before on those stairs? Each stair is technically still straight so after each step you’d just square it up before going up the next.
Quoted from Bdeuell:Great info here, thanks guys!
One question for ya'll though. Do the Escalaras work on a curved wood staircase such as the one in this photo? Anyone tried this?
I'm worried about the mechanics just not gripping the stairs the way its supposed to. So far I've just used manual carrying (tough), and sliding up in a box on a blanket (easier but no cakewalk). It would definitely be nice to have something that doesn't rely on enlisting help every time.
[quoted image]
I saw a lot of videos to decide and came across this might help it says the escalara can go anywhere a normal dolly will go.
Quoted from rai:Fortunately the house I’m looking at has a wide landing, can stand it up to make the turn etc...
Spiral stairs look nice but they are not easy for moving a pin up or down I'm sure.
[quoted image]
I had a very similar staircase in my old house. Making the turn may be tricky given the depth of the machine with the head down plus the Escalera plus your body. There was just enough room on my staircase but I had to breath in and muscle it around.
Quoted from rai:I saw a lot of videos to decide and came across this might help it says the escalara can go anywhere a normal dolly will go.
My only Strong suggestion is to get the Taller 66 model! Doesn’t seem necessary but that extra length Really helps raise the load triangle which minimizes the forward pull when going down stairs. Plus I Think they cost the same?
Quoted from Yelobird:My only Strong suggestion is to get the Taller 66 model! Doesn’t seem necessary but that extra length Really helps raise the load triangle which minimizes the forward pull when going down stairs. Plus I Think they cost the same?
Correct all standard models are the same cost but can be built at 60”, 66”, or 72”. 95% of our buyers opt for the 66” version and that’s the one I personally use as well.
Quoted from ZMeny:I think we have Rai squared away thanks everyone for the help!!!! Great Escalera Club here!
Elaborate a bit. When you say pinball plate to you mean the forklift model with detachable extended plate? Or do you mean the typical toe plate on a standard escalera without forklift?
I mean the detachable forklift plate . Will my situation of lifting a machine from the front end off the ground on all four legs and moving it around work well ?
Quoted from Oneangrymo:I mean the detachable forklift plate . Will my situation of lifting a machine from the front end off the ground on all four legs and moving it around work well ?
Yes it will move fine on carpet. As a reminder to everyone, the forklift model does not have long enough forks to move machines from front to back and requires you to go from the side. However, with the pinball plate attachment for the forklift model ($200) you can lift machines from front to back with ease similar to a hydraulic jack that many are accustomed to.
Quoted from ZMeny:Will it work? Yes. Will it be easy? No, unfortunately nothing makes landings or spiral stairs easy. My only concern would be the angle that the stairs take midway up. It looks like the path gets more narrow and turn is sharper.
Tell me this, have you used a regular appliance dolly hauling a pin before on those stairs? Each stair is technically still straight so after each step you’d just square it up before going up the next.
Your right, it does get narrow and sharp halfway up. The only dolly I tried can move the pin around on flat ground just fine, but the wheels were too small to help getting over the individual step. I think a larger, true appliance dolly might work alright if I tried. Wish I was into pinball before I decided on the upstairs gamerooom layout. Thanks.
Quoted from rai:I saw a lot of videos to decide and came across this might help it says the escalara can go anywhere a normal dolly will go.
Wow that is pretty convincing... much more narrow and curved stairs in that video than I have. Thanks
Does anyone know can you use an Escalera with big wheels to go down a grassy hill with maybe some branches sticking out?
I was going to use it to take a pinball NIB down the hill from my garage into walkout basement, then use the pinball plate to lift it to put legs on and move it into positon
Quoted from Oneangrymo:Does anyone know can you use an Escalera with big wheels to go down a grassy hill with maybe some branches sticking out?
I was going to use it to take a pinball NIB down the hill from my garage into walkout basement, then use the pinball plate to lift it to put legs on and move it into positon
I have done so many times but you would need to define "Branches" a bit better for a guarantee.... If you mean exposed roots, sure. If your talking fallen limbs, its not a 4x4. lol
Quoted from Yelobird:I have done so many times but you would need to define "Branches" a bit better for a guarantee.... If you mean exposed roots, sure. If your talking fallen limbs, its not a 4x4. lol
Yeah just exposed roots. Can I still use the big wheel attachment with the forklift option?
Quoted from Oneangrymo:Yeah just exposed roots. Can I still use the big wheel attachment with the forklift option?
The fork lift option is Only for lifting in place for the most part. NOT excursions across a lawn. The big wheel option is for transport and tilt back. When the fork option is in use the Big Wheels would not be on the ground or of any use.
Quoted from Yelobird:The fork lift option is Only for lifting in place for the most part. NOT excursions across a lawn. The big wheel option is for transport and tilt back. When the fork option is in use the Big Wheels would not be on the ground or of any use.
So I should take of the forklift option, use the big wheels, get the box in my basement, then unbox, attach the forklift and pinball plate then use it to setup machine?
Thanks again!
Quoted from Oneangrymo:So I should take of the forklift option, use the big wheels, get the box in my basement, then unbox, attach the forklift and pinball plate then use it to setup machine?
Thanks again!
I think this start to finish video from my friend in WI should mostly answer all your questions. lol
Quoted from Yelobird:I think this start to finish video from my friend in WI should mostly answer all your questions. lol
yes I saw that thanks. Ah I think I skimmed over the part where he attaches the forklift to the actual machine. So I will do that... use the Escalera with the big wheels, get it into basement. then attach forlift .. I think itll work out great!
Quoted from Yelobird:I think this start to finish video from my friend in WI should mostly answer all your questions. lol
Great video. Turkey In The Straw/Benny Hill tune is a nice touch.
LTG : )
Disclaimer : I have got to get one of these someday. Don't need the stair climber part. Fork lift part would be great.
Quoted from Yelobird:I think this start to finish video from my friend in WI should mostly answer all your questions. lol
That was great, I might get the fork lift/flat plate too. How much is that flat plate and fork lift?
Quoted from rai:Fortunately the house I’m looking at has a wide landing, can stand it up to make the turn etc...
Spiral stairs look nice but they are not easy for moving a pin up or down I'm sure.
[quoted image]
rai I've got the same stair situation and just bought a used Escalera..... I think I'm going to have to take off the dolly and rotate, go up the mid stair, and repeat to get it up, but worth it.
Quoted from attack7777:rai I've got the same stair situation and just bought a used Escalera..... I think I'm going to have to take off the dolly and rotate, go up the mid stair, and repeat to get it up, but worth it.
I was thinking if there is room (I didn't measure) but if I could place apiece of cloth or something maybe I could rotate like a top the entire dolly and pin attached then move to next step rotate again without moving from the dolly.
Quoted from rai:I was thinking if there is room (I didn't measure) but if I could place apiece of cloth or something maybe I could rotate like a top the entire dolly and pin attached then move to next step rotate again without moving from the dolly.
Yep, I'm gonna experiment with furniture sliders 
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Fairview Park, OH