Anyone have a quick fix for fiberglass ladders that are leaving little fibers stuck in your hand?

All my ladders are 4-5 years old now and after sitting on top of the van, the fiberglass rails are faded and starting to leave little splinters in my hand which is annoying. 

I did an internet search and didn't find anything... seems like this would be a common problem.  I expect a light sanding and then brush or spray some type of sealer or gel coat would solve the problem, but seems like a hassle. 

A new set of ladders is $500-$650 which is a hassle too!

Found this:
[Link: ehow.com]
Should be able to get the stuff at a boat parts/repair place.

You will also need to get a replacment sticker set from the manufactureer, because ladders without them are against OSHA standards.

I find myself replacing a fiberglass ladder every 3 years.

Home Depot has the 6' Werner light duty, (green) ladder down to $40.

Yeah, I think it might just make sense to replace them.  Most of the stickers have fallen off already due to the weather exposure and they are starting to look ratty.

All my ladders are the orange Werner 6200 series that are rated for 300lb and I'll probably replace them with the same thing.  They're a little heavier, but very sturdy.  I think the green ones are only rated for 225lb which for big guys may not even cover their weight not to mention tools, TVs, etc.

Maybe I can sell the old ladders for a few bucks on Craigslist to someone that doesn't care about splinters or OSHA regulations...

I bought the green one to replace my worn out blue 6', bought a blue 8' to replace a stolen orange one, and have an orange 4' and 10'. So far the gren one hasn't given me any trouble, and at the price I can buy 3 of them to every 1 orange one.

The thing I like bst is that they all now have the multi-purpose tops, with the bocket/tool lanyard holder.

That's why I don't put ladders on the roof and store them inside. I do most of my work on a 4' ladder. An 8' ladder will fit in a standard work van without any problem. When I need bigger I strap a bigger one to the roof and roll out. I hate ladder racks because they decrease fuel economy and make a ton of noise.

That's what I always liked about the orange ladders, the tops were much more functional with all the tool holes and parts tray.  Is Werner using this same top on all their step ladders now?

I Use 6' and 10' step ladders everyday (lots of homes and businesses with high ceilings) so they have to stay on the van all the time.  I've also got a 4' that can fit in the van, but often sits on top because I need the room inside for products.

I don't know about fuel economy, but my Adrian ladder rack doesn't make any noise.  My entire van is really quiet considering the the metal Adrian shelves, cabinets & drawers.  I think I just have them all stuffed so full that nothing rattles around.

Yep, I was going to replace both my stolen 8' and old blu 6' with orange ones to get the multi top, untill I saw tht all the blue and green ones have the same top now.

Whatever you do, start thinking not of splinters in your hand, but instead of minuscule shards of glass entering your body, small enough in diameter to break easily, and probably small enough to bust out of any encircling scar tissue that your body forms around them. This is not too different from fiberglass insulation, except you're injecting it into your body, not your lungs.

I'd say they are not just irritating, but dangerous. I haven't had this problem yet. I guess the weather is nicer here in Calif than by you. I do, however, have a wire fishing rod that's starting to do the same thing, and you've motivated me to fix it. Thanks for that.

So, Ernie, your fishing rod is made of wire? I bet it's not strong enough to reel in the big ones!

Oh, maybe you meant wire-fishing rod(?)

I have a 24' on my van, I've used it once in the last year and a half, probably should be replaced but I'll consider it if I use it again, most of the time I use a 4' and am happy.

I wonder if the UV from the sun degrades the ladders faster.

IIRC, fiberglass ladders have a sticker on them that says they shouldn't be left in direct sunlight for long periods. They become a lot weaker and more flexible- neither of which is good. If you want to coat t hem with anything, I would think polyester resin or polyurethane paint would be good choices. If you paint, see if you can find something that has an additive to block UV.

If you paint, don't plan on taking them on any OSHA jobs.