Should be fine to do so. Also, f there are existing buds in the area you want a scaffold, try nicking the bark just above the bud. This will redirect the flow of water and nutrients into the bud and make it grow out into a branch quickly. I do this to establish branches on young trees all the time. The nick is just a knife mark down to wood at a slight upward angle, then one just above that at a slight downward angle, removing a very small chip. This is the right time of year to do that, and it will callous fine.

Any chance of a picture of your espalier?

I tried the small chip above the buds that I wanted to mature so hopefully that will work. It certainly seems easier than keep putting in new ones. I'll try to get some pictures up later on

sorry it took so long to get a pic up. there are 4 espaliers along my fence line. they are 3 yrs old now. i think i have the pruning down but the first year i believe i let the spurs get too long.

it was not well planned as i wasnt expecting to get these dwarf trees. orangepippin send me the wrong rootstock with my order so they told me to keep them and shipped me the semi standards I had ordered orginially. i figured what the heck

EDITED: i will say i do like the look of a pruned espalier, but the majority of the growing season i think they look terribly stupid. like a kid with crazy long spikey hair. everything ive read says wait to prune until the new shoots are 12-15'' tall...imagine that over the entire scaffold system and you can understand