Spent the day at the shop. Quick gate builds first thing, so the other crews could get out on half completed jobs and get them done. Then, me, solo, Gantry Crane build.
One of the crews was supposed to be back with a quickness. LOL no,, didn’t quite happen that way.
and there is one thing Dio despises more than bad Cuz Neighbor and his antics: The word “Can’t”.
“I can’t do that.” nope, ya sure can’t because you gave up right there with that statement. 1
Dio, 12′ pipe, welded to 11′ of 6″ I-beam, needs to flip to weld the other half up. Tried lifting one of the legs. LAUGH!! that I-beam torqued around and wiggled, but the other leg never budged. We’re located in a tall carport, lots of 2″ square tubing making up the frame, I have some climbing gear in Bloo, and I know knots.
Tall step ladder to rig pulley to rafters, 10mm climbing rope through pulley, and start figuring my anchor points (section of 2″ strap attached to leg ends. Jump in Bloo, and use her horsies to pull that thing in an upright position and I do my welding in the vertical up mode.
Back in the rafters to move the pulley around to a better pull angle. Set up some angle iron in the holes already dug for the legs, (to catch said legs, I’m solo, can’t be in three places at the same time.) Double check my points, and Horsey time! UP she goes, then THUNK as the legs drop into those holes. Now its just a matter of setting straps, checking level and plumb, and securing things while I mix up concrete to set the poles in place. Used a railroad jack to lift one leg high enough to put a section of block under it to bring the I-beam to level. Love that old girl of a jack. Thing weighs nearly 60# but could lever a rail car off the tracks if needed. Beefier than my farm jack and overkill for the application; it wasn’t buried in Bloos boxes like my farm jack.
and here comes my ‘back up’. Fine, Y’all get to mix the concrete; I’m BEAT!!!
The point, there are things that NEED taught to the boys (and girls with interest) that gets put the wayside in this modern world. Geometry, basic mechanical processes, like levers and pulleys, etc. Little shit that seems pointless when you first learn it but carries the day when you least expect it. One of my sayings ” No problems, just unseen solutions!” most always brings those little things taught by ancient Greeks to the fore.
ya, I’m on my education soapbox again.
The point of all this? When the back up crew came back, they thought they were going to be doing everything I had just done (except the welding) and were shocked that ONE GUY could lever up a several hundred pounds of steel to a height of 10″ (10’6″ at the top actually. 2′ deep holes.) I didn’t bother to remind them the time I had to lift a 2000# gate into its wheels by myself, and did so.
Work smarter, not harder. Even if its hard work, smarter is always better.
Theres a reason I get paid better than the rest. Son of Bossman knows I’m more than capable.
And I won’t say “I can’t”: I’ll figure something out.
As for the post this mornin’ It stands, I didn’t have much time to think about it more as the brainium was in problem solving mode all day. and right now, I’m cooked. need hydration activities. My personality type is slightly autistic and when I get to thinking, the body takes hind teat. I didn’t drink near enough water.
Y’all take care of yourselves, Stay curious. Love y’all
LIVE
LEARN
LAUGH
LOVE
LOAD!!!
1 (there are somethings I say that to, but they tend to be sexual or morally aligned. No need to elaborate other than, when those points arrive, its “I won’t!” not “I can’t”.)
Dio's Workshop 