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Just some work pics
- Thread starter crane operator
- Start date
crane operator
Senior Member
Junkyard- I did send a guy to Claremore Ok to pick up a weight this summer. I was supposed to get another one, but my phone took a swim shortly after I picked up the first one, and I didn't have a phone #. It's a small world isn't it.
Impact: OSHA regs says - man baskets designed and built by a competent person. I can declare myself competent, but if it ever goes to court, I'm not a structural engineer. Its mostly a sales gimmick to say OSHA certified, OSHA won't certify anything. The manufacturer can say it is built to comply with osha regulations, but you can do that yourself also. It says right in the regulations what the baskets must have. Handrail, tie off points, openings, door design, rigging type, etc.
One of my baskets is home-built. One is a factory built. I think the home built is a better basket. Neither has built in test weights. They are marked for capacity and weight. I have a set of small steel plates, that I use as test plates, and I do the whole test pick, with weights, to farthest radius, hold for 5 minute thing. The plates I have are actually old drive over grates, you can handle them by hand pretty easy, and I just put them on the floor of the basket, do my test pick, then flop them out.
I think its crazy what some places charge when they are selling manbaskets. That price isn't for steel, it's for liability insurance.
The new regulations also allow bosun's chairs. The 10 year ago regulations had them forbidden, but now they are allowed again if there is 'no safer way' to get there. I always wondered how to get a man between guy cables on a downspout off a grain leg, without a bosun chair. A manbasket won't fit.
I don't really care for manbasket work. Most of it is cell phone tower work in my area, and I don't have enough reach for them anyway (200'). So that doesn't break my heart. For a lot of other projects, I usually recommend they rent a 135' manlift, but they won't do the radius that a crane can, so I do end up doing some basket work, but I do as little of it as I can. If I see a safer way to get there (OSHA regs ) that's what I recommend.
Impact: OSHA regs says - man baskets designed and built by a competent person. I can declare myself competent, but if it ever goes to court, I'm not a structural engineer. Its mostly a sales gimmick to say OSHA certified, OSHA won't certify anything. The manufacturer can say it is built to comply with osha regulations, but you can do that yourself also. It says right in the regulations what the baskets must have. Handrail, tie off points, openings, door design, rigging type, etc.
One of my baskets is home-built. One is a factory built. I think the home built is a better basket. Neither has built in test weights. They are marked for capacity and weight. I have a set of small steel plates, that I use as test plates, and I do the whole test pick, with weights, to farthest radius, hold for 5 minute thing. The plates I have are actually old drive over grates, you can handle them by hand pretty easy, and I just put them on the floor of the basket, do my test pick, then flop them out.
I think its crazy what some places charge when they are selling manbaskets. That price isn't for steel, it's for liability insurance.
The new regulations also allow bosun's chairs. The 10 year ago regulations had them forbidden, but now they are allowed again if there is 'no safer way' to get there. I always wondered how to get a man between guy cables on a downspout off a grain leg, without a bosun chair. A manbasket won't fit.
I don't really care for manbasket work. Most of it is cell phone tower work in my area, and I don't have enough reach for them anyway (200'). So that doesn't break my heart. For a lot of other projects, I usually recommend they rent a 135' manlift, but they won't do the radius that a crane can, so I do end up doing some basket work, but I do as little of it as I can. If I see a safer way to get there (OSHA regs ) that's what I recommend.
kshansen
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2012
- Messages
- 11,165
- Location
- Central New York, USA
- Occupation
- Retired Mechanic in Stone Quarry
You guys mean to say we can't do it like we did "back in the day"? You know take the top out of a 55 gallon drum and cut a couple holes for the hooks in the side?
Your famous Crane Op. I saw the picture you posted of your basket doing tree work, it's on an arborist sight in the crane work thread. The title is "these guys are styling" I think you've impressed them. We'll find out soon what you've done wrong, there are several resident crane experts on the sight 
crane operator
Senior Member
Tradesman- now all I'll hear about is how we're doing it wrong- here's some fuel for the fire from last week. A good oak tree, just too close to the house for the old lady that lived there.
She wanted it down, so down it came.
She wanted it down, so down it came.
crane operator
Senior Member
crane operator
Senior Member
Rear cut off, we're putting the 4:10 in the western star
Need to unwire the hydraulic swivel. The barrel has a small wear lip, it needs honed.
Making $
Job for the next day: 53' finished beams- 2500lbs. The amish boys were going to set them by hand, and if anyone could, they could, but I think the general contractor wanted the crane.
Need to unwire the hydraulic swivel. The barrel has a small wear lip, it needs honed.
Making $
Job for the next day: 53' finished beams- 2500lbs. The amish boys were going to set them by hand, and if anyone could, they could, but I think the general contractor wanted the crane.
crane operator
Senior Member
If I die in my sleep tonight, and someone buys a grove rt700b with a dismantled hydraulic and electrical swivel, here's the wiring diagram I made for it:
It's at the house if anyone needs it, I didn't dare leave it at the shop, if I get broken into again, I didn't want them to steal my diagram
It's at the house if anyone needs it, I didn't dare leave it at the shop, if I get broken into again, I didn't want them to steal my diagram
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crane operator
Senior Member
Up
Up
Over
Down
I was up on the hill, fixing the antifreeze leak on the other crane in the cul-de-sac. Had to swap cranes so I got to take pictures of one of my operators setting the last beam. I'd rather be running the crane than fixing.
Up
Over
Down
I was up on the hill, fixing the antifreeze leak on the other crane in the cul-de-sac. Had to swap cranes so I got to take pictures of one of my operators setting the last beam. I'd rather be running the crane than fixing.
crane operator
Senior Member
And also- Merry Christmas everyone......
hvy 1ton
Senior Member
Those are some big beams to set by hand. I don't think i'd make it on that crew.
Kiwi-truckwit
Senior Member
That's a good sized oak....I just pulled one down next to a busy main road a coupla weeks back. Heaviest lift went 5000kg.
dbl612
Well-Known Member
if you really want to get an ulcer, all you have to do is work with the amish. very stubborn and they feel that none of the rules apply to them when they do anything. constantly in a rush with no concern for safety at all. as crane operators, we are still responsible is there is an injury or accident.
crane operator
Senior Member
I actually have a couple amish crews that I work with quite often. We get along pretty well, but I don't get pushed around too easily. Their lifestyle wouldn't be a easy way to live, it's their choice, but it still wouldn't be easy.
That said, I probably feel more sympathy for any framing crew that has to bid against them to get work. They pay no workman's comp, they don't believe in insurance. That's a immediate 10-20% advantage right off the top. You can't compete with that.
That said, I probably feel more sympathy for any framing crew that has to bid against them to get work. They pay no workman's comp, they don't believe in insurance. That's a immediate 10-20% advantage right off the top. You can't compete with that.
crane operator
Senior Member
Some guys even get to work Christmas day. Got the call at 4:30 this afternoon, plane on its belly on the runway. Everyone was fine in the plane. Picked up off runway, loaded on trailer, offloaded in hangar.
I hate picking them up because its all aluminum, and its not designed to be picked up. Granted it will probably never fly again, I just don't like squashing the aluminum. There's just no good way to do it.
I hate picking them up because its all aluminum, and its not designed to be picked up. Granted it will probably never fly again, I just don't like squashing the aluminum. There's just no good way to do it.
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crane operator
Senior Member
Dark and rainy, at least it wasn't cold- 63 degrees here today.
