Pilots operate equipment although I figure they have strict medical hoops to jump through.
Pilots operate equipment although I figure they have strict medical hoops to jump through.
Sometimes you have to change your ambitions to match your physical limitation. When I was young I wanted to join the military and then be an auto mechanic. A congenital defect in my spine got me rejected from the military and also caused me to have constant pain while working on vehicles.
So I gave up on those ideas and got a degree in engineering. So now I am a licensed Professional Engineer.
I can say this field definitely keeps my mind active and also helps pay for my toys.
How about railroading? I have no idea about how one starts or the ladders to be climbed though.
I really like the crane idea.
He could start with small booms. Like tank and material delivery.
After that he could move to steel erection.
Then when really skilled, tilt-wall construction.
Top of the heap would be tower crane. That’s a strong 6 figure job, and every tower crane drives about $20 million in construction work. That makes tower crane operators really valuable.
There is a lot of crane jobs around Vancouver.
Does operating equipment have to be big machines that move large loads? I was wondering if sound engineering would work - there should be opportunities locally and the opportunity to travel if your career goes like this https://pingroof.com/chief-music-management-president-kevin-zaruk-the-internet-killed-music-part-1/
frenchyd said:In reply to Datsun310Guy :
Sorry they are often called on to haul heavy parts to the counter
In the old days, yes - I did that quite a bit as a parts counter guy. However, it would also not be a big deal to have a cart do the actual moving so all one would have to do is get the part off the shelf and onto the cart, then roll it to the front. I'm in client warehouses all the time and "Work Smarter, Not Harder" posters are all over the place.
Otherwise, I agree about the forklift operator. I overheard a conversation a few days ago about how a client was looking for one and having trouble finding someone.
In reply to No Time :
For 22 years I sold high lift construction equipment. I got to demonstrate and occasionally operate the equipment as part of my job.
The down side is all the windshield time. Day in day out your are behind that steering wheel covering your accounts, looking for new business. Most years I put 80,000 miles or so on.
Cranes were the most fun to demonstrate because you’re usually operating really big equipment. ( plus you always brought a loader along rather than lose the continuity of your presentation)
Since the equipment is new it’s clean and ready to go. Normal crane operation requires daily lubrication. Plus configuration set up which in the real world means operator and loader but in the sales world is all done by the loader.
Because sales often involve unions your loader will be required to be a union member but not the salesman. ( no union for us )
SVreX said:I really like the crane idea.
He could start with small booms. Like tank and material delivery.
After that he could move to steel erection.
Then when really skilled, tilt-wall construction.
Top of the heap would be tower crane. That’s a strong 6 figure job, and every tower crane drives about $20 million in construction work. That makes tower crane operators really valuable.
The Smaller Industrial cranes ( sometimes called deck cranes) like Broderson are most frequently found at places like oil refineries. On rare occasions big scale manufacturing plants but those places normally use overhead track cranes.
Around here, industrial chemical process operator is where it’s at for someone who isn’t going for a professional engineering designation. It’s a step down the chain from P.Eng, but the guys operate a refinery from a control room. Pays very well, and it’s a job well suited for a personality that is technical, but more hands-on practical.
The kids here getting out of the college program start at 6 figures, easy. I wish I had taken that path back in the day, I’d be 10-12 years from retirement by now!
Good stuff here. I always loved the idea of being an equipment operator, but it was a path I didn't pursue, and it seems like one that's difficult to get into once your older.
what about smaller indoor equipment? CNC machines, 3d printers, lasers, etc. Lots of very cool stuff to operate if you shift your focus a bit.
I think that a heart defect might be a barrier to operating anything that can crash into or drop heavy objects onto other people. What about CNC equipment? It requires mechanical skills, computer skills, some smarts, and some mechanical knowledge. You are on your feet all day, but the lifting is generally not too bad because big things move by crane. It's not as exciting as demolition equipment, but it's indoors and there is real demand.
Came here to post what the two above me said - CNC operators. I work in the office/residential furniture business and CNC operators are in big-time demand ($). In the bigger shops, lifting is discouraged and almost nonexistent due to safety requirements (as well as quality risk) where most of our material handling is with vacuum lifts.
Robbie said:what about smaller indoor equipment? CNC machines, 3d printers, lasers, etc. Lots of very cool stuff to operate if you shift your focus a bit.
I was just thinking, my friend Little Matt has a job with an industrial 3d printing company. 2 weeks on, 2 off usually. Lately he's been doing his on time in Germany, but also some astoar the state's.
He flies in, makes sure all the boxes got there, and tells the local people how to set things up, tests out the software, and leaves them a user manual, about 90% of the time. Some troubleshooting, very rarely does he have to physically setup machines.
He met a guy in a bar when he was on break from GE, and kinda feel into the job. He's got a triangle tech degree in electrical maintenance, and had been doing something with wind generators for GE on the west coast before this.
SVreX said:In reply to spitfirebill :
That sounds like a Union.
40 years in construction- that’s not my experience. Operators spend most of their time on the machine, but most definitely get off and do physical labor.
Even in Oklahoma the crane operators are in the IUOE.
I looked into at one point when I was annoyed with office jobs. This was also when I worked for Greer Electronic Systems, part of TWG. I wrote the manual for the winches, HPDs, and RCL systems that were on Broderson's, Link-Belt, Terex, etc. So I was very familiar with all that stuff.
Bibs said:Around here, industrial chemical process operator is where it’s at for someone who isn’t going for a professional engineering designation. It’s a step down the chain from P.Eng, but the guys operate a refinery from a control room. Pays very well, and it’s a job well suited for a personality that is technical, but more hands-on practical.
The kids here getting out of the college program start at 6 figures, easy. I wish I had taken that path back in the day, I’d be 10-12 years from retirement by now!
I've got buddies that work for Holly Refinery in Tulsa, they don't have college degrees, they do make good money, but you have to be able to deal with shift life.
12 hour days, rotating days and weeks, you're entire year long schedule is set months in advance of the following year, etc, etc, etc.
z31maniac said:SVreX said:In reply to spitfirebill :
That sounds like a Union.
40 years in construction- that’s not my experience. Operators spend most of their time on the machine, but most definitely get off and do physical labor.
Even in Oklahoma the crane operators are in the IUOE.
I looked into at one point when I was annoyed with office jobs. This was also when I worked for Greer Electronic Systems, part of TWG. I wrote the manual for the winches, HPDs, and RCL systems that were on Broderson's, Link-Belt, Terex, etc. So I was very familiar with all that stuff.
I wasn’t talking about crane operators when I made that comment. I was taking about excavating equipment operators.
In reply to bearmtnmartin :
Getting your first crane operating job is going to be really difficult. While industrial cranes ( deck cranes ) aren’t that expensive compared to most other cranes , the normal route is through the Oiler/set up position. Which would push your sons lifting capabilities to his limit and very likely beyond.
Another route is to buy his own crane. I’ve sold more than a few cranes to complete novices. Truck mounted cranes are not impossibly expensive especially in the used market but a great deal of care and judgment is called for.
Maintenance is frequently neglected on those, But they have great deal of wear. The truck chassis brand will tell you a lot about the owner. Cheap off brand chassis, that may not have the factory support better brands do, are to be avoided. If the crane isn’t working or you get a reputation for unreliability just making payments will be tough. Let alone making a decent living. Same goes with the Crane conversion. National is a well respected brand. Avoid Terex, parts has always been its weakness. Due to inventory costs Terex is more likely to need to make a part first rather than have the parts sitting on a shelf. A 10 year old truck mounted crane may still command a high price, but in all likelihood shouldn’t be used as a primary revenue stream.
Remember Truck mounted and truck cranes are different. One is rated at 5 feet and the other is rated at 10 feet. A. better truck crane has a 30 year life as a primary revenue source. While a truck mounted crane has really high maintenance costs after 10 years.
In reply to frenchyd :
Dicks Crane Rental - the old man would send the kids out in the good cranes and when he was busy he hooked up his tow truck (Dicks Towing) to the worst crane and towed it to the site and worked the job. He said it was too much of a hassle to drive the POS crane to the job.
Consider the railroad as an engineer or a yard operator? My FIL just retired after 52 years. He did well for himself
Datsun310Guy said:In reply to frenchyd :
Dicks Crane Rental - the old man would send the kids out in the good cranes and when he was busy he hooked up his tow truck (Dicks Towing) to the worst crane and towed it to the site and worked the job. He said it was too much of a hassle to drive the POS crane to the job.
It’s doubtful that he’d send inexperienced operators out even in new cranes with their load limiting electronics. Technique is everything in crane operation. You have to be fast enough to satisfy production requirements but not to jerky because momentum can easily tip an otherwise good crane working within parameters.
Plus even the newest systems can fail in high winds and gusty weather. That touch required to work the edges of the envelope is often called on. Particularly putting HVAC units on the roof of downtown buildings.
The normal route to getting that experience and touch is with owner operated truck mounted cranes putting rafters on the roof of homes. However with the advent of Telehandlers and their up to 54-55 foot booms and a 12 foot jib’s. Much of that market has been replaced.
I mistakenly hired a rookie excavator operator once to set a large tank for me. The tank was at the limit of the excavators ability, but it was a job we did often with experienced operators. You swing the tank out just above the ground and as you run out of lift you sort of bunny hop the tank along the ground. As soon as the tank touches the ground the weight transfers so no big deal.
But this guy wouldn't listen, and despite my urging him to lower the tank, he swung it out about six feet above the ground. Even when gravity took its toll and the obvious happened, he could have quickly lowered the tank and the tipping excavator would have sorted itself out. But instead he panicked when he felt his machine tipping, let go of the controls and grabbed his seat to anchor himself. Things quickly went bad, and his machine tipped, the tank hit the ground, and the excavator bucket hit the tank and destroyed it, but it did stop the machine from flipping completely. But the operator got shot from his seat like a cannonball and ended up mostly outside the window upside down. Then the excavator rocked back onto its tracks, and he was catapulted back inside.
It was quite the event, it cost me an $18,000 tank and he was not asked back. But he did not die which was cool.
Thank you for all the great ideas. I knew if I asked here I would get some out of the box thinking. We are definitely going to look into the CNC idea. That may lead to other possibilities.
bearmtnmartin said:I mistakenly hired a rookie excavator operator once to set a large tank for me. The tank was at the limit of the excavators ability, but it was a job we did often with experienced operators. You swing the tank out just above the ground and as you run out of lift you sort of bunny hop the tank along the ground. As soon as the tank touches the ground the weight transfers so no big deal.
But this guy wouldn't listen, and despite my urging him to lower the tank, he swung it out about six feet above the ground. Even when gravity took its toll and the obvious happened, he could have quickly lowered the tank and the tipping excavator would have sorted itself out. But instead he panicked when he felt his machine tipping, let go of the controls and grabbed his seat to anchor himself. Things quickly went bad, and his machine tipped, the tank hit the ground, and the excavator bucket hit the tank and destroyed it, but it did stop the machine from flipping completely. But the operator got shot from his seat like a cannonball and ended up mostly outside the window upside down. Then the excavator rocked back onto its tracks, and he was catapulted back inside.
It was quite the event, it cost me an $18,000 tank and he was not asked back. But he did not die which was cool.
This looks like an instructional manual in how to violate every possible OSHA rule while operating equipment.
Yes, he’s fortunate he didn’t die. And you are fortunate you were not smacked with a 6 figure fine.
No offense, but that’s not an appropriate way to train anyone to operate equipment.
frenchyd said:In reply to bearmtnmartin :
Getting your first crane operating job is going to be really difficult. While industrial cranes ( deck cranes ) aren’t that expensive compared to most other cranes , the normal route is through the Oiler/set up position. Which would push your sons lifting capabilities to his limit and very likely beyond.
Another route is to buy his own crane. I’ve sold more than a few cranes to complete novices. Truck mounted cranes are not impossibly expensive especially in the used market but a great deal of care and judgment is called for.
Maintenance is frequently neglected on those, But they have great deal of wear. The truck chassis brand will tell you a lot about the owner. Cheap off brand chassis, that may not have the factory support better brands do, are to be avoided. If the crane isn’t working or you get a reputation for unreliability just making payments will be tough. Let alone making a decent living. Same goes with the Crane conversion. National is a well respected brand. Avoid Terex, parts has always been its weakness. Due to inventory costs Terex is more likely to need to make a part first rather than have the parts sitting on a shelf. A 10 year old truck mounted crane may still command a high price, but in all likelihood shouldn’t be used as a primary revenue stream.
Remember Truck mounted and truck cranes are different. One is rated at 5 feet and the other is rated at 10 feet. A. better truck crane has a 30 year life as a primary revenue source. While a truck mounted crane has really high maintenance costs after 10 years.
Spend $3500, go to Houston, take your 3 week class and start working.
You'll need to log in to post.
