Welding on a man lift

admin

I've been contacted to do a job welding 20ga steel off of a 120' man lift. My plan is to use my suitcase and some flux core and just turn the heat down and take it easy. Now my question is what would you guys charge for welding that high up on a Shakey *** man lift? I've been told it's somewhere between 5-28' of weld. No one can give a straight answer on that part...
Reply:It is a moving target. On man left 120 foot will wave in wind so may need to end day do to wind.Are you charging by the hour or is a quote 🤔?Dave

Originally Posted by Bobontuesday

I've been contacted to do a job welding 20ga steel off of a 120' man lift. My plan is to use my suitcase and some flux core and just turn the heat down and take it easy. Now my question is what would you guys charge for welding that high up on a Shakey *** man lift? I've been told it's somewhere between 5-28' of weld. No one can give a straight answer on that part...
Reply:I can go either way I can't decide what would make the most sense. I can try to stand on the spot I'm welding it just won't be easy to stand on. I was hoping someone else has had to weld that high off a man lift before.
Reply:Could you use ratchet straps or something to hold you in place? Might make things easier on youAirco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power

) Hobart MIG
Reply:

Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

Could you use ratchet straps or something to hold you in place? Might make things easier on you
Reply:

Originally Posted by Bobontuesday

I've been contacted to do a job welding 20ga steel off of a 120' man lift. My plan is to use my suitcase and some flux core and just turn the heat down and take it easy. Now my question is what would you guys charge for welding that high up on a Shakey *** man lift? I've been told it's somewhere between 5-28' of weld. No one can give a straight answer on that part...
Reply:

Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

Could you use ratchet straps or something to hold you in place? Might make things easier on you
Reply:I think I'd rather fly in in a a basket off a crane, sadly that's nearly impossible nowadays unless something has changed, when I got ou of industrial that was the absolute last resort, & had to be the only way to get there.IMPEACH BIDEN!NRA LIFE MEMBERUNITWELD 175 AMP 3 IN1 DCMIDSTATES 300 AMP AC MACHINEGOD HELP AMERICA!"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Reply:

Originally Posted by rexcormack

My thought also!Could you temporarily tie the manlift basket to the thing you are welding on to help control/reduce movement?
Reply:

Originally Posted by Bobontuesday

I didn't even think about doing that. You guys are genius. How much extra should I be charging for the height?
Reply:

Originally Posted by MinnesotaDave

They don't know how far you are going to weld?  That's weird...I'd go with a minimum fee (including travel), hourly for any past 2 hours....well...that's if I would weld up that high from a man lift....which I likely would not


Reply:Any way to climb off the man lift onto whatever you're welding (w/ harness to prusik to top rope) and leave the suitcase in the man lift? That would help eliminate the shakes...
Reply:It's possible just steep. It's a steeple. That's my plan as I don't see myself able to get close enough to just lean over.Miller 225ntLincoln Sa-200 redfaceLincoln Sa-200 Blackface
Reply:Do your best to estimate the time involved. Then double your hourly rate, add in your consumables and give him a set price. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk:
Reply:My BIL wanted me to change out a 5HP motor for a 7.5HP motor on his new 100 foot high grain elevator, so that it would run faster.The platform to service the grain elevator was about as big as the platform on a small man lift.I had to climb steps to get to the platform,, the steps did have a steel bar guard to help to keep you from falling.I literally,,, changed the motor one handed, as I never let go of my grip with my left hand.I changed the wiring, installed the belt guard,, EVERYTHING, one handed.I even moved the motors one handed, but, I did have help on the ground pulling a rope that was over a pulley to help lift the motors.No one had even heard of a safety harness in 1975,,,,,,,,,,I was 25 at the time.I remember thinking about doing it when I was 35,, at that age, I would never have done it.  


Reply:I did that in a 185 footer 110 ft inthge air doin the seams on an exhaust stack at a power plant in  Texas. By all means tie the manlift off with rope or whatever you got...be careful gettin up there...the further away you are from your target the more you have to boom out and maybe boom down the more the wind will catch and give you a thrill. I f you gonna use gas shield flux core take your grinder along and plenty of grind wheels your gonna need em...a 5 mph breeze on the ground turns into 20 mph when you get up there.What to charge? Are they gonna push you like a borrowed mule or let you work at your own SAFE pace? Id charge double your regular rate either wayGood luck and be safeLast edited by old miner called Pop; 2 Days Ago at 05:14 PM.
Reply:once in position, lean/set the side of the basket against the structure/building, and tap on the joystick a lil to put a lil pressure against structure, that will keep basket from moving while u weld.      windy day can cause ur shieling gas loss (perosity), i had it happen on 7018.   i had to poke 4 holes  for rope in half sheet of plywood, and loop it around my shoulder strap it to my back to block wind.     like almost any other job, charge as much as u think u can get away w/
Reply:I welded pipe risers off of a 110' man lift. I suggest keeping any movenent. To a minimum. The deflection is crazy fully extended. Avoid traveling if possible !I made up a bracket that we tacked to the pipe being welded, and used a "U" bolt around the lift guard rail. There's definitely less movement if you're in the lift alone. Our lift had the extendable wheel base. Narrow for transporting on trailer and fully extended for onsite. Just saying in case no one told you Depending on your situation, I would bring a comealong with. You might be able to tack somewhere and use the comealong to help avoid movement.We used stick because of pipe size, 12".Good luck  ! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:We always take the man basket and "push" it into whatever we're working on or near. Not always welding, it could be taking a flange off  a pipe or changing a big hose, same principle. Putting that pressure on the basket keeps it more stable.Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Reply:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Any way to climb off the man lift onto whatever you're welding (w/ harness to prusik to top rope) and leave the suitcase in the man lift? That would help eliminate the shakes...
Reply:

Originally Posted by cwby

Don't let OSHA see you climb out of the basket!
Reply:Y'all have at it. They don't have enough money or guns to get me up there.

---Meltedmetal
Reply:Did a lot of welding out of a basket when I installed electric signs. Putting a little tension of the basket against the structure helps. Everything was stick, ( 7018), so only one cable to deal with. It's amazing how much movement you can get when your up a ways.
Reply:Well my thoughts are if you can do 20ga with flux core out of a basket on a man lift more power to ya !
Reply:I can't help you with what to charge.I have done lots of that in my lifetime building ductwork for power plants and refineries. To get it steadied, just extend the boom into the stucture, or boom down into it. You will need a windbreak if your going to use mig, take some tarps, 2X4s and tie wire to make one. Wire the 2X4s to the basket.Miller Dialarc 250Hobart 140HTP 220 MTSMiller Legend AEAD 200LE  Gas driveI would charge by hour. After you do job the next job you will better idea what you can quote. It also helps in getting more jobs.This job is the starter for more jobs.Dave

Originally Posted by Bobontuesday

I can go either way I can't decide what would make the most sense. I can try to stand on the spot I'm welding it just won't be easy to stand on. I was hoping someone else has had to weld that high off a man lift before.
Reply:Yikes. A church steeple has gotta be dam near vertical...60 pitch or better. I take back what I said about climbing out, since I don't know what you would stand on...I climb trees with chainsaws, but when I do that, I use gaffs. I'm guessing gaffs would be frowned on by the steeple roofers. Regardless, at 120' up, even if I stayed in the man lift, I would still want a top rope, in case the man lift tipped over!(How do roofers shingle church steeples?)Good luck.
Reply:Big man lifts are slow, like really slow, I've spent my fair share of time in 120, 150 and 165 footers and you need to allow a good amount of time just to extend/retract them.Unless the lift itself is setup on good flat level concrete dont travel them around in the air, I once made the mistake of traveling a 135 on a coal face working on a dredger and I tell ya when a wheel drops in a hole your butt hole will pucker so hard it comes out of your mouth.I always charge by the hour for anything that doesn't come with engineered drawings and a clear scope of work, this sounds like an hourly hire job to me if no one can give you a clear answer on exactly what the scope of work is, jobs like this can easily blow out.be careful running a suitcase, remember big man lifts tend to be limited to 450LB of lift capacity, and long heavy cables tied off to the basket can take up all or most of that, I rather use a smaller machine with a lighter, higher voltage extension lead running to the basket to save on weight, I like self shield for the same reason.
Reply:Most sign guys use 6013,,,  hahahaI lost my pic file in a fire before internet. Wish i had them for forums.  They were just starting ssfety stuff when i started, mostly in big companies, working for Shell or Dow etcLast edited by Sberry; 1 Day Ago at 08:54 AM.
Reply:I once welded up the top of a 1000' TV tower in Fargo ND in a January.  The tower had been rigged with a winch by the tower crew and we winched up a portable engine driven welder and OA setup, and I spent the day up there adding sleeves to the pipe legs that had cracked.  Three sets of long john's and a pair of insulated Carharrt overalls and I was still cold!If it were me, I'd go with an hourly rate at 2X your normal rate for the aerial time and regular rate for travel and ground time.  Competent welding professionals who are willing to work 120' in the air are uncommon, and you should be compensated for the value of your time and skills, taking into account that it is a hazardous environment.Miller Trailblazer Pro 350DMiller Suitcase MIGMiller Spectrum 2050Miller Syncrowave 250DXLincoln 210MP
Reply:I think welding 20 gauge without burning a lot of holes in it is going to be a bigger issue than the man lift. That's autobody thickness for .023" solid wire. A little movement and/or wind will make it more difficult for even the most experienced weldor. I mentioned it on here before but a friend of mine was on job at a mine waiting for blueprints or something for piping. He was with the union at the time and they asked him if he could do some welding on the dragline boom. He said he could do it and went over to the dragline. Welding cables are already installed going up the boom and he just had to hook up to the quick connects. He gets all set up and starts welding when all of a sudden the boom starts moving. He gets on the radio kind of panicky and tells them he's up the boom doing repairs. Then they tell him they don't shut the dragline down for minor repairs! He then says, "Well I'm outta here, get someone else. Nobody said anything about the dragline not being shut down while the boom is welded." He told me it feels like your going 20 MPH when the boom swings. They don't allow draglines to operate while repairs are being done anymore but that would scare the crap out of most people.
Reply:I am going to agree with Dave welding 20 gauge without holes good luck they are gonna want it water tight if it leaks water going inside ! Highest I have ever been up is 120 and it is a whole new world .!
Reply:

Originally Posted by scsmith42

I once welded up the top of a 1000' TV tower in Fargo ND in a January.  The tower had been rigged with a winch by the tower crew and we winched up a portable engine driven welder and OA setup, and I spent the day up there adding sleeves to the pipe legs that had cracked.  Three sets of long john's and a pair of insulated Carharrt overalls and I was still cold!If it were me, I'd go with an hourly rate at 2X your normal rate for the aerial time and regular rate for travel and ground time.  Competent welding professionals who are willing to work 120' in the air are uncommon, and you should be compensated for the value of your time and skills, taking into account that it is a hazardous environment.