When it rains it pours.

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Feast or famine. That's how it goes isn't it?Lately it's been feast.And for the last couple of weeks I've been feasting on aluminum.All last year I did only 1 job with aluminum.So far, this year, I've done 3 AL jobs in the last 3 weeks, and have a pretty good AL job in the shop right now.woo-effin'-hoo!Got a buggy full right here!Last edited by app-ironworksllc; 04-22-2010 at 05:46 PM.Brian LeonardAppalachian Ironworks L.L.C.434 Long Branch Rd, Marshall, NC 28753828 649 9966828 702 [email protected]
Reply:Glad you're keeping busy!  It's the same way here sometimes, either bored and waiting for the phone to ring, or bustin my butt runnin around like a headless chicken.  So what is the project?MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:This job is for a USGS streamflow gauge. It's housed in a 5' square by 18' tall concrete tower and access is 11' off the ground, It was built in '39 and went off-line in '49, it'll be back online in early may. My part is:1) 14'-6"  AL ladder with security doors.1) 3' x 3'  AL platform with guardrails and AL bar grate floor.3) AL access/security doors 1) 4' x 4' steel bar grate floor for inside the tower. I've been working on it since Monday afternoon. This morning one of my regulars (a local trucking co.) shows up with a refer trailer needing the AL floor fixed in a couple of places. Already had the spool gun running.The worst part will be the install, we have to carry everything 1/4 mile on foot, but I'll have plenty of help. The gubmint is sending porters. But there's few job sites as nice as this one.Here's a shot from the site. It's literally 2 steps from the tower to falling in the river.Brian LeonardAppalachian Ironworks L.L.C.434 Long Branch Rd, Marshall, NC 28753828 649 9966828 702 [email protected]
Reply:Brian,Not faulting your work at all and since it is still just a work in progress the end result isn't shown yet, but ladders can be tricky from a design and compliance with regulations standpoint.I don't know if you were just given a 'final' design and told to build it, or if you had to do the design as well.  Even though the customer is the gub-mint and the regulations come from the gub-mint doesn't mean that the customer (USGS) may be aware of the applicable regulations (OSHA among others).Some applicable OSHA ladder considerations include:- fixed metal ladders built after March 15, 1991 MUST include dimples or corrugations or coatings on the rungs to minimize slipping;- regulations apply to height of ladder and height off ground and required caging or tie-off considerations;- regulations apply to required height extension of ladder above the top landing or egress point (42 inches extension required);- design loads for the rungs may be required to be 250 or 350 pounds applied over a 3.5 inch distance in the center of the rung without any damage and the design safety factor is 4x based on ultimate strength;etc, etc, etc.Then throw in some ANSI specs as well, such as ANSI A14.3-1984 for fixed ladders.Oh, and some of the OSHA regs reference that all welding has to conform to AWS specs as well.So making a 'simple' ladder is not all that simple after all!    You have to spend a few hours digging through specs and regs and such and making sure al the i's are dotted and the t's crossed before you even get to the ladder.As I said, you may have done all or some of these things already.  Not faulting you at all, just trying to make sure you are aware of the sometimes tangled and convoluted paperwork required for ladders.btw, nice river there.    Looks like it's flowing pretty well at the time of the picture.  Is there a low-head dam running all the way across that's making that 'crease' from shore to shore?  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Re: OSHAGot it thanks. My contact is working directly with their inspectors. In the past they weren't on the big "O"'s radar, but lately they've been cracking down.They've spec'ed it and got the go ahead.So I'm going ahead.It's not a dam it's a rapid. Locals, raft guides and boaters call it "Surprise ledge" . It's the last rapid on section 9 of the French Broad River. They call it surprise because you can barely see it from upstream, if your raft guests aren't paying attention after about 11 miles on the river and the take-out is in sight, they think the trip is pretty well over then......surprise, you get wet one more time.Brian LeonardAppalachian Ironworks L.L.C.434 Long Branch Rd, Marshall, NC 28753828 649 9966828 702 [email protected]
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseOh, and some of the OSHA regs reference that all welding has to conform to AWS specs as well.So making a 'simple' ladder is not all that simple after all!    You have to spend a few hours digging through specs and regs and such and making sure al the i's are dotted and the t's crossed before you even get to the ladder.
Reply:wow ladders and horribly crafted sub standard diesel parts.  what more could anyone want.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by RandomDaveThat is exactly why we bill 100$ per foot for any ladders made in the shop at work.
Reply:as far as ladders are concerned, in 2007, i worked for a shop that built tanks and oilfield equipment.  we built ladders on a weekly basis.  most of them had mancages, but there were a few that didn't.  none of them had the dimpled, textured rungs.  we who worked in the shop all fit and welded what the engineer dept sent out.  I loved working there due to that fact.  just follow the print, put it together and weld.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualiewow ladders and horribly crafted sub standard diesel parts.  what more could anyone want.
Reply:Originally Posted by RandomDaveThat is exactly why we bill 100$ per foot for any ladders made in the shop at work.