So here's a story. I was basically a lost kid from a broken home spending my summers at my Grandpa's hunting camp in Northern Michigan because nobody knew what to do with me when I was a kid so cutting firewood and wandering around in the woods with my .22 single shot seemed like something to do. Grandpa took me over to a some cousin's farm and they ignored all my problems and took me out and taught me how to operate the boom on the backhoe. What a lesson! I got my shit together later and became a senior manager and computer systems technical expert in the aerospace industry. One day my own kids were at a Scout meeting and someone had donated a dump truck load of gravel to level out the parking lot at the scout lodge and left a backhoe for us to use. Question was raised: "Does anybody know how to use this thing? " I raised my hand, cranked it up and started working and then passed the lesson along to some other Dads. Got some weird looks. How does Mr. Manager know this?. This is the way it is supposed to work - take that knowledge and pass it along. Once again - sorry about the rant, certain things set me off.
I've worked with guys that are worthy of the term, "Operator". I've also worked with some scary idiots that shouldn't run anything bigger than a D19. It is nice to work with the former. They make your job easier, while making their job look effortless.
Irish...I said the same thing two weeks ago...I've been watching this guys videos non-stop since. Very talented! Mikey...I get your point and I share the same vibe!
A gas pipeline was built a few years ago across southern Oregon and passed a few miles from our little town here in the Oregon Outback. A local made a deal with the pipeline company to acquire their crane pads when the line was finished. I only had a vague idea what crane pads were, but now, 40 minutes later, it's clear exactly what they are and do. There's a field outside of town with several thousand of them stacked up, and there's a five man shop that is milling them into reclaimed lumber. He turns them into benches and picnic tables, finished in varathane, and they are gorgeous pieces of furniture. He says they have at least five years before they start running low on stock. I had intended to fast fwd this video, but it is just fascinating as it is, and edited enough that the 40 minutes flies by. I have watched some real artists on backhoes before, and this guy is definitely good.
Irish, I kid you not, two nights ago I was wasting some time on You Tube and watched this exact vid and then two more! From the same guy. Did you watch the one where he cleans up a pond? I am such a loser. MF
Operating heavy machinery with the skill and precision of a surgeon--absolutely fascinating. This came up in my YT feed a couple of weeks ago. I was hooked!
My father had a backhoe operator that worked for him every now and then. He was a very slick operator. One time he was digging a ditch over a gas line to expose it and stopped and said "there is something there". Turns out it was a buried hubcap from some old car. That is known as having the feel of your machine. jack
So here's a story. I was basically a lost kid from a broken home spending my summers at my Grandpa's hunting camp in Northern Michigan because nobody knew what to do with me when I was a kid so cutting firewood and wandering around in the woods with my .22 single shot seemed like something to do. Grandpa took me over to a some cousin's farm and they ignored all my problems and took me out and taught me how to operate the boom on the backhoe. What a lesson! I got my shit together later and became a senior manager and computer systems technical expert in the aerospace industry. One day my own kids were at a Scout meeting and someone had donated a dump truck load of gravel to level out the parking lot at the scout lodge and left a backhoe for us to use. Question was raised: "Does anybody know how to use this thing? " I raised my hand, cranked it up and started working and then passed the lesson along to some other Dads. Got some weird looks. How does Mr. Manager know this?. This is the way it is supposed to work - take that knowledge and pass it along. Once again - sorry about the rant, certain things set me off.
ReplyDeleteBack when scouting and 4H/FFA were the two most outstanding programs. Great story Mikey. Sad that scouting got cancelled.
DeleteI've worked with guys that are worthy of the term, "Operator". I've also worked with some scary idiots that shouldn't run anything bigger than a D19. It is nice to work with the former. They make your job easier, while making their job look effortless.
ReplyDeleteLeigh
Whitehall, NY
BTW - D19 is what we around here call a shovel.
D19 sounds the same as a #5 Banjo.
DeleteIrish...I said the same thing two weeks ago...I've been watching this guys videos non-stop since. Very talented!
ReplyDeleteMikey...I get your point and I share the same vibe!
Guy sure knew what he was doing! Speedy, too.
ReplyDeleteA gas pipeline was built a few years ago across southern Oregon and passed a few miles from our little town here in the Oregon Outback. A local made a deal with the pipeline company to acquire their crane pads when the line was finished. I only had a vague idea what crane pads were, but now, 40 minutes later, it's clear exactly what they are and do. There's a field outside of town with several thousand of them stacked up, and there's a five man shop that is milling them into reclaimed lumber. He turns them into benches and picnic tables, finished in varathane, and they are gorgeous pieces of furniture. He says they have at least five years before they start running low on stock.
ReplyDeleteI had intended to fast fwd this video, but it is just fascinating as it is, and edited enough that the 40 minutes flies by. I have watched some real artists on backhoes before, and this guy is definitely good.
Wonder how much the total bill was?
ReplyDeleteJust guessing, maybe 5,000$ to recovery cost, and 10,000$ youtube income? The pro's make it looks so easy.
ReplyDeleteI've run trackhoes, but nuthin' as smooth as that guy!
ReplyDeleteAlways admired good operators
ReplyDeleteAlways admired good operators
ReplyDeleteIrish, I kid you not, two nights ago I was wasting some time on You Tube and watched this exact vid and then two more! From the same guy. Did you watch the one where he cleans up a pond? I am such a loser.
ReplyDeleteMF
Nice work
ReplyDeleteOperating heavy machinery with the skill and precision of a surgeon--absolutely fascinating. This came up in my YT feed a couple of weeks ago. I was hooked!
ReplyDeleteMy father had a backhoe operator that worked for him every now and then. He was a very slick operator. One time he was digging a ditch over a gas line to expose it and stopped and said "there is something there". Turns out it was a buried hubcap from some old car. That is known as having the feel of your machine.
ReplyDeletejack
Been watching Chris for a couple years now, he's a master for sure!
ReplyDelete