Imma play with big ass machines!

[mike-db]

So for the past week or so I've been getting my self lined up for a more *secure* future.

I'm finally back on solid land instead of the island that I was on. I'll be going to a Heavy Machinery Operating facility.

I'll be getting some training on excavators, AR trucks, and them front end loader things...

Should be fun, the facility that I'll be attending is very well known and the course it's self was very costly. Six weeks of playing.

Anyone one here an operator?

EDIT/ Currently I live in a suite in this odd gated community/RV park type place... $30 a month for my won modem/internet.


It's a huge drop from what I'm used to, don't think I'll be playing any online games or streaming any TV shows for a while... They gave me cable... But I don't watch cable.

[sgtfuzzbubble011]

I used to be a heavy equipment operator for about seven years. I ran backhoes, front-end loaders, excavators (large and small), a dozer, a telescoping material handler, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, and a knuckleboom truck once or twice. I do miss it from time to time.

[mike-db]

Yeah I'm looking very much forward to it. Operators are currently in screaming high demand in Canada.

Nice to see that you are still well Sarge.

[Widdykats]

@ sarge..Good to "see ya"
Nice going mike-db!

[mike-db]

Thanks Widdy Kitty! I'm really anxious to start.

[k_rock923]

Big ass-machine.

Sorry, had to be said.

[mike-db]

Yes, yes it did.

[rockouthippie]

don't think I'll be playing any online games or streaming any TV shows for a while

I don't think I would have much problem with that connection. It would be pretty marginal to watch HD shows on Netflix with that connection, but DVD quality would be fine. 68ms isn't totally shabby for gaming.

The price is right. It should work. Maybe better than you think.

[swingdjted]

bandwidth:

The upload is actually pretty strong compared to most. There are too many connections out there that focus on consumerism... like 67 zillion exabytes down and 0.003 bytes up. It's a pleasant relief to see that someone is getting something a bit more balanced.

heavy equipment:

At a sawmill, I used to occasionally operate a front-loader (we called it the "payloader" similar to this one), which was a rather huge forklift that often had an attached bucket. We used it at to scoop sawdust and mulch with the bucket and to load the de-barker and main saw without the bucket - just forks. We also used it to move and stack banded stacks of lumber to various places in the 'yard' and to load semi-truck trailers with it. Usually if someone got really tired or lightly injured or a bit sick, they'd get to run it, because it had an air conditioned and heated cab with a radio and was a nice break from the other much more grueling parts of working there.

It feels really odd steering, because instead of rack-and-pinion, it just bends in the middle. Kinda takes you by surprise when you first try it. It also hops back and forth front axle to rear axle if you get it going too fast. Any speed over around 15-20 will make this happen, or even slower if you're carrying a heavy load on the front. That's really scary when it happens.

Aside of that, I've run a decent number of farm tractors and other farm equipment, but I don't think that really counts here. Sarge is your true operator if you're looking in Winamp for someone that knows his shit when it comes to this.

[mike-db]

Well either or, going to be fun.

Being twenty going into this course is rather rare as I understand it, thankfully I met someone else who's also going there. So I've got a ride! I was just going to walk the 6 km's to get there but getting a ride is much more appealing!

I've worked a bit of farm machinery as well, but nothing even close to what I'll be playing with.

[swingdjted]

If you don't mind, bring a camera along or use a phone camera. I'd like to see some of the toys you get to play with.

[mike-db]

They are fairly strict about cellphone use, so I wont be able to get a picture of it in action. But I will grab some tomorrow.

Had my first day today, running a cat front end loader. I'll be on it all week. Didn't grab a picture.



Here's a quick one I grabbed before heading to the office.

I'll be sure to get a snap of the loader I'm on tomorrow.

The guy I'm getting rides with started today as well, he was on the orange excavator in front.

[swingdjted]

That's awesome. I wish your bud could drive all the way here to dig out my camp's pond. It keeps getting shallower every year, and soon it may be too shallow to support the fish over the winter.

Maybe it's the kid in me, but I love watching heavy equipment in action.

[mike-db]

Yeah I'll bump up the quality so I can get better shots. But that one was also zoomed right in.

Quite exhausted after today I had to be there by 6:45, but I was bumped down to the "night shift" (which should be called the noon shift) so now I only have to be there by 8:45. Much better for me.

[Wildrose-Wally]

Originally Posted by mike-db

Quite exhausted after today I had to be there by 6:45, but I was bumped down to the "night shift" (which should be called the noon shift) so now I only have to be there by 8:45. Much better for me.

Sissy. I was at work at 4:00am, done at 5:00pm.
Yeah, that's right, 13 hours later and the work is all done, till tomorrow anyway.

[mike-db]

Originally Posted by Wildrose-Wally

Sissy. I was at work at 4:00am, done at 5:00pm.
Yeah, that's right, 13 hours later and the work is all done, till tomorrow anyway.

Should I mention that out of sheer excitement for the day to follow, I didn't fall asleep till around 2:00AM the night before?

Today was much better, got a better rest and had much more fun.

I was running a Cat 930 today, as well as yesterday.


Just doing a daily walk around before getting to the dirt.

[mike-db]

I was told to "build a ramp"

For this.

And this.


There ya go, pictors!

[k_rock923]

This looks like the most fun thing in the world.

[swingdjted]

^Amen. I'm having fun just looking at the pictures. Proud!

[mike-db]

It is. Just a giant playground really.

[swingdjted]

When I was a kid, I sometimes was able to go to McConnell's Mill State Park where I always tried to move an even bigger rock than one I moved in the last visit. I often used prying sticks or another rock or whatever to make moving a boulder possible. Learning new ways to move more shit from one place to another was always quite exiting. Even as a teenager, I always brought girls down there, and we tried to cause big boulders to roll down a hill by whatever means possible, just to say "we moved that!". It was an odd feeling of accomplishment, regardless of how unnecessary it was to do that.

Heavy equipment operation seems to be the ultimate realization of this, except that you actually are serving a necessary purpose. There's just this innate need for dudes (and entertained dudettes) to "move stuff" from place to place, and the more, the better. I dare say I'm a bit jealous, but also happy for you.

Don't let this go. This is some pretty awesome shit.

[mike-db]

It's a good amount of fun I can say that. Loader sure does get old quick though.

I find that mastering the controls. Isn't a big deal, at least with the loader. It's more about dominating the earth to do your bidding. Molding it to your will, so to speak.

This coming up Monday is my loader evaluation. Some people have said that it's as easy as getting asked "How many tires does it have?" to doing an all out inspection.

I'm excited to move onto another machine.

[sgtfuzzbubble011]

Learning how to operate a particular machine and mastering it are two very different things. The controls are simple, yes, but even after months running the same machine, you can learn to do new things with it. Want to know how to turn your loader 90 degrees to either side without moving the transmission control from neutral?

I do envy you. Run as many different machines as you can. Learn as much as you can. Have fun, but of course, be safe doing it. And don't forget to keep all the joints greased up.

[mike-db]

I can't even think about how to do that... Something to do with the bucket I'm sure. Sounds interesting I'll have to try that this monday.

I love grease day! It's keeping me sane maintaining something. I miss my truck.

[swingdjted]

lift tires with bucket, steer, let tires down, steer, lift tires with bucket, steer, set tires down, steer, etc.

[mike-db]

Yeah that's what I figured, I'll try tomorrow.

[mike-db]

Haven't done my last day on loader yet so I can't try the 90 degree stand still turn.





Some late night videos...

[mike-db]

So I graduated. I'm officially a heavy equipment operator! Yay!

Now to find a job...

Tried the 90 degree stand-still turn in a loader, it was awesome.

[sgtfuzzbubble011]

Congrats.

[swingdjted]

Originally Posted by mike-db

So I graduated. I'm officially a heavy equipment operator! Yay!

Now to find a job...

Tried the 90 degree stand-still turn in a loader, it was awesome.

That's amazing. You just started and now you're finished? That's just awesome. Within a few weeks, you'll likely be making twice what I make, and deserving every penny.

If you get a good heavy equipment gig, you'll be every little boy's role model.

Remember that your full time job for now is job hunting. Spend at least 8 hours a day every day searching combined with the willingness to relocate if necessary, and you'll have a job relatively soon. I wish you the best in your search!

Keep us posted!

Edit - Come to think of operators, I might need a more local operator in Pennsylvania to run a long armed excavator to deepen my camp's pond. It's been getting shallower each year, only maybe 3 feet now for most of it. There have been a few seasons where I had to restock the fish because the pond froze nearly solid. I have no idea how much that would cost, probably more than I could afford. The pond is about an acre in size.