Even though I’m a carpenter, I don’t get to build any houses,not yet so far. This is what I get to do tho. Thought you’d find it interesting.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
You don't have to sacrifice historical elements of a house in the name of energy efficiency.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I might, if the size of the attachment were reasonable in size so I could download it.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Try this one, Pif, it is a cool shot.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
View Image
Awesome shot .Tell us more about the photograph.
For us severe acrophobes: a) Where is it so we can avoid it. b) What is it so we don't have to go there to find out.
Don
The Glass Masterworks
"If it scratches, I etch it!"
I'm not afraid of heights, but 2MB file sizes scare the crap out of me! JK.
Nice picture. Looks like a peaceful spot to watch the commuters battle it out. So, where is it and what is it you do up there?
Tacoma, Wa. We're building a suspension bridge like the one next to it, only the new one has concrete towers. The boxes you see on top are where the formwork is done. the forms are self climbing. The boxes (birdcages we call them) have three levels inside; Bottom deck houses the clibing motors, mid deck is forms( 18' tall) and the top deck for observation, placing rebar, concrete etc. The picture is of the tower legs opposite of the ones I worked on. This pic is about a year old. Currently they are running the big cables across ( like you see on the exsisting bridge). Once the towers and struts ( cross pieces) were completed the carpenters work was over. The rest is being done by iron workers. I'm envious of the beautiful homes you guys get to build and the knowledge you posess. Just wanted to pitch in my $.02
Well Gunner's got you steered in the right direction regarding picture re-sizing. Irfanview is a such a good program.... free and easy to use.
I guess the grass is always greener...... Sure we get to build some cool houses from time to time, but sometimes I'm just framing a cookie-cutter colonial or boring duplex too. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love an opportunity to work on such a substantial project as the construction of a suspension bridge. Shoot, an opportunity like that comes along a heck of a lot less frequently than some super duper McMansion. I guess the important thing is to try to enjoy whatever it is that comes your way for work.
Thanks for sharing something we don't get to see much of around this forum. Keep the pictures coming. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would welcome the education. View Image
Here's a pic without all the fog. Let me know if this image works out better than the last one.
That is unbelievable. I can't imagine working with such a view.
Are you local to the project, or do you specialize in bridge form-work? My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
I live about 30 min. away from it. I do tend to specialize in concrete formwork. Over the last few years it's been bridges. I really like working on or near the water. the surrounding view is always so nice and you don't have to slog around in the mud so much during the wet season (90% of the time in these parts)
Fascinating work and info. Thanks all, Chris
Are you a union carp?
Yeah, Union carp. I journeyed out during the caisson construction for the bridge. Two great moments.
Your image size is still way too big.
You can either use Irfanview to resize or an easier way if you are running XP. Right click on your picture in explorer and select "Sent to" and then "mail receipient".
When the box appears select "make all my pictures smaller". Then when your email client pops up with the attachment in the message just drag the file back to your folder or desktop. You don't need to mess with any new software this way.View Image
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
How do you get the picture to show in your message here, as opposed to just the link showing?
I could explain it or just link to Luka's better explanation.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Dude, thats me in the maroon convertible just underneath you.
Cool pics, but I was (builder / retired framer) not one to get much above three stories when working...beautiful scenery.
I was wondering, does the operator of the hammer head crane get the "Bends" as he climbs to the top of that rig? Pop
No, but he's pretty ticked off for a while after he gets up in the cab. You got to give him a few to catch his breath.
Give him just a few? Heck, I would give him an hour! I would not want to be subject to "Yellow Rain"! LOL..............Pop
I'm curious about the climbing cranes. How do they work? Someone once told me, and for the life of me, I don't remember. Since I'm one of those folks that doesn't go for heights, I'll never get to see one up close either - unless it's on the ground.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Don-
It's easier to see it in the link below than it is for me to explain it and have it make sense.
Bob
http://science.howstuffworks.com/tower-crane4.htm
Bob-
That was a great link. It was well explained, in words that even I understood.
I can't tell from the profile where you hang out, but I do hope that you will be at Tipifest so's I can buy you a drink and say thanks in person.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Don-
I'm hoping to be at TipiFest- I'm in central NJ. I hadn't realized that my profile wasn't filled in, so I took care of that.
Bob
The form system is self climbing (no assistance w/crane). When you form a lift you place large steel, cone shaped embeds at the top of the form. these embeds are tapped to accept a large bolt. When the forms are stripped, "climbing claws" mounted to the tops of large diameter threaded rods are raised up via a motor. When the claws have reached the heigth of the embeds, they are bolted to them. Once this is done (there are four motors with two rods each) the motors then climb up the rods, carrying the whole birdcage with it. When the structure is raised to the next lift, the superstructure is tied into the climbing claw using a cantilever system. I never could quite wrap my mind around exactly how the cantilever worked, I just know it managed to suspend that 90 ton shack so we could bolt together the forms and pour the next lift. The forms, by the way, hang from the superstructure with wheel so you just slide the four sides together and bolt away. I used a large wrench and a double jack (sledgehamer) more than I ever used my hammer.
Sorry, I thought youwere talking about the birdcages, the tower cranes have one section in the tower called a jacking frame. the frame lifts the crane part up and has an open area that will allow a tower section to be inserted. The crane picks up a tower section and trollys it in to the jacking frame where ironworkers who specialize in crane erection attach the section. It's probably the most precarious work the operator has to do, especially in windy areas like the Tacoma Narrows.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge - is the one shown the replacement for the infamous "Galloping Gerty" that blew down some years ago? http://www.ketchum.org/tacomacollapse.html
yes, that's the one. I believe it was rebuilt around 1950.
I live in Port Orchard and have been watching that thing go up with awe. That is some cool work man and beautiful pics. We came driving over the Narrows last night about 9 and all the lights on, make that a really pretty place to drive through at night.
Keep the pics coming :-)
I wish I was still on the project. All the work now is being done by iron workers as it's pretty much all steel from here out. I've got quite a few more pics, however there is a pretty extensive album plus great info at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov.
I live in P.O. as well. Ive seen some of your pics about your chainsaw jig while reading Mike Smith's thread (awesome thread). I was wondering if you were a pilebuck in a former life? Just kidding. Nice work though. Where do you build mainly?
Here is a link to another project I was part of after the suspension bridge.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR104HoodCanalBridgeEast/Closures/2005/timelapse.html
We build quite a bit in McCormick Woods but this last year we've been all over the place. Did a couple out by Long Lake on Clover Valley, we've done a couple in Sinclair Heights, some out in Lakeland Village in Allyn, couple in Bremerton. We'll be back in McCormick possibly end of next week or 2 weeks from tomorrow. We'll see.
If you are in McCormick, drive over to Muirkirk (take a left at the tennis courts and then a left on Muirkirk) and on the right is one we've just about got done. You should see the trim work in their. Robin (trim guy) has done an outstanding job.
We have been watching this go up too. Too bad they had to opt for concrete over steel. The concrete just does not have the look of the old bridge. They need more suspension and cable stays here in the earthquake prone area but DOT loves its post and pillar concrete.Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities- Voltaire
I'm watching a program on discovery right now about bridges. Most of them make the narrows look like child's play. The feature bridge is a speculation of a bridge spanning Gibraltar, Spain to Morocco.
What's the best way to post a pic so it wont be such a large file?
Follow this link and it will give you a program to download that will reduce the size.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=24441.1
Ugha Chaka! Ugha Chaka! Ugha, Ugha, Ugha, Chaka!
BTW great picture! We love progress shots here so keep them coming.
Ugha Chaka! Ugha Chaka! Ugha, Ugha, Ugha, Chaka!
Nice the Tacoma Narrows bridge! I've been across it many times!
Worked in Washington for about six months.
Howie
Scared of heights? I was three (3) when I took a free-fall from a 40' cliff. That got me started on things high. I later went on to jumping out of airplanes until I got introduced into shooting.
How did you land? Was this over water?
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Water? Hahahaha, I wish! I landed on asphalt! I laid there looking up at my friends wondering how the heck I got down there (or, how they got up there).
Ha! The king of all suspension bridges for beauty and style is Santiago Calatrava. Too bad folks in the US hate nice engineering so much. http://www.geocities.com/big_bridges1/alamillo.htmlThose who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities- Voltaire