And those of us who determine to operate them

yup

yeh nice

yehhh

visit me

Rob Fraley how did you get started? In the union or no?

Tyler Brown contact your local IUOE Hall see what their apprentice program looks like. I’m in Local 12 here in SoCal. I came in as an HDR but now on the crane operating side. Union is the only way to go. You can start out as a yard kid to get your foot in. Spend some cash on your NCCCO cert. good luck

As an old rodbuster, much respect to most of you

haha

They are invaluable. I was working for a General Contractor that had lost their way with skill sets with regards to cranes. I was on a 21 story and had over 20 different signal people. I would be tense all day and roll over to a concrete forming guy that knew the deal and the tension would dissipate. It was the kind of thing where I'd roll off the edge of the building and the superintendent signaled "Hoist down easy". No idea why he was there, but here I am countering on the radio to who is essentially my boss, "Do you really want me to hoist down easy from 14 stories?" A poor signal person just puts me on edge as I'm waiting for the accident to happen that I can't see. Worst one for me was coming up and over the edge of a building with a pallet of paint strapped. I can see it deforming so it was a run to get over the roof so no one would get killed. Since I've left the seat years ago, it seems that lift directors and structural lifters have become less and less optional.

Hard working guys ? 😂😂😂💀

@@lifeofacarpenterbridgebuil3487 Yep, especially when they work 10 + hour days. Ever run a crane? There's a lot more to it than sitting.

sure why not

theylied1776 LOL

It's a dangerous job? how so?

Idk if they realize that it's not that dangerous, but there ARE a few dangers to consider. First of, don't be afraid of heights, tower cranes routinely cross the 300ft mark and even higher. Second of all, be in shape. There are platforms periodically on the way up and the ladder is encased in a cage, but still, get tired halfway and slip, and you'll be hurtin'. Probably not dead, because of the platform limiting how far you can fall, but hurt, bad. Wind is a danger too, but I'd say the most dangerous place to be is on the ground with all the weight swinging overhead. For the record, I'm not a construction worker of any kind, and I could be far from correct, but I watch a LOT of documentaries and things like that on big machines. Very interesting stuff. James Kingston's videos also helped me learn a lot about tower cranes just by watching the dude climb them.

hhahaa

The Stoned Parrot "Not that dangerous"? Operating any crane is very dangerous. That's what I do.

plainwornout3 how do you get started in it?

check out best greets

with talkiwalkie :D

nice to meet you best greets :D

send some pics at our ch...

it is amazing :)

You get used to it.

@White Mamba people always ask, how I became a crane operator. I give them an answer, construction worker, rigger,blah blah, but the truth is. I didn't do well at school, I like my job, but things could've been better. Hindsights a bitch.

@Globalizmas - Keiksmažodis is this job getting me a good money?.. What's the average for the money i will take from this job?

@@MohamedGamal-oj7qs Depends on the company, but because training to be a tower crane operator and the potential risks and stress an operator has to go through, it can give a lot of money. Hell I drive a reach truck in a warehouse and I earn a lot more than average.

Thanks Brother. I started out of Local 86 in Seattle. I own a company signatory with Ops and Ironworkers these days.

rotyag if I ever boom out to Seattle, I’ll be glad to ask the Hall if you have any work 👍

That's funny. I think everyone who worked under me always knew that I was in socks. The white feet on the glass is a give away. Most safety folks would agree that there isn't a hazard to be concerned about in a crane cab. I would often wear shorts up there in the summers too. My reasoning is that I don't want stinky feet from just leaving them in shoes. I don't want dirt on the glass. And I just want to be comfortable. I keep a clean cab as an operator. What's more common than socks is slippers. Some operators have pig sties as cabs. Others of us want it to feel like home.

Excellent! I prefer working with no shoes too - even though I'm in an office. I think it promotes a less stressful and overall healthier environment. Kudos!

lol

Cause we dont want to get dirt and stuff off boots on the glass bottom floor.

Most all operators do that, my dad and uncle sure do, I am pretty sure I will as well.

Albert Bringas that's it?

WitX916 You'll want to start with signalling cranes and really learning that side of it. Most people never really learn that part even after 30 years. Timing and nuance is so critical to understand that if you don't learn that, you'd be dangerous as a crane operator. Then most people move into the boom trucks and small cranes then work up in size. I find running small cranes actually harder. But the skills you learn there translate fantastically to a tower then it's just a matter of getting used to the speed of a tower versus a truck crane. Good Luck! Depending where you live, if you have strong enough unions there, training is all free and great quality through the Operating Engineers and you'd make a good living.

Heights are just something you have to get used to. Eventually you only focus on what you are doing. But to be fair, I started as an ironworker. So getting into a cab feels very comfortable for me. I think that you might just need to do it repeatedly until it feels natural. It's normal and healthy to be uncomfortable with heights. if the movement of the crane is the concern, I would say that a properly maintained and erected crane is extraordinarily strong. The minimum design factor for a static load is that the load cannot be more than 63% of the toppling capacity. when you add in wind and live loading it's at 77% of it's ultimate failure. So your load chart is saying the crane is maxed out, but you really have a safety margin of another 50% if you are static. Of course there will be some live loading. The point is that the cranes are really over-designed even though they move a lot. In my days of erecting cranes, erecting a PECCO (old blue and white cranes) at 300' on loose bolts lets you know how much they will flex. They were sickening to look down those old towers. You could see 4-5 feet of bend before you tightened the bolts. I've heard stories of the old Linden's twisting towers 1/8th of a turn on an old swing brake test method. I guess what I'm saying is that I've seen some stuff. What we see in the field everyday... meh. It does take some getting used to. If you run the crane safely trying to avoid shocks, you'll be fine. You'll get used to the threshold of the cranes bending. I've been in an overloaded tower crane (nearing 130%) due to a computer failure.and there was no question about something being wrong no matter what the LMI screen was displaying. "Why am I staring at the ground and the boom at the same time?" Good luck. just keep exposing yourself to it and focus. Eventually you won't care about anything but the rhythm and being sure you are clear of obstacles, smooth, accurate, fast, and safe.

Thanks for the reply it's greatly appreciated. Great advice I'll keep working on trying to get seat time .

***** Funny enough last year i moved into skydiving. Tandem from 4000 meters. Then doing the progression to get licensed I climb out on the wing strut. All systems normal, release to go into an arch and my mind goes blank. I come to under canopy. Do it two more times with better control each time but not normal. I conclude that I've worked so long at heights ignoring the threat of falling that the initial overwhelms my brain and it shuts down. I think that I could break past it but what if I have a highspeed while moving past the problem? I decided to give it up rather than push through. Funny how that works. Bouncing crane... meh. The do point downwind. This allows the crane to lean back into the wind and survive 160 mph winds.

sure

:)

Hours for operators depend on the job and the speed with this the schedule is. Commonly for wood frame construction in the US, I'm used to 50 hour weeks. For highrise construction, 60 to 70 hour weeks are common. Early starts like climbing a crane at 5 AM is normal in a downtown core. if you are in the smaller areas, usually the noise ordinances dictate how long and early you can work. The hours are demanding. The pay is pretty acceptable for not being a professional or great at sales. Best of luck.

sure join

+Dan Rhone Some modern cranes have AC built in. It gets hot in direct sunlight up there. Most of them don't though. I just bought one and made sure to have it. I'll let the best operators fight to run my crane. Some guys buy aftermarket systems and give up the space for the comfort of cool air.

the newer cranes do actually have cameras on the trolly

tosspot1305 Which manufacturers are doing that? Or are you referring to aftermarket cameras?

Liebherr and potain do it. I'm sure others do too but usually the crane has to be very tall..(over 300ft) or have a large blind section i.e. behind a building

ur crazy

I am an Ironworker currently working a job with the 2 tallest free standing tower cranes in the US and neither have cameras on the block. One stands 400ft other is right at 300ft.

Winds make running the cranes far more difficult. The load on the crane booms increase dramatically based on the surface of the load. You can run to 72 kph with most cranes if you are pouring concrete. If you have flying walls, that might be 25 kph, or less. The problem with training is that you have to put it into action. The honest assessment is that 10 days cannot even give you 10% of what you'll need to know to run a tower crane. I don't say that to be rude to the places trying to help improve safety with training. I train people how to rig and signal cranes in an eight hour class. My government says what needs to be in the class. I give a lot of good information in there, but it's woefully inadequate. At the same time, contractors are usually not going to allow for more time. The best way to get into a seat from a training perspective is to work your way up from the field. You'll be best served if you know how things hook up. What they are called. The process the guys on the ground need. The sequencing of installation. It sounds silly, but if you swing over to where things are and recognize each step before it's even asked for, production will go up by 10-15%. When you can make corrections before it's asked for because you know what's needed, it's probably another 5% and people love you for it. But if you don't have that experience, well, you probably shouldn't do anything unless you are asked. Start on a small crane on a slowed paced job. In the US, it would be wood framed apartments. In the UK, it would likely be with a self erecting crane on a brick job. Chase the hook with the remote and you'll quickly learn how to be smooth and why it's easier for everyone if you are smooth first and fast later. Smooth and accurate is incredibly valuable. Some guys focus on speed. It's needed, but if it comes in accurate and smooth, it's quicker on the handling side. That's my general advice to start. Remote, do the rigging, be a part of the building, then move up to a short crane seat and work up. Take mental notes of what goes next. Old timers can hop in a seat and know what's next 30 minutes into the day. Smooth, accurate, then fast. Best of luck.

@@rotyag👍

48 meters. 160 feet.

rotyag Thanks for fast reply.

Eh... I have been at it long enough that I don't recall all of the stages. I had phoned cranes at 200 meters (660') before I took a crane seat. I was calling all of the shots and I was, and am, a crane erector, so I know the details from the far side of the hook very well. And then I took the time to spend many days just hanging out in the cabs of the best operators before I took a chair to learn various techniques. Conceptually I might be able to claim to be a natural, but I have ran across cranes that had me struggling to figure out for days before. Sometimes the timing and speeds of cranes aren't intuitive. I think that today I make it look super easy. But there were many years between learning what a tower crane was to where I am today. I watch guys with ten years of experience who run everyday, but they don't really get it. If a person wants to be really good, you have to work with really good people who expect a lot of you, and you have to expect a lot of yourself. It can always be better. True for me at this stage as well. Good luck on your process.

+Gaytor Rasmussen thank you for the reply I am a total rookie thinking about switching trades, I currently operate heavy duty class a rotator trucks, medium duties etc hazmat certified as well but this has always intrigued me living in LA watching all the buildings coming up. I'm going to try to get into this industry

70Meters

If you are asking about the screen, I don't recall my preference. I want to say it was the third screen on the 2005 to 2015 generation. I'm not sure I've ran a crane newer than that. I've stopped operating. I own cranes and elevators now.

+DeathTheKiid30 That is exactly the path I took. Here's the deal. Some ironworkers are really just garbage at signalling a crane. They will tell you otherwise. The secret to knowing the difference is simple. Do they look up? If they don't know to look up, they have no idea what they are really doing. Those guys looking up and calling the crane, have them show you the dance. There is a rhythm to it and it all happens over our heads. As a greenhorn apprentice, don't get too into it. Focus on learning the basics of your tasks and busting your ass. Show interest in the prints until you find someone to help you there. Once you can read prints and show you know the basics, someone will give you a chance to shine or fail. Then you'll be at a point to show what you know about cranes. When you can signal, you are ready to learn how it's done from the crane seat. I sat behind anyone who would give me the time of the day. Crane operators can't help but want to tell you why they are the shit. Take advantage of it. Give up a couple hours of your free time. Each crane runs differently and you should see it in action from behind the seat. Then you'll be on your way to getting a seat. Especially if you can become a professional signal person for a while. That's the progression. Signal people are important on the site and to the job. You can be a second year apprentice that is more important than all but one or two other ironworkers on the site. You can make well over 100k without any injuries like carpal tunnel. Work the entire job. Watch the rod busters come in, fade away and then watch the structural boys come in and go away. Longer jobs, more important, more money, no injuries and eventually you can get a seat. Get the basics and then fight to become a signal person. Show the operator and talk to him. If you get to know what you are doing, he may request you and the rest will be over. Best of luck.

+DeathTheKiid30 get your NCCCO certifications via a school (expensive). Learning the controls is easy, understanding load charts/ osha/amse safety codes and crane physics is the hard part. Being any heavy machinery operator is a skilled trade and not for everybody. There is a lot of risk and responsibility and you could hurt/kill someone or yourself or cause expensive damage with one wrong move.

Learn about the lifting gear, chains, strops, snatch blocks, lifting techniques. Unit weights, (weight estimation)even from the ground catch every swing, be aware of your surroundings,eg: people,scaffolds, where you are standing (don't squash yourself) If you can show me that, you can come up top. In New Zealand and Australia, its called a Dogman. Look on KZfaq for crane dogman.

@@dalemehana4726 nah bro dogman is as low as it gets. Advanced riggers can do it all

@@rotam8680 you guys don't have lifting gear, it belongs to the crane crew.

That's the north end of Seattle.

ok thanks

+Leo Tapp varies greatly. In the Seattle area, the wage package should be $55 per hour. You have some union/non union differences and then you have to figure in overtime. $80,000 per year is a normal amount on the check. I've heard of guys cracking $200,000. In New York 200,000 would be a common wage.

rotyag Wow! That is alot more than i though it would be! Do you know the sort of wage in the UK though?

+Leo Tapp union tower operator working year round will hit around 120000 in Atlanta. plus around 30-40000 in benefits.

awesome11991 Damn! Never knew a job like this could earn so much!

I make $23 a hour in Miami, FL but I get endless ot. I've also only been doing it 6 months.

They do. They will often have 3 gears. On the Hanging Iron video, that crane has a 20 (metric) ton hoist. So third will hoist 10,000 lbs and hit like 470 feet per minute. On a 800 foot tall crane, you need that. I would say that you need more speed if you can get it. But 10,000 for most loads is pretty acceptable. The nice thing between the new and the old cranes is that the motors are ran via a VFD. So the inputs are variable like a hydraulic crane. The motors won't overheat. On the old cranes you had a duty cycle to worry about with the electric motors. If you ran at a slow speed for a couple of minutes, the heat coming out of the resistors and rectifiers was absurd. So you had to gear down to make the motors run efficiently or you would burn up the power supply side. The downside is that we used to have to deal with the speed. This made us productive. Today people want the slow control and it kills production times. Guys hop on the radio and ask for "Easy down" from 200'. I just quietly have a mini-stroke and give it to them at a working pace.

Gaytor Rasmussen Do you like the gear shift? Or do you just like high (but variable) speed?

I am trying to think of any large 2 part operation cranes that have no gearbox. I think that they all have one unless they have a 2/4 part operation with a second block. There must be a mechanical line pull limitation in there. Or, it's a braking capacity issue. There is this whole unseen design of a hoist motor package and cost issue that needs to be factored in. How fast can you run if you make everything heavy duty, and how much will everything weight, and how many amps will it take? Like a Liebherr 316 can hit 906 feet per min. A 550 hits 459, but each has the same 147 hp hoist motor. So they must be factoring the common maximum amperage in areas around the world vs what's practical and cost effective. I'm fine with the gear switch. It's not commonly a problem. The modern cranes do it so fast that I often would get my signal people on the same page that if it's near my 3rd speed limit, there might be a seconds pause if I have to switch. It's common stuff over and over with tower cranes, so usually you know about what things are going to weigh. I love the variable speeds. I find that I get used to hitting the same movements. It does take longer to get used to each crane though. It's also nice to be able to engage a speed and not need to pay so much attention to how much a "bump" is.

Wolffkran's 8060 has up to 5600 kg at max ~79 m/min up to 50000 kg at max ~11 m/min No mention of a gear shift anywhere. Liebherr's 1000 ECH 50 has (according to the most recent data sheet) Gear 3: max 4800 kg at max ~77 m/min | max 12000 kg at max ~39 m/min Gear 2: max 10500 kg at max ~40 m/min | max 24000 kg at max ~22 m/min Gear 1: max 23000 kg at max ~20 m/min | max 50000 kg at max ~11 m/min Both have 147 HP (max continuous power) motors. If Wolff's motors can withstand being bogged out to 14% of full speed, can Liebherr do it too? Yes. In fact, Wolff's winch is actually slightly better because its no-load speed is slightly faster. But why don't Liebherr? Do Liebherr's motors last longer as a result of less loading due to the ability to use a lower gear?

yeh they have

you are up for the day and piss into a bottle usually

Wish I could send some your way. Working in New Zealand would be a great way to get Americans travelling more. We're too busy here for me to suggest losing anyone. After the Christ Church earthquakes when I was still and operator, I pondered the idea of moving and working in New Zealand myself.

@@rotyag hahaha, yeah nobody wants Christchurch, riggers and welders are driving at the moment, they ain't happy but if the cranes stops, everybody stops.

tim h what if I pay you 1 trillion per year.

it is :)

That would be difficult for me to say in another country. The hard part is becoming unemployed each time a job is finished. I do not have this problem, but it is common. Operating a crane at a port should have more regular employment. Here in the US it pays very well to work in ports as a "Longshoreman". I get to see different sites each year and work with new people all of the time. Plus my hours are steady where many people in the ports have to work when the ship comes in no matter what time of day it is. I would call some companies in Israel and ask about wages and how steady the work is. You might have to call many place before someone will advise you, but it could be worth it to know. Good luck!

היי גם אני מישראל ואני שוקל לעבוד במנופאות שמעתי שהמשכורת טובה אם אתה יכול לעזור לי רציתי לדעת אם זאת עבודה כזאת של פרוטקציה שצריך קשרים או שאם עשית את הקורס יקבלו אותך?

guy112ex Sorry for the delayed response. I'm afraid that I wouldn't know what advice to give you for Israel. In Seattle I just joined the union and worked my way up to operations by earning trust and respect. Every country is so different, I"m not sure how it would work in Israel. If I wanted to work there, my first call would be to a tower crane rental (hire) company. I would ask them how it works. Hopefully you can find someone friendly enough to be helpful.