Snowed In...

Snowed in and, a week and a half off work! Heres our house covered in the stuff! Had fun with the family though!

VETRANS DAY

I would like to tell all the veterans out there, THANK YOU for all that you have done for us! Everyone probably knows a veteran so go shake their hand and thank them!

another crane collapse

This accident happened in Australia. This crane is only 9 days old and cost the company $4mill! The price doesn't include all the damage to the new building. The good news is that nobody was killed or seriously injured. The crane balanced in the air for about 1 hour before the entire rig finally fell thru the floor. The boom layed across the site and then the crane fell all the way to the basement. This accident could have been avoided with the proper planning.

CRANE COLLAPSE

Here are a few pics of a piledriving crane that has collapsed. The reason for the collapse is still under investigation but it is thought that the boom failed. No one was hurt but work has been halted until the investigation is complete and new equipment is brought in. Being around a piledriver crane when it goes over is no fun, I was standing about 15 feet from a rig when it went over! What a big mess to clean up not to mention the money for new equipment. The big pipe in the mess is the pile that was going to be driven into the ground. In the second pic you'll see the piledriving hammer which hammers the pile into the ground. The crane in the third pic looks like it is popping a wheelie, but in fact the weight of the boom, leads, and pile are holding it up.

MOTOCROSS PERFECTION

Congratulations to James Stewart won the AMA motocross nationals! He did it by winning every race (24 out of 24) for a possible 600 points.

Looking for a Few Good Photos & Stories!

Me in the trenches

I'm just putting the word out for anyone who is interested! I would like to show the world all the hard work that we do! Have some pictures and/or stories you would like to share? Email me at: Smashedthumbs@yahoo.com and, I will give you credit! C'mon it's not the hard! And, why your at it leave me some comments!

Big Crane Pick

The big steel structure in these pictures is called the Aqueduct bridge. It is located in the little town of Lowell in Snohomish Co. The structure is only a pedestrian bridge that spans railroad tracks. The big hole in the center is for water run off from the streets and I-5. The water runs thru the bridge and comes out the other side to a water feature on the backside(the hole in the concrete wall in the back of the pic).
The bridge its self is about 180 feet long and weights a shit load! The crane used to pic this is a 400 ton mobile crane, pretty awesome.
(photos courtesy of Manny Barns)

First Email Submission on Job Site Photos!

Here is what will become the new South-bound lanes of 405 going over I-90 Bellevue. Looking at the bridge deck laid out before rebar & concrete.

I would like to thank our first submission of construction photos by email!
(photos curteousy of Karen Andrews)

The Start of The Wilburton Tunnel Demo

(Wilburton Tunnel Before)

Here is the Wilburton Tunnel dug out the day before demo. Crews worked two weeks digging out the dirt exposing the side walls that were previously covered, preparing for the demo.

This is the aftermath of a 24 hour demo period. Two thirds of the tunnel was demoed in the first weekend.

Here you can see the top two thirds of the tunnel has been removed, and, they moved to taking down the side walls.

Here is the mad dash to get the road cleaned up before 5 am, for Monday morning traffic.

(photos courtesy of,Mannie Barns)

(Wilburton Tunnel After)

Can you tell that there was total chaos over the weekend? Only a third of the tunnel remains to be removed by the weekend of August 15-17th.

You can view more photos on the removal of the Wilburton Tunnel on Flicker Here:

Wilburton Tunnel Demo

Big Toys for the Big Kids!

(This story and, photos were forwarded to me by, my uncle, Jim Elder a model enthusiast.)

This 1/9th scale radio-controlled C-17 model was built in the U.K. To date it has about 20 flights. It was built as the centerpiece of a 15 program television series produced in the U.K for the Home and Leisure satellite TV channel. Built with the aid of three friends, it took a year to build and, is powered with 4 Jetcat P-120 turbines, with a total thrust of 108 lbs. Weighing in at 250 lbs fully fueled and, carries 12.5 liters (3.3 U.S. gallons) of 95% kerosene and, 5% turbine oil fuel. the wingspan of this big boy is 20 feet and 8 inches, and the top of the fin hits 74 inches. (6feet 2 inches) above the ground. Take of weight is 264 lbs. The rear cargo doors open and they drop an r/c jeep on a pallet, as well as 2 free fall r/c parachutists. The model also, has smoke systems both of the inboard turbines, and uses 2.4 GHz data link to provide real-time data to a laptop computer on the ground while in flight. This data includes airspeed, turbine, RPM, EGT, fuel consumption, etc. It is covered in fiberglass and epoxy resin. Built mainly from balsa and ply, with many glass and carbon fiber moldings to reduce weight. This C-17 Globemaster III is one of the largest jet models in the world today! Complete with retractable landing gear and pneumatically operated flaps.

Pre Demolition of WilburtonTunnel

Contractors moving in the heavy artillery for attack on the Wilburton tunnel. Follow up Photos of the aftermath will be posted shortly! Stay away from Southbound 405 South of Bellevue this weekend and next!


An aerial view of the Wilburton Tunnel shows trucks removing dirt in
preparation for the assault.

Precast Panel Setting

Over this past week we have been in the process of, setting precast panels. These panels are constructed off site and, delivered to us ready to set into place. These will be used to conceal the retaining wall for cosmetic purposes.

We pick the panels with a 65 ton crane. Here you see the angled rigging to the left of the photo. These are on rolling blocks so when the panels are picked up they won't break in half. (side view)

When we pick panels we have to use two lines, one for the top of the panel (with the round ball at the top and, one line at the back. Once its in the air we are able to disconnect the rigging from the back of the panel.

Here's the panel hanging from one line as, the crane swings it into position.

(Photos curteousy of Smashedthumbs)
This is the first few panels that we set so far. You can see the crane to the left of the photo here. As you can see the wall is getting higher which makes the panel heaver. They can weigh between 5,000 to 11,000 lbs.

Always use a pick plan, BE SAFE!

SHARK WEEK!

The Discovery Channel is hosting their 20th year of shark week this week!

This is my favorite week of TV. There are so many shows to choose from, Dirty Jobs, Survivorman, Mythbusters and so many others, a different one every night. You can even catch previous episodes every night before the new ones aire!

Top picture: Air Jaws (awsome)
Bottom picture: A school of Hammerheads

The Mythbusters crew is by far my favorite show to watch! They get to make alot of cool stuff and, sometimes they blow it up!! They've got the ultimate dream job.

Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs is the funniest host on TV. The way he describes thing is hilarious.

Night Crew in Progress...

This is my crew and, I drilling shafts, 30 feet deep with our low drill and, then setting our piling which are 40 feet long with our 60 ton crane. This is temporary shoring to hold back, I-405.

Happy Birthday!

I Love you!
Leese

Here We Go Again...Another Freakin Night Show!

Working nights once again! In this picture you can see the drill rig, we use this to drill temporary shoring. (Made of steel H-pile, with one inch thick, steel plates in between.) These hold the dirt back so we can dig down along the side of the road. This is the construction of a new retaining wall for a new off ramp off I-405.

This pictures shows the 60 ton crane which we use to set the pile.

These are the pile that have been set 30 feet into the ground.

Here we are back filling the temporary shoring.

We use pea gravel in most areas for easy removal of the temp. shoring. Other times we use CDF which is, a sand, cement mix with little amount of cement. This just fills the voids around the pile to hold them into place.

(Photos courtesy of Smashedthumbs)

What is a Piledriver?

Someone may ask "What is a piledriver?" This is a question that I've tried to explain too many times to remember. This is my job, this is what I do! It's not a wresting move or a sexual position either so, get your mind out of the gutter!
The title "piledriver" is given to any member of the construction crew that work with the pile driving rigs. The actual piledriver rig is a vessel that drives piles into the the soil to provide the stability and, foundation for structures such as over passes, buildings, bridges or what have you. Pile drivers have a heavy weight placed between guides so that it can slide up and down in a fluid solid line. (Again, get your minds out of the gutter!) This is placed a top the pile and when the weight is raised to its highest point it is released thus, smashing the pile, driving it into the ground.
There, its that simple,
Piledrivers drive it Deeper!

This is Why We Call Our Blog Smashedthumbs!

~ A carpenter taking one for the team ~

Safety is our number one goal but, in our trade injuries come with consequences. Not only to the individual worker but, for the companies we work for. Always pay attention to the task in front of you, be aware of what is going on around you at all times. Never hold your guards, disable your guards, or pin your guards on your saws!
PLEASE BE SAFE!
Everyone wants to go home in one piece!