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!