Ugh, one more week of freedom

[Spooker]

I just got "the call"". Some good/bad news.

Looks like I'm going to the mill shutdown starting on Oct. 12. For those of you who have never had the 'pleasure' of being in a papermill's recovery boiler count your blessings. They're not the worst place to be but they tend to be dirty, dusty and hotter than a $2.00 pistol.

As Icing on the cake I'm slated for the night shift, I'm very much a morning person, don't do so well at nights. But listen to me whine, the good news is it's overtime and the mill is close enough where I can sleep in my own bed every night...I mean day

Also right before that is the last camping trip of the year to Dolly Copp in the White Mountain national forest N.H. I'm going to cut some stock on the saw and take my new favorite hobby with me.

[Nancy-G]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

Have a good time on your vacation .... take your camera so you can show us what you carved!

[Spooker]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

I deffinately will Nancy. I've got my first carving done, just need to get a pic of it. Me and Chickey (my wifey) have an agreement...I never touch the camera myself. I'll let her do all the photo work.

[TreeWizard]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

I've been in some nasty places myself but the worst was cleaning out the pit under the Shakeout in a gray iron foundry.

[Spooker]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

I don't know anything about foundry work, but if my imagination is right that does indeed sound like a nasty place to be.

[Larry Bev]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

Retired from pipe fittings foundry after 36 years first 3 were 3rd shift under shake out. I know about nasty, last 3 years foreman which was almost as bad as first three. THINGS ARE NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FRIENDS ARE.

[Spooker]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

So am I right in thinking the 'shake out" is the inner bottom where all the slag, filings and soot drops through the main floor? That does indeed sound unpleasant. The boilers are nasty because dried black liquor covers everything and everyone.

[Phyllis Singer]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

BE SAFE! Enjoy the camping trip and keep that sense of humor going about all the nasty stuff. Carve a scene about the job so we can see what is going on with you. Good luck Spooker!By the way wives are better at the cameras!!

Phyllis

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

I have seen the inside of a oil burning industrial boiler, it has been 25 years but feels like yesterday, good luck !!

Dave

[Spooker]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

Thanks Phyllis, I will be safe and my sense of humor is what keeps me from loosing my marbles. As for the carving of a boiler...that may be the most boring carving ever.

The recovery boilers we work in are 10-12 stories high. 60'x60' and the walls are nothing but 2" pipe from floor to ceiling, wall to wall. But then again, all I'd need is a sharp gouge and run straight lines the entire lenght of the wood.

Take care and thanks again
Spooker

[carver33]

Re: Ugh, one more week of freedom

Spooker,

Hang in there. Just remember, it's not forever and it's OVERTIME. You should be able to afford a new carving tool when it's all said and done.

I think my worst stint was running the etching tanks in a steel fab shop before OSHA. 60' long by 4' wide by 3' deep, 180 degree acid tanks to clean steel with nothing more than a rubber apron, rubber gloves and a face shield. Lot's of fun.