My Back Hurts (Ironworker stuff)

[Nordie]

My back really does hurt, L4 and L5 been that way for years, I know surgery will eventually be needed, but regular chiropractor visits seem to help.

But let's get to the fun stuff...2 new superstructure bridges, My crew is getting after it!!!

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[HNL2LHC]

Cool photos. I didn’t know that they used jigs like that one in the image to layout the rebar. How many man hours does it take to tie up one of those columns?

 

[monkeyswrench]

I tried a chiropractor, one helped out my wife quite a bit. When they looked at my X-rays from my C-3/C-4 erector set, they basically told me they were not going to risk it. I had a lumbar stint of some type placed due to that first round of surgeries. Had to due with the pressure of CSF in the lining of the spinal canal. They placed the stint between L4 and L5...guess where my lower back has been hurting? I was told by one Dr. that they could do surgery and remove the stint, and "clean up" the area, or prescribe pain meds...I don't want anymore surgeries...ever. I also don't like taking pills. Hot showers, morning and night. Thaw out in the morning, and stretch out at night. What used to kill me in Ca was the hour in the truck on the way to the sight. Undid the thaw out.

 

[Headless hula]

Rod busters. Lol. Cool pics!

 

[Luvnlife]

Rod busters. Lol. Cool pics!

Wire tyers lol


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[monkeyswrench]

My back really does hurt, L4 and L5 been that way for years, I know surgery will eventually be needed, but regular chiropractor visits seem to help.

But let's get to the fun stuff...2 new superstructure bridges, My crew is getting after it!!!

View attachment 731706 View attachment 731707 View attachment 731708 View attachment 731709 View attachment 731710

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Looking at the first two pics...you guys ever go full tilt hamster wheel? Scare the shit out of the new guy

 

[KENDOG689]

Went and saw a specialist 2 weeks a go.Basically told me to deal with multiple surgeries or deal with pain.None of the surgeries will fix all of it.

 

[Nordie]

Looking at the first two pics...you guys ever go full tilt hamster wheel? Scare the shit out of the new guy

No way, you're talking life or death...there is other ways to fuck with apprentices.


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[Nordie]

Wire tyers lol


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Rod busters. Lol. Cool pics!

Tie with metal string

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[Nordie]

Cool photos. I didn’t know that they used jigs like that one in the image to layout the rebar. How many man hours does it take to tie up one of those columns?

Some companies do it a little more old school, but they built these jigs years ago, and now we ship them all over to whichever project needs them. Some of you are probably familiar with the Gerald Desmond Bridge, the 2 jigs I have here were on that project. The jig really speeds up the time, pretty much in half. There is another company building similar drill shafts on a different bridge project and they are about 3 to 4 days per, we are around 1 1/2 to 2 days depending on size.

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[HNL2LHC]

Some companies do it a little more old school, but they built these jigs years ago, and now we ship them all over to whichever project needs them. Some of you are probably familiar with the Gerald Desmond Bridge, the 2 jigs I have here were on that project. The jig really speeds up the time, pretty much in half. There is another company building similar drill shafts on a different bridge project and they are about 3 to 4 days per, we are around 1 1/2 to 2 days depending on size.

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Cool, thanks for the reply. I have always been intrigued with large projects like that. I remember the some of the interchange work going on on the 110 and 105 freeway when i lived in LA in th elate 80s and early 90s. Thanks again for sharing!!!!

 

[Nordie]

welding this one now, #14 and # 18 bar

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[monkeyswrench]

welding this one now, #14 and # 18 bar View attachment 731778

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Holy crap! I was bitching about dealing with #8 a few weeks ago. In our podunk area they had to order that...and it was heavy enough for me.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Holy crap! I was bitching about dealing with #8 a few weeks ago. In our podunk area they had to order that...and it was heavy enough for me.

Yep, that is impressive!!!! My 5,200 lbs double mat #5 on 12” center is nothing compared to what you guys are doing. LOL

 

[HNL2LHC]

welding this one now, #14 and # 18 bar View attachment 731778

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Why is it welded? I assume to hold in shape better. How much of it is welded?

 

[Nordie]

Why is it welded? I assume to hold in shape better. How much of it is welded?

you cannot actually weld to the structure at all...we use extra bracing on the inside to keep it together during picks.

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[jetboatperformance]

Always have and still lift way to much to often , have similar l4/l5 issues bout the time I feel good I get stupid and re-injure , My Wife has 9 discs fused in her back from child hood "voodoo doctor " attempt to correct curvature (another story) she does everything (her horse, water ski etc ) she has littlerally learned to live with chronic pain and shes my role model when it comes to pain managment ... I refuse to take pain pills so we do stretches and some floor exercises , but one of the very best things we discovered was Aspercreme with Lidocaine roll on , absolutley the best (and you wont stink )

 

[Nordie]

Always have and still lift way to much to often , have similar l4/l5 issues bout the time I feel good I get stupid and re-injure , My Wife has 9 discs fused in her back from child hood "voodoo doctor " attempt to correct curvature (another story) she does everything (her horse, water ski etc ) she has littlerally learned to live with chronic pain and shes my role model when it comes to pain managment ... I refuse to take pain pills so we do stretches and some floor exercises , but one of the very best things we discovered was Aspercreme with Lidocaine roll on , absolutley the best (and you wont stink )

I also refuse the pain pill way, even though they worked for me, I could feel the dependency beginning to occur. I have used the lidocaine stuff before and it did nothing for me. I was so bad I actually had to ask my friend to pickup my dog bowls to feed my dogs, I could not at all pick them up. I recently went to a CBD dispensary and picked up a topical CBD cream, and I am definitely sold, it works. I am just prolonging what the inevitable is going to be.

I am only 34 and already have back problems, sold my soul to the company store for sure

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[Nordie]

Holy crap! I was bitching about dealing with #8 a few weeks ago. In our podunk area they had to order that...and it was heavy enough for me.

The rings are #8 on that cage are #8. They are butted together and full pen welded, tested, and then we wait for results before we can actually use them.

It's only rebar but there is some fascinating stuff that goes on behind the scenes that I never knew until recently.

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[jetboatperformance]

I also refuse the pain pill way, even though they worked for me, I could feel the dependency beginning to occur. I have used the lidocaine stuff before and it did nothing for me. I was so bad I actually had to ask my friend to pickup my dog bowls to feed my dogs, I could not at all pick them up. I recently went to a CBD dispensary and picked up a topical CBD cream, and I am definitely sold, it works. I am just prolonging what the inevitable is going to be.

I am only 34 and already have back problems, sold my soul to the company store for sure

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The 5% lidocain patches (perscription) didnt do much but the aspercreme (with lidocain) is different IMO the aspercremem has a similar to Pepto Bismol "aspirin type" compound that really works the inflamation ... RE CBD cream (bought some recently) , the pain relief doesnt seem to be immediate but kind of creeps up subtley like a reefer

 

[rickym20]

Always give you guys credit for the hard work you guys do. I’m a Ironworker too (haven’t done rebar)and when we get a rodbuster apprentice from our mixed local in San Diego to do decking, they typically are keepers cause of them being used to the pace we like.
I like the use of the jigs anytime you are able to. Cool project!

 

[Nordie]

Always give you guys credit for the hard work you guys do. I’m a Ironworker too (haven’t done rebar)and when we get a rodbuster apprentice from our mixed local in San Diego to do decking, they typically are keepers cause of them being used to the pace we like.
I like the use of the jigs anytime you are able to. Cool project!

Hey man, we spend a lot of time talking shit about each side of the trade, but I've watched good decking crews and my hats off to them, they put in some work for sure

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[grumpy88]

I know 2 rod busters that transferred into the elevator union and they worked circles around us in construction . On the hustle side that is . You guys earn your check that is for sure ! Thank you !

 

[Nordie]

I know 2 rod busters that transferred into the elevator union and they worked circles around us in construction . On the hustle side that is . You guys earn your check that is for sure ! Thank you !

I'm picking up what you're putting down, rodbusters are not known to be rocket scientists, but the work ethic is always there. They do have quite the personality as well, (funny as hell).

One of my old foreman's said it best...You could tell 6 rodbusters to punk rebar off of a cliff, and the one that let go of the rebar before going off of the cliff is the foreman.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized he's right, probably because I stopped before going off of the cliff and see it from a different perspective.

I love the trade and the challenge, but you definitely have to deal with all walks of life.

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[Dan Lorenze]

With an 8th grade education my Uncle started a company in Nevada called "Steel Engineers of Nevada" in the 70's. He built many of the Casinos and Hotels in Vegas. Had some nice ocean boats called Rod Buster and Rod Buster 2. Rebar, yeah baby!

 

[Nordie]

With an 8th grade education my Uncle started a company in Nevada called "Steel Engineers of Nevada" in the 70's. He built many of the Casinos and Hotels in Vegas. Had some nice ocean boats called Rod Buster and Rod Buster 2. Rebar, yeah baby!

They were the 1st rebar company here. The original office is still a facility, called Steel Edge. That's pretty cool history.

I worked for Century, and kind of the same deal. They started with a loan and $2500 and eventually sold for 150 million

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[Havasu blue label]

Great job when your young connected for 10 years local 433 ran work for 3 fun times when your young

 

[Nordie]

Great job when your young connected for 10 years local 433 ran work for 3 fun times when your young

I am 416, but we are all the same, my card says JIW. I am on year 15 or 16 now. The structural portion never intrigued me, but I still respect what the 433 side does.

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[Classic Daycruiser]

My back really does hurt, L4 and L5 been that way for years, I know surgery will eventually be needed, but regular chiropractor visits seem to help.

I had this done last summer. I highly recommend it. (RF Ablation)
It lasts for about 2 years, and then you go back and get a retreat.
I was back to work the next day, and took a Uber home after the procedure.

 

[2Driver]

you cannot actually weld to the structure at all...we use extra bracing on the inside to keep it together during picks.

View attachment 731830

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Those look heavy. Remember, bend at the knees