There was nothing typical about the job I just finished, but let's face it .... nothing has been typical in Las Vegas lately.
We're still in recovery mode, and you can tell people are still in a state of shock. Strong, resilient, but... we've heard it all. Nothing really will ever surprise us again. At least that's what I believe.
So when someone called the shop, asking if I could build something like a "tiny house" - I wasn't surprised, but I needed a little more info before I could commit.
Turns out - a convention in town featured this machine - an expensive thing-a-ma-jig that no one could quite say what it did, but everyone agreed - it was a damn expensive piece of equipment. If I wasn't mistaken, I think this machine portions food products, but hey - that's none of my business.
All I know is - they wanted a 2x4 shell built around it, and they had a limited budget.
And sure enough - against my better judgement, I agreed to build it - complete with joists across the top of it, so that the tarps wouldn't flap in the wind and damage the machine.
I suggested that we sheathe it with panels, to make it much stiffer. But with a low budget for the "crate" - they said the 2x4s would have to suffice.
When the truck pulled up, it was pretty quick work to build this shell.
Luckily, one of the near-by businesses loaned us their fork lift, which helped us get the tarps up to the top.
These tarps weighed close to 200 pounds, so it was hard enough unwrapping it. I can't imaging putting that tarp on my shoulder and walking it up a ladder.
No way!
But the driver told me he's done it hundreds of times.
Getting it pulled over the shell was a chore,
but with the two of us (the truck driver and moi),
we got it pulled and tied down in no time.
A job well done!
Imagine my surprise when the driver called me the next morning - to say that he'd overtightened the gut-strap, a horizontal strap that secures the tarps in place, breaking one of the corner posts. (If you'd seen the muscles on him, you'd know that he probably didn't even use all of his strength, he was a beast!)
Plan B - SHEATHING!
I had tried to persuade the company to let me sheath the 2x4s, for strength and added protection, but they said there was no money in their budget for the additional material.
Really?
You're protecting a machine worth $750,000 and you can't afford extra sheathing?!
Well, you know what they say.....
Working on Sunday isn't my favorite way to spend the day, but
- A - It was their "emergency"
- B- Someone had to do it
- C - Ch-Ching!
So I made a quick trip to the local BIG BOX store to buy the sheathing.
I knew that stapling the sheathing in place would make the job a breeze - and BAM!...
Did I mention that I won the Senco Giveaway at the AWFS show? A huge booty of Senco products including five nail guns, a compressor,
a new hose,
a variety of nails and fasteners, and yes....
... a stapler.
Just what I needed for attaching the sheathing!
This beast worked beautifully for attaching all 14 sheets, and just a few hours later, we rolled the tarps back in place,
and my new BFF was on his way...
Ch-Ching!
1 comment:
You certainly do get yourself involved in a lot of different projects! Finally someone understands how difficult tarping is. Eric drove flatbed and had to tarp loads until his accident and now he doesn’t have the ability. It’s a very difficult job!
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