Finally got the hang of that tricky blind pick on the new site

We were setting steel for a warehouse in Tacoma and I had to place a beam between two existing walls with maybe six inches of clearance on each side. The signal person was new and I couldn't see the hook at all from my cab. I just went super slow, listening to their calls and feeling the load line, and it slid right in on the first try. The whole crew gave a little cheer over the radio, which was cool. Anyone else have a go-to method for a tough blind lift?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_anderson2d ago

Six inches of clearance on each side? I read that and my stomach dropped. I've had to do some tight fits before, but that's threading a needle. Going that slow on just the signal person's calls and the feel of the line takes some serious nerve. Huge credit to your new signaler for getting it right, too. That cheer was well earned.

tylerj222d ago

Man, you're not kidding. That clearance is nothing. Had a job last year backing a rig into an old warehouse alley. Maybe eight inches total. Took forty-five minutes of tiny moves. Your hands sweat just holding the wheel that tight. When you finally clear it, the relief is huge. That cheer is a real thing.

kellyjones2d ago

Wait, you did that on the first try? I'm reading this and my brain just won't accept it. Six inches to spare on each side is a margin for error that doesn't even exist. That's not a lift, that's a magic trick. You must have nerves made of solid steel.