This video is what makes You-Tube so great, "to those of us who will never step foot inside a Tower Crane". Thank you,the commentary was like I was there. Excellent video !
From working in the construction industry for over 30 years a good operator is worth their weight in gold. You don't realize it until you've had to deal with a bad one. I'm sure a good signal man goes a long way with you all too.
They are invaluable. I was working for a General Contractor that had lost their way with skill sets with regards to cranes. I was on a 21 story and had over 20 different signal people. I would be tense all day and roll over to a concrete forming guy that knew the deal and the tension would dissipate. It was the kind of thing where I'd roll off the edge of the building and the superintendent signaled "Hoist down easy". No idea why he was there, but here I am countering on the radio to who is essentially my boss, "Do you really want me to hoist down easy from 14 stories?" A poor signal person just puts me on edge as I'm waiting for the accident to happen that I can't see. Worst one for me was coming up and over the edge of a building with a pallet of paint strapped. I can see it deforming so it was a run to get over the roof so no one would get killed. Since I've left the seat years ago, it seems that lift directors and structural lifters have become less and less optional.
Thanks for the video - I tell everyone that professionals make it look 'easy' and everything is fun for the first five minutes - after that it is just work - even operating a tower crane!
I don't know why I would enjoy watching someone I don't know do something I know nothing about in a place I don't know (apart from it USA) and doing something u would not get me doing.... No way. Thanks for upload... Was cool.
Nice video, been flagging for 3 1/2 years now, my dad and uncle are both tower crane operators, I have operated 3 times with the last time being alone for 4 hours on the worlds most expensive YMCA off of Preston Rd in Dallas. Thank you for making this video when I get my license I am sure your tuition will be utilized.
That was bad ass, dude! thanks for the vid. I used to rebuild equipment that required use of a little 20,000lb. hydro-crane. That was fun to operate and definitely an art form. Lotta props for what you do up there.
Going back to old school without a computer has been good for my depth perception. I get used to having radius indicators and end up memorizing too much versus having a good eye for it. Having a good bellman is a huge plus.
Most new tower cranes are similar to hydros in that you apply pressure to the controls and ease out of them to come to a stop. Prior to about 2005, they are a completely different animal. This is a 92 model and the force, timing and duration of each input becomes a second nature art form. It's a lot of fun getting up to speed with each model but it can also be very frustrating in the learning curves. Going from hydro to tower, dealing with the torque in the tower will be the biggest change.
Tyler Brown contact your local IUOE Hall see what their apprentice program looks like. I’m in Local 12 here in SoCal. I came in as an HDR but now on the crane operating side. Union is the only way to go. You can start out as a yard kid to get your foot in. Spend some cash on your NCCCO cert. good luck
Generally, the only cranes that have moving counter-weights are luffing tower cranes where the boom raises and lowers, and gigantic tower cranes like Kroll K10000's. Most lean back to their maximum moment design. When you apply weight to the hook, it just leans forward to either plumb, or to it's maximum forward moment. On some tall cranes, this might be 1 metter back, and 1 meter forward which means the operator can sway 6 feet. Quite fun on those cranes.
Great video, I am a Tower Crane Operator in NYC. The only one thing I don't like about my job is my phone bill every month other than that stay safe. "Safety first"
Man, all of the advice I want to give. Yeah, I'm pretty relaxed. It took a while until I was able to 100% relax. Some stress during break-in is good. You should be overwhelmed an pushing yourself, but very attentive to all details. Not only for safety, but to pick up all of the little tricks like the lay of the slings or shadows telling you if you are centered. Getting the block 100% stable prior to hoisting up to get a read on it. Getting in tune with your bellman. It all takes time.
The standard shift is 8 hours. You can find jobs with lots of overtime. 50 hours a week is pretty common, 60 is getting to be long for me. I just did a video walking around the crane as per your request. It went way too long, but the cab is a couple of minutes in if you wanted to just get to it then skip the rest.
We use mobile cranes that you might have seen driving down the road. Search for "Tower Crane Erection". In Europe you'll see many cranes erected short then "climbed" into position. In the US, we mainly erect them to the full height needed for the job. We climb them if the building will be taller than the crane can free-stand (usually 260' to 305') without external supports such as the building.
It's a GoPro 2. The Wingman is out now and is even less expensive with most of the same options and some advantages such as a good menu. Whole different manufacturer.
@White Mamba people always ask, how I became a crane operator. I give them an answer, construction worker, rigger,blah blah, but the truth is. I didn't do well at school, I like my job, but things could've been better. Hindsights a bitch.
@@MohamedGamal-oj7qs Depends on the company, but because training to be a tower crane operator and the potential risks and stress an operator has to go through, it can give a lot of money. Hell I drive a reach truck in a warehouse and I earn a lot more than average.
A few angles to take. One option would be getting into a different union as a rigger. Sometimes they come from Carpenters, Laborers, or Ironworkers. But there is the hazard of not getting the work you want and being trapped, or at least feeling trapped. It can be like the military that way. Wanted to be a crane operator, but I push a broom all day. You can go to a school like Morrow's and get a license. That will up your value, but you are spending maybe 10k to make it happen. If you show up with a license, the union will have the choice to sign you up. or watch you go to a non-union competitor. Assuming many realities in life, you can also start with a non-union company and work towards your license. A mobile crane supplier is one way. Some general contractors hire their own operators and riggers. This would avoid the trap of another union. Once you are working non-union and you have a license, the union would fall over itself to get you under their agreement. I'm sure I'll get hate for the suggestion, but that's a reality based solution. They can't hope for loyalty until they agree to take care of you. Sorry it's not going the easy way for you.
If you are asking about the screen, I don't recall my preference. I want to say it was the third screen on the 2005 to 2015 generation. I'm not sure I've ran a crane newer than that. I've stopped operating. I own cranes and elevators now.
Idk if they realize that it's not that dangerous, but there ARE a few dangers to consider. First of, don't be afraid of heights, tower cranes routinely cross the 300ft mark and even higher. Second of all, be in shape. There are platforms periodically on the way up and the ladder is encased in a cage, but still, get tired halfway and slip, and you'll be hurtin'. Probably not dead, because of the platform limiting how far you can fall, but hurt, bad. Wind is a danger too, but I'd say the most dangerous place to be is on the ground with all the weight swinging overhead. For the record, I'm not a construction worker of any kind, and I could be far from correct, but I watch a LOT of documentaries and things like that on big machines. Very interesting stuff. James Kingston's videos also helped me learn a lot about tower cranes just by watching the dude climb them.
There was another job close enough that I was picking up other radio traffic. I got good reception from the job without it but lost reception of the other traffic.
honest it is very easy to catch up.. very nice bro,,, thanks for sharing skills, please my question is there are two gears there and which is the gear for leaf thing up and to put it down and which is to control in an out and which is to move around like? please may you make another video please?
I was up in a tower for the first time for training and it's something you have to get use to. My local provides all the training I want do you have any advice for me to feel more comfortable and confident.
Heights are just something you have to get used to. Eventually you only focus on what you are doing. But to be fair, I started as an ironworker. So getting into a cab feels very comfortable for me. I think that you might just need to do it repeatedly until it feels natural. It's normal and healthy to be uncomfortable with heights. if the movement of the crane is the concern, I would say that a properly maintained and erected crane is extraordinarily strong. The minimum design factor for a static load is that the load cannot be more than 63% of the toppling capacity. when you add in wind and live loading it's at 77% of it's ultimate failure. So your load chart is saying the crane is maxed out, but you really have a safety margin of another 50% if you are static. Of course there will be some live loading. The point is that the cranes are really over-designed even though they move a lot. In my days of erecting cranes, erecting a PECCO (old blue and white cranes) at 300' on loose bolts lets you know how much they will flex. They were sickening to look down those old towers. You could see 4-5 feet of bend before you tightened the bolts. I've heard stories of the old Linden's twisting towers 1/8th of a turn on an old swing brake test method. I guess what I'm saying is that I've seen some stuff. What we see in the field everyday... meh. It does take some getting used to. If you run the crane safely trying to avoid shocks, you'll be fine. You'll get used to the threshold of the cranes bending. I've been in an overloaded tower crane (nearing 130%) due to a computer failure.and there was no question about something being wrong no matter what the LMI screen was displaying. "Why am I staring at the ground and the boom at the same time?" Good luck. just keep exposing yourself to it and focus. Eventually you won't care about anything but the rhythm and being sure you are clear of obstacles, smooth, accurate, fast, and safe.
***** Funny enough last year i moved into skydiving. Tandem from 4000 meters. Then doing the progression to get licensed I climb out on the wing strut. All systems normal, release to go into an arch and my mind goes blank. I come to under canopy. Do it two more times with better control each time but not normal. I conclude that I've worked so long at heights ignoring the threat of falling that the initial overwhelms my brain and it shuts down. I think that I could break past it but what if I have a highspeed while moving past the problem? I decided to give it up rather than push through. Funny how that works. Bouncing crane... meh. The do point downwind. This allows the crane to lean back into the wind and survive 160 mph winds.
Thats the W.G. Clark crane. I see it all the time. Just finished a project in the U-district with the red potain and another right next to safeco field using a liebherr 550 litronic
So I want to work in socks no shoes lol...I'm currently in the military as a logistics guy (box kicker/warehouse guy) but I definitely wouldn't mind doing this..of course I'd probably want to start lower in the crane department, but I could see myself as a tower guy...great video btw
WitX916 You'll want to start with signalling cranes and really learning that side of it. Most people never really learn that part even after 30 years. Timing and nuance is so critical to understand that if you don't learn that, you'd be dangerous as a crane operator. Then most people move into the boom trucks and small cranes then work up in size. I find running small cranes actually harder. But the skills you learn there translate fantastically to a tower then it's just a matter of getting used to the speed of a tower versus a truck crane. Good Luck! Depending where you live, if you have strong enough unions there, training is all free and great quality through the Operating Engineers and you'd make a good living.
I am considering a career with Tower Cranes. I went to College for 2 years to study Business, dropped out and now I work with concrete. I live in the UK and there are 10 day courses you can do to become a qualified tower crane operator, however I feel 10 days is probably not long enough before going out on site? Especially given how unpredictable our wind can be. Currently we are battling storm Erik. And I imagine it's a lot harder to operate these machines with high winds. What would be your best advice for someone looking to start in this field? If there are better suited courses in the states - I would not rule out travelling there. Many thanks
Winds make running the cranes far more difficult. The load on the crane booms increase dramatically based on the surface of the load. You can run to 72 kph with most cranes if you are pouring concrete. If you have flying walls, that might be 25 kph, or less. The problem with training is that you have to put it into action. The honest assessment is that 10 days cannot even give you 10% of what you'll need to know to run a tower crane. I don't say that to be rude to the places trying to help improve safety with training. I train people how to rig and signal cranes in an eight hour class. My government says what needs to be in the class. I give a lot of good information in there, but it's woefully inadequate. At the same time, contractors are usually not going to allow for more time. The best way to get into a seat from a training perspective is to work your way up from the field. You'll be best served if you know how things hook up. What they are called. The process the guys on the ground need. The sequencing of installation. It sounds silly, but if you swing over to where things are and recognize each step before it's even asked for, production will go up by 10-15%. When you can make corrections before it's asked for because you know what's needed, it's probably another 5% and people love you for it. But if you don't have that experience, well, you probably shouldn't do anything unless you are asked. Start on a small crane on a slowed paced job. In the US, it would be wood framed apartments. In the UK, it would likely be with a self erecting crane on a brick job. Chase the hook with the remote and you'll quickly learn how to be smooth and why it's easier for everyone if you are smooth first and fast later. Smooth and accurate is incredibly valuable. Some guys focus on speed. It's needed, but if it comes in accurate and smooth, it's quicker on the handling side. That's my general advice to start. Remote, do the rigging, be a part of the building, then move up to a short crane seat and work up. Take mental notes of what goes next. Old timers can hop in a seat and know what's next 30 minutes into the day. Smooth, accurate, then fast. Best of luck.
Most cranes like yours, would have a counter-weight of concrete blocks behind the driver: are these moveable....in and out ? to counter the different weights on the jib.
Any UK people here? I really want to get into this work however the training is £1000 - £2500 and I'm not sure how much available work there is out there. Anyone know anything?
Guys take up bottles to urinate. Most women use a camping toilet. I would suggest that you shouldn't take this job if you aren't regular when it comes to defecating. It's not uncommon to not get breaks on fast paced jobs. The crane will swing for 12 hours and the only time it stops is to pee. And even then, if someone sees it not moving, they will start calling on the radio because they think it's free for them and they want to jump in line. I got in the habit of turning off the radio so I could pee in silence.
Liebherr and potain do it. I'm sure others do too but usually the crane has to be very tall..(over 300ft) or have a large blind section i.e. behind a building
I am an Ironworker currently working a job with the 2 tallest free standing tower cranes in the US and neither have cameras on the block. One stands 400ft other is right at 300ft.
My channel should have one called walk around a tower crane, or something to the effect. It has some jib walking and looking down from the tower top. It seems to have good effect on people.
I couldn't hardly see what he was looking at, but then these old eyes aren't what they used to be. I imagine having hawk vision would be a prerequisite to this job.
Your rigger radio is missing it's anntennae(sp?) Nice crane. I've operated the 316 and 630 EC-H. THe 316 had heat sensored hurst style levers and frequency drive trolley.The 630 was a monster! 11,000 lbs at 287 ft.
I am about to goto school to get training and NCCCO certified but I don't think that covers this type of crane does it?? If not, how does a guy go about getting into this line of work?? TIA.
The NCCCO does have testing for the tower cranes. It comes down to which cranes you start with. It's possible to start with a tower crane. It's all that I run, but it's not exactly the common route. Most people will start with a boom truck where you can see everything and get the principles of craning first. Just getting into a crane with say 300 feet of load line out there without understanding the big picture really well could be disastrous. It should be a progression process to get to a tower crane. I happened to be a crane erector and got exposed to the principles in great detail and the opportunity to hang out with the best operators on the West Coast. I'm not sure which schools would be the best. I am a union advocate. The training is very good, free, you'll make money as an apprentice, the wages are better in almost all cases, and in a case like mine I pick and choose where I want to work. If I were on my own, I would basically just have to take what is available. For example, I worked 65 hours per week this last year and my employer wanted me to do it for another 15 months straight on the next job. I said,"No thanks." and so I move on and other options are available to me without interviews or struggles. One phone call to my business agent or dispatch and something will be available. If you live in an area without much for unions, start on a smaller crane and every 6 months ask for more responsibility. Show interest and really recognize patterns. Notice unsafe behaviors of people rigging. Take every opportunity to learn. Some operators are lazy and just want to pull levers. Being a good operator is about not only being good at running the crane, it's about being a leader and the knowledge resource. I've been in tower cranes exclusively since 2001, written state construction crane laws, I've written a test the NCCCO uses and man, I'm still learning just in this facet of cranes. Always strive to be your best and stay safe.
+DeathTheKiid30 That is exactly the path I took. Here's the deal. Some ironworkers are really just garbage at signalling a crane. They will tell you otherwise. The secret to knowing the difference is simple. Do they look up? If they don't know to look up, they have no idea what they are really doing. Those guys looking up and calling the crane, have them show you the dance. There is a rhythm to it and it all happens over our heads. As a greenhorn apprentice, don't get too into it. Focus on learning the basics of your tasks and busting your ass. Show interest in the prints until you find someone to help you there. Once you can read prints and show you know the basics, someone will give you a chance to shine or fail. Then you'll be at a point to show what you know about cranes. When you can signal, you are ready to learn how it's done from the crane seat. I sat behind anyone who would give me the time of the day. Crane operators can't help but want to tell you why they are the shit. Take advantage of it. Give up a couple hours of your free time. Each crane runs differently and you should see it in action from behind the seat. Then you'll be on your way to getting a seat. Especially if you can become a professional signal person for a while. That's the progression. Signal people are important on the site and to the job. You can be a second year apprentice that is more important than all but one or two other ironworkers on the site. You can make well over 100k without any injuries like carpal tunnel. Work the entire job. Watch the rod busters come in, fade away and then watch the structural boys come in and go away. Longer jobs, more important, more money, no injuries and eventually you can get a seat. Get the basics and then fight to become a signal person. Show the operator and talk to him. If you get to know what you are doing, he may request you and the rest will be over. Best of luck.
+DeathTheKiid30 get your NCCCO certifications via a school (expensive). Learning the controls is easy, understanding load charts/ osha/amse safety codes and crane physics is the hard part. Being any heavy machinery operator is a skilled trade and not for everybody. There is a lot of risk and responsibility and you could hurt/kill someone or yourself or cause expensive damage with one wrong move.
Learn about the lifting gear, chains, strops, snatch blocks, lifting techniques. Unit weights, (weight estimation)even from the ground catch every swing, be aware of your surroundings,eg: people,scaffolds, where you are standing (don't squash yourself) If you can show me that, you can come up top. In New Zealand and Australia, its called a Dogman. Look on UA-cam for crane dogman.
Wish I could send some your way. Working in New Zealand would be a great way to get Americans travelling more. We're too busy here for me to suggest losing anyone. After the Christ Church earthquakes when I was still and operator, I pondered the idea of moving and working in New Zealand myself.
@@rotyag hahaha, yeah nobody wants Christchurch, riggers and welders are driving at the moment, they ain't happy but if the cranes stops, everybody stops.
I have seen actually howq high some of these tower cranes can be so I was just wondering if I may ask, when you get up there to the cab, which depending how tall it is, it really must be a heck of a climb, once you get up there, do you pretty much stay there in the cab your whole shift, or do you actually come down let's say for lunch, cause if correct, to get up there, yu have to climb usually a bunch of ladders...Thanks......
Cameras are available. They are cool for being sure you are clear and speed up highrise operations. But if you watch the "Hanging Iron" video, that is pretty much all blind work. I can't see what is going on because they are 300 feet below me and the concrete elevator core is in the way. So if you watch my eyes, I'm looking at the rope speeds. Then I'll look over to the computer and see weights, radius and elevations. Then I might look up to the horizon to be sure my swing is stopping like I want it to. Blind work, especially at the speed you'll see there, has to be done with operators and signal people that really know what they are doing. A lot of operators and signal people, even guys with decades of experience, are just getting by. Being really dialed in for ironwork and 40 story buildings takes a lot of paying attention and thoughtful aggression. Not only are you listening to each instruction, but you can picture exactly what they are doing without being told so you give them what they are looking for without the advantage of vision. It's a bit nuts.
I don't think that 41 is too old at all. I came through the union trades in the US as an Ironworker, Crane Erector/ signal person (I believe that in the UK you would use the term "banksman"). This taught me how to be aggressive and accurate. Not to mention being comfortable with the cranes. When I was ready to take a seat, I took the time to sit behind good experienced operators to get the tricks of the trade. Do this for multiple types of cranes too because they all run a little differently. The downside of the job is often longer hours and you are somewhat irreplaceable. Calling in sick is not an option. But you do get treated well for this. You are alone up there. Sometimes it's boring. Other times it's overwhelming. And the sweating you'll do on the first job... oh man! But it will soon just become what you do and the only pressure I ever feel is in the decision to shut down due to weather. I'm a little too willing to push the envelope. We operate through unions over here so I'm not sure that I have specific advice. We have a different system. If I were to move to the UK I'd call up the crane hire companies and ask how to break in. It might take a few phone calls until your break through, but someone will take your call and give you a direction. Vertikal.net might be a good start on sourcing those Crane Hire companies in Europe. Good luck. Ask me anything any time. I hope that I can be of use.
Learn how to flag first, study how the loads act under different circumstances, learn to show up early and stay late. The crane operator will be the first one on a job and the last one to leave, every day pretty much.
+Dan Rhone Some modern cranes have AC built in. It gets hot in direct sunlight up there. Most of them don't though. I just bought one and made sure to have it. I'll let the best operators fight to run my crane. Some guys buy aftermarket systems and give up the space for the comfort of cool air.
Bottles. The days can be long in a tower crane. You will need to urinate. People that have to poop often will have camping style toilets. Women often choose this option. But if you have an issue where you aren't regular, this wouldn't be the job for you.Probably the most common question I get about my job is about the bathroom.
david sanchez jr Crane drivers have a bag for that and a bottle for urine. Me? When i have a shit i just aim it to the Health&Safety guys and throw at them. It wasn't me, lol
I've noticed and just about every single operator videoperator video in Asia and including this one that the operators don't wear shoes in the cab. Is there some kind of unwritten rule that you can't wear shoes in the cab?
In most of Asia, you don't walk into living spaces with shoes on. In my case, sitting in boots all day just leads to smelly boots. You are also walking on a dirty jobsite into a crane. If you wear those same boots, now you have to clean multiple times a day unless you want to try to see through the dirt on the glass. Those are my motivations anyway.
@@rotyag Sensible explanation. Thanks. It makes sense. I wonder why this doesn't extend to excavator operators? I always wear my boots when I run an excavator.
@@basspig You are getting in and out of an excavator and you have foot controls. The cabin of a tower crane is larger so there is walking around for various reasons, but you can avoid the dirt. And tower crane operators are looking down through glass at their feet, so the need to keep that clear is there where you don't have that motivation. I have a couple of mobile cranes at my yard and I am always in boots when I jump in those seats. A tower crane is one of those places where you are there for 12 hours at a time.
@@rotyag very interesting distinction. So it's a bit like being at home, because of the duration spent there. Sheesh, the place ought to be equipped with a bath and kitchenette. LOL
That was a 1990 version of a liebherr 550 HC, even before the E-CH versions that ran until 2005. Zero indicators or assistance on those old cranes. It was quite a skill to hit your marks 80 meters out over and over. The generation before me will often whine about computers, but they make the job so much easier.
I once operated an SGME tower crane it was made in Belgium and that had a movable ballast, The jib didn't have a trolley, The whole jib used to slide across the tower and the ballast would travel the opposite way to counter balance it, I believe there were only ever two in the uk 1960s operated by a company called Trentham
Another job I wish I could do. I don't see how it could be done without a radio- yes, I heard the radio in this video but his signalman couldn't possibly use hand signals that far away.
I think it depends on the location. North East... and most major cities outside of the South, The Operating Engineers Union is the way to a tower crane seat. In the South, I think it's generally through the crane rental companies as they do a single source on it all. Some contractors that have tower cranes on the non-union side have their own operators. I would call up the tower crane rental companies and ask them how it works in your area as a starting point. In California and Washington, you'd need significant time being trained. It's 500 hours here in Washington.
The right answer depends on where you live. I'd love to tell you that the union will pay to train you. They will. But if you live in an area where you'll be trained and unemployed, that's not the best advice. I don't know what school would be best. Phoenix has one. Florida likely does as they have lots of different crane training centers. Then Morrow in Salem Oregon likely puts on a good one. I haven't been to it, but they are pretty professional. Functionally a tower and a mobile aren't that different. A mobile is more complex. A tower requires different sighting in for loads and some functionality differences that I'm not sure you'll learn in a school. There is a lot of OJT with tower cranes. The timing on tall cranes is severe for most crane operators. It's not often with a mobile that you reach out 267' and down 300. So the 4 second delays from the structure moving to the hook reacting takes some practice. The speed differences are something to get used to if you have ran hydro's. In quite a few towers, you are coming in hot all day. Really getting after it is 17 lift cycles an hour. But overall, there is a lot less to worry about with a tower. No bypass key. No set ups. Same crew day in and day out. Same rig so you can track any issues. It's just a lonely place in the sky by yourself. I enjoyed it. But it's not for everyone.
I can only speak to Seattle. 40 per hour plus 15 in benefits. I hear in Oklahoma and Arkansas areas it's more like $25. NYC gets crazy with it. I've heard some big numbers, but if you don't know anyone...
They do. They will often have 3 gears. On the Hanging Iron video, that crane has a 20 (metric) ton hoist. So third will hoist 10,000 lbs and hit like 470 feet per minute. On a 800 foot tall crane, you need that. I would say that you need more speed if you can get it. But 10,000 for most loads is pretty acceptable. The nice thing between the new and the old cranes is that the motors are ran via a VFD. So the inputs are variable like a hydraulic crane. The motors won't overheat. On the old cranes you had a duty cycle to worry about with the electric motors. If you ran at a slow speed for a couple of minutes, the heat coming out of the resistors and rectifiers was absurd. So you had to gear down to make the motors run efficiently or you would burn up the power supply side. The downside is that we used to have to deal with the speed. This made us productive. Today people want the slow control and it kills production times. Guys hop on the radio and ask for "Easy down" from 200'. I just quietly have a mini-stroke and give it to them at a working pace.
I am trying to think of any large 2 part operation cranes that have no gearbox. I think that they all have one unless they have a 2/4 part operation with a second block. There must be a mechanical line pull limitation in there. Or, it's a braking capacity issue. There is this whole unseen design of a hoist motor package and cost issue that needs to be factored in. How fast can you run if you make everything heavy duty, and how much will everything weight, and how many amps will it take? Like a Liebherr 316 can hit 906 feet per min. A 550 hits 459, but each has the same 147 hp hoist motor. So they must be factoring the common maximum amperage in areas around the world vs what's practical and cost effective. I'm fine with the gear switch. It's not commonly a problem. The modern cranes do it so fast that I often would get my signal people on the same page that if it's near my 3rd speed limit, there might be a seconds pause if I have to switch. It's common stuff over and over with tower cranes, so usually you know about what things are going to weigh. I love the variable speeds. I find that I get used to hitting the same movements. It does take longer to get used to each crane though. It's also nice to be able to engage a speed and not need to pay so much attention to how much a "bump" is.
Wolffkran's 8060 has up to 5600 kg at max ~79 m/min up to 50000 kg at max ~11 m/min No mention of a gear shift anywhere. Liebherr's 1000 ECH 50 has (according to the most recent data sheet) Gear 3: max 4800 kg at max ~77 m/min | max 12000 kg at max ~39 m/min Gear 2: max 10500 kg at max ~40 m/min | max 24000 kg at max ~22 m/min Gear 1: max 23000 kg at max ~20 m/min | max 50000 kg at max ~11 m/min Both have 147 HP (max continuous power) motors. If Wolff's motors can withstand being bogged out to 14% of full speed, can Liebherr do it too? Yes. In fact, Wolff's winch is actually slightly better because its no-load speed is slightly faster. But why don't Liebherr? Do Liebherr's motors last longer as a result of less loading due to the ability to use a lower gear?
On a "short" crane like this, It's not so bad. Having good depth perception is critical for the job. This crane reached out 267' with no radius indicators. On Sunny days, using shadows is critical. You can also look at the head of people watching. On tall cranes, there are lots of times you can't see. So you rely on people with two way radios to call it. If I run a modern crane, I'll literally draw a map of the radiuses preferred to hit the exact location prior to anyone being there. Visually, this Go Pro is shooting in like 2 mm of zoom as a zoom distance. Our eyes are generally 24 mm or so.
![[ENGLISH] How To Operate A Grove GRT8100 Safely](/img/n.gif)
This video is what makes You-Tube so great, "to those of us who will never step foot inside a Tower Crane". Thank you,the commentary was like I was there. Excellent video !
And those of us who determine to operate them
yup
Literally a video on everything....I did not think I needed to see what it's like to operate a tower crane. But I'm hooked now
From working in the construction industry for over 30 years a good operator is worth their weight in gold. You don't realize it until you've had to deal with a bad one. I'm sure a good signal man goes a long way with you all too.
They are invaluable. I was working for a General Contractor that had lost their way with skill sets with regards to cranes. I was on a 21 story and had over 20 different signal people. I would be tense all day and roll over to a concrete forming guy that knew the deal and the tension would dissipate. It was the kind of thing where I'd roll off the edge of the building and the superintendent signaled "Hoist down easy". No idea why he was there, but here I am countering on the radio to who is essentially my boss, "Do you really want me to hoist down easy from 14 stories?" A poor signal person just puts me on edge as I'm waiting for the accident to happen that I can't see. Worst one for me was coming up and over the edge of a building with a pallet of paint strapped. I can see it deforming so it was a run to get over the roof so no one would get killed. Since I've left the seat years ago, it seems that lift directors and structural lifters have become less and less optional.
Thanks for the video - I tell everyone that professionals make it look 'easy' and everything is fun for the first five minutes - after that it is just work - even operating a tower crane!
yehhh
I don't know why I would enjoy watching someone I don't know do something I know nothing about in a place I don't know (apart from it USA) and doing something u would not get me doing.... No way. Thanks for upload... Was cool.
amazing video. Always wanted to see the cockpit view of these cranes . Thank you for sharing
yeh nice
Love the old school Liebherr!!! The Litronic is a nightmare!
And thanks for sharing. It was a interesting visit :)
the last time I operated a crane was on the mission of the mines at GTA San Andreas …. Great Video!!! Thanks 🙏🏽
Looks and sounds like a true professional. Great to see.
Nice video, been flagging for 3 1/2 years now, my dad and uncle are both tower crane operators, I have operated 3 times with the last time being alone for 4 hours on the worlds most expensive YMCA off of Preston Rd in Dallas. Thank you for making this video when I get my license I am sure your tuition will be utilized.
That's my dream job. Cranes have always fascinated me. Great video!
Very cool video, I used to date a crane operator, very hard working guys, thanks for sharing.
Hard working guys ? 😂😂😂💀
@@lifeofacarpenterbridgebuil3487 Yep, especially when they work 10 + hour days. Ever run a crane? There's a lot more to it than sitting.
Thank you for sharing this. I have been watching one today and always wondered what it was like from the operators perspective. Very interesting!
visit me
If a guy leaves his boots on it gets dirt everywhere. I prefer to be comfortable. I'm often in shorts too.
As an old rodbuster, much respect to most of you
That was bad ass, dude! thanks for the vid. I used to rebuild equipment that required use of a little 20,000lb. hydro-crane. That was fun to operate and definitely an art form. Lotta props for what you do up there.
First view from a crane! Nice touch with the controls. Thanks for posting this.
haha
Love the no shoes, got your Starbucks coffee,great view very cool video, well done.
Going back to old school without a computer has been good for my depth perception. I get used to having radius indicators and end up memorizing too much versus having a good eye for it. Having a good bellman is a huge plus.
Thanks sir, i think I’m ready now to use my tower crane in my yard
Most new tower cranes are similar to hydros in that you apply pressure to the controls and ease out of them to come to a stop. Prior to about 2005, they are a completely different animal. This is a 92 model and the force, timing and duration of each input becomes a second nature art form. It's a lot of fun getting up to speed with each model but it can also be very frustrating in the learning curves. Going from hydro to tower, dealing with the torque in the tower will be the biggest change.
This is great im doing my CPCS Tomorrow and wanted a little look what it looks like in a crane and some of the functions.
Thanks for the Video :)
Good Show, I always ran the 80 to 150 Ton truck Cranes down on the ground
Looking up at you guys all day, never been up in one though.... 👍👷♂️🏗
Rob Fraley how did you get started? In the union or no?
Tyler Brown contact your local IUOE Hall see what their apprentice program looks like. I’m in Local 12 here in SoCal. I came in as an HDR but now on the crane operating side. Union is the only way to go. You can start out as a yard kid to get your foot in. Spend some cash on your NCCCO cert. good luck
Cool perspective of inside the crane
Generally, the only cranes that have moving counter-weights are luffing tower cranes where the boom raises and lowers, and gigantic tower cranes like Kroll K10000's. Most lean back to their maximum moment design. When you apply weight to the hook, it just leans forward to either plumb, or to it's maximum forward moment. On some tall cranes, this might be 1 metter back, and 1 meter forward which means the operator can sway 6 feet. Quite fun on those cranes.
The coolest part about watching an operator is watching how fluid the motions are when doing lifts. I bet you could just do it with your eyes closed
Great video, I am a Tower Crane Operator in NYC. The only one thing I don't like about my job is my phone bill every month other than that stay safe. "Safety first"
nice to meet you best greets :D
send some pics at our ch...
Man, all of the advice I want to give. Yeah, I'm pretty relaxed. It took a while until I was able to 100% relax. Some stress during break-in is good. You should be overwhelmed an pushing yourself, but very attentive to all details. Not only for safety, but to pick up all of the little tricks like the lay of the slings or shadows telling you if you are centered. Getting the block 100% stable prior to hoisting up to get a read on it. Getting in tune with your bellman. It all takes time.
hearing the tower crane moving make me going goosebumps .
We can’t use hammerhead cranes in NYC for obvious reasons, but you seem to be a good operator. I could work with you anytime. NYC Ironworker here.
Thanks Brother. I started out of Local 86 in Seattle. I own a company signatory with Ops and Ironworkers these days.
rotyag if I ever boom out to Seattle, I’ll be glad to ask the Hall if you have any work 👍
The standard shift is 8 hours. You can find jobs with lots of overtime. 50 hours a week is pretty common, 60 is getting to be long for me. I just did a video walking around the crane as per your request. It went way too long, but the cab is a couple of minutes in if you wanted to just get to it then skip the rest.
We use mobile cranes that you might have seen driving down the road. Search for "Tower Crane Erection". In Europe you'll see many cranes erected short then "climbed" into position. In the US, we mainly erect them to the full height needed for the job. We climb them if the building will be taller than the crane can free-stand (usually 260' to 305') without external supports such as the building.
Great videos! I am getting ready to start training to be a tower crane operator.
sure why not
That lime green Jeep at 2:37 is so sick!
been wondering how people operate a tower crane for 3 years, thanks
Awesome video, very cool. Thank you!
That's my favorite height to operate from nice video nice go pro as well wouldn't be as nice without a badass camera make another one I might
It's a GoPro 2. The Wingman is out now and is even less expensive with most of the same options and some advantages such as a good menu. Whole different manufacturer.
Considering the construction economy in Alberta where I live, I think I might consider this as a backup occupation.
this looks like a fun job to do but i'm terrified of heights. my dads a construction worker and he keeps trying to get me into doing this.
it is amazing :)
You get used to it.
@White Mamba people always ask, how I became a crane operator. I give them an answer, construction worker, rigger,blah blah, but the truth is.
I didn't do well at school, I like my job, but things could've been better. Hindsights a bitch.
@Globalizmas - Keiksmažodis is this job getting me a good money?..
What's the average for the money i will take from this job?
@@MohamedGamal-oj7qs Depends on the company, but because training to be a tower crane operator and the potential risks and stress an operator has to go through, it can give a lot of money. Hell I drive a reach truck in a warehouse and I earn a lot more than average.
I have operated some large machinery and I hate heights... This is horryfying. Great video. :D
If I want to get into this how do I go about doing it, I tried with my local union for apprenticeship and didn’t get in how would I start then?
A few angles to take. One option would be getting into a different union as a rigger. Sometimes they come from Carpenters, Laborers, or Ironworkers. But there is the hazard of not getting the work you want and being trapped, or at least feeling trapped. It can be like the military that way. Wanted to be a crane operator, but I push a broom all day. You can go to a school like Morrow's and get a license. That will up your value, but you are spending maybe 10k to make it happen. If you show up with a license, the union will have the choice to sign you up. or watch you go to a non-union competitor. Assuming many realities in life, you can also start with a non-union company and work towards your license. A mobile crane supplier is one way. Some general contractors hire their own operators and riggers. This would avoid the trap of another union. Once you are working non-union and you have a license, the union would fall over itself to get you under their agreement. I'm sure I'll get hate for the suggestion, but that's a reality based solution. They can't hope for loyalty until they agree to take care of you. Sorry it's not going the easy way for you.
@@rotyag thanks I appreciate the advice
awesome. always wondered how you guys communicate.
thx fot the video
with talkiwalkie :D
Please upload more these videos are sick
check out best greets
very cool video..always wanted to see from that prospective
Hi, what are the best settings in the Likas board computer of a lieberr towercrane…? thanx
If you are asking about the screen, I don't recall my preference. I want to say it was the third screen on the 2005 to 2015 generation. I'm not sure I've ran a crane newer than that. I've stopped operating. I own cranes and elevators now.
so basically if you want to sit in a chair and play a video game (a really awesome video game) but IN REAL LIFE become a crane operator
It's a dangerous job? how so?
Idk if they realize that it's not that dangerous, but there ARE a few dangers to consider. First of, don't be afraid of heights, tower cranes routinely cross the 300ft mark and even higher. Second of all, be in shape. There are platforms periodically on the way up and the ladder is encased in a cage, but still, get tired halfway and slip, and you'll be hurtin'. Probably not dead, because of the platform limiting how far you can fall, but hurt, bad. Wind is a danger too, but I'd say the most dangerous place to be is on the ground with all the weight swinging overhead. For the record, I'm not a construction worker of any kind, and I could be far from correct, but I watch a LOT of documentaries and things like that on big machines. Very interesting stuff. James Kingston's videos also helped me learn a lot about tower cranes just by watching the dude climb them.
hhahaa
The Stoned Parrot "Not that dangerous"?
Operating any crane is very dangerous. That's what I do.
plainwornout3 how do you get started in it?
Nice video! Enjoyed watching it!
There was another job close enough that I was picking up other radio traffic. I got good reception from the job without it but lost reception of the other traffic.
How do you get out
Daniel Morelli The video Walking Around a Tower Crane shows the ladder system. It's just a series of ladders and platforms.
cool
ha ha ha
Daniel Morelli sky dive
Climb.
I can see my house from here?! Wait, who the hell is that in my backyard?
theylied1776 LOL
honest it is very easy to catch up.. very nice bro,,, thanks for sharing skills, please my question is there are two gears there and which is the gear for leaf thing up and to put it down and which is to control in an out and which is to move around like? please may you make another video please?
I was up in a tower for the first time for training and it's something you have to get use to. My local provides all the training I want do you have any advice for me to feel more comfortable and confident.
Heights are just something you have to get used to. Eventually you only focus on what you are doing. But to be fair, I started as an ironworker. So getting into a cab feels very comfortable for me. I think that you might just need to do it repeatedly until it feels natural. It's normal and healthy to be uncomfortable with heights.
if the movement of the crane is the concern, I would say that a properly maintained and erected crane is extraordinarily strong. The minimum design factor for a static load is that the load cannot be more than 63% of the toppling capacity. when you add in wind and live loading it's at 77% of it's ultimate failure. So your load chart is saying the crane is maxed out, but you really have a safety margin of another 50% if you are static. Of course there will be some live loading. The point is that the cranes are really over-designed even though they move a lot. In my days of erecting cranes, erecting a PECCO (old blue and white cranes) at 300' on loose bolts lets you know how much they will flex. They were sickening to look down those old towers. You could see 4-5 feet of bend before you tightened the bolts. I've heard stories of the old Linden's twisting towers 1/8th of a turn on an old swing brake test method. I guess what I'm saying is that I've seen some stuff. What we see in the field everyday... meh. It does take some getting used to. If you run the crane safely trying to avoid shocks, you'll be fine. You'll get used to the threshold of the cranes bending. I've been in an overloaded tower crane (nearing 130%) due to a computer failure.and there was no question about something being wrong no matter what the LMI screen was displaying. "Why am I staring at the ground and the boom at the same time?"
Good luck. just keep exposing yourself to it and focus. Eventually you won't care about anything but the rhythm and being sure you are clear of obstacles, smooth, accurate, fast, and safe.
Thanks for the reply it's greatly appreciated. Great advice I'll keep working on trying to get seat time .
***** Funny enough last year i moved into skydiving. Tandem from 4000 meters. Then doing the progression to get licensed I climb out on the wing strut. All systems normal, release to go into an arch and my mind goes blank. I come to under canopy. Do it two more times with better control each time but not normal. I conclude that I've worked so long at heights ignoring the threat of falling that the initial overwhelms my brain and it shuts down. I think that I could break past it but what if I have a highspeed while moving past the problem? I decided to give it up rather than push through. Funny how that works. Bouncing crane... meh.
The do point downwind. This allows the crane to lean back into the wind and survive 160 mph winds.
sure
Thats the W.G. Clark crane. I see it all the time. Just finished a project in the U-district with the red potain and another right next to safeco field using a liebherr 550 litronic
Great video! Keep em comin
So I want to work in socks no shoes lol...I'm currently in the military as a logistics guy (box kicker/warehouse guy) but I definitely wouldn't mind doing this..of course I'd probably want to start lower in the crane department, but I could see myself as a tower guy...great video btw
WitX916 You'll want to start with signalling cranes and really learning that side of it. Most people never really learn that part even after 30 years. Timing and nuance is so critical to understand that if you don't learn that, you'd be dangerous as a crane operator. Then most people move into the boom trucks and small cranes then work up in size. I find running small cranes actually harder. But the skills you learn there translate fantastically to a tower then it's just a matter of getting used to the speed of a tower versus a truck crane. Good Luck! Depending where you live, if you have strong enough unions there, training is all free and great quality through the Operating Engineers and you'd make a good living.
Sorry that I missed the comment. Yes, 20 metric tonnes to 20 meters or so. We are using this crane for the 80 meters of reach primarily.
I am considering a career with Tower Cranes. I went to College for 2 years to study Business, dropped out and now I work with concrete. I live in the UK and there are 10 day courses you can do to become a qualified tower crane operator, however I feel 10 days is probably not long enough before going out on site? Especially given how unpredictable our wind can be. Currently we are battling storm Erik. And I imagine it's a lot harder to operate these machines with high winds. What would be your best advice for someone looking to start in this field? If there are better suited courses in the states - I would not rule out travelling there. Many thanks
Winds make running the cranes far more difficult. The load on the crane booms increase dramatically based on the surface of the load. You can run to 72 kph with most cranes if you are pouring concrete. If you have flying walls, that might be 25 kph, or less.
The problem with training is that you have to put it into action. The honest assessment is that 10 days cannot even give you 10% of what you'll need to know to run a tower crane. I don't say that to be rude to the places trying to help improve safety with training. I train people how to rig and signal cranes in an eight hour class. My government says what needs to be in the class. I give a lot of good information in there, but it's woefully inadequate. At the same time, contractors are usually not going to allow for more time.
The best way to get into a seat from a training perspective is to work your way up from the field. You'll be best served if you know how things hook up. What they are called. The process the guys on the ground need. The sequencing of installation. It sounds silly, but if you swing over to where things are and recognize each step before it's even asked for, production will go up by 10-15%. When you can make corrections before it's asked for because you know what's needed, it's probably another 5% and people love you for it. But if you don't have that experience, well, you probably shouldn't do anything unless you are asked.
Start on a small crane on a slowed paced job. In the US, it would be wood framed apartments. In the UK, it would likely be with a self erecting crane on a brick job. Chase the hook with the remote and you'll quickly learn how to be smooth and why it's easier for everyone if you are smooth first and fast later. Smooth and accurate is incredibly valuable. Some guys focus on speed. It's needed, but if it comes in accurate and smooth, it's quicker on the handling side.
That's my general advice to start. Remote, do the rigging, be a part of the building, then move up to a short crane seat and work up. Take mental notes of what goes next. Old timers can hop in a seat and know what's next 30 minutes into the day. Smooth, accurate, then fast.
Best of luck.
@@rotyag👍
I recognize this landscape. The building by greenlake with the new pcc.
Very cool video
Most cranes like yours, would have a counter-weight of concrete blocks behind the driver: are these moveable....in and out ? to counter the different weights on the jib.
wow!!! 🤔 working in your socks that is very safe work habits 😂😂👊👊
Any UK people here? I really want to get into this work however the training is £1000 - £2500 and I'm not sure how much available work there is out there. Anyone know anything?
Alberta. Come to Alberta.
Is there a ladder to go in and out on the tower crane
What do you do or what does any crane operator do when you have to go to the bathroom?
Guys take up bottles to urinate. Most women use a camping toilet. I would suggest that you shouldn't take this job if you aren't regular when it comes to defecating. It's not uncommon to not get breaks on fast paced jobs. The crane will swing for 12 hours and the only time it stops is to pee. And even then, if someone sees it not moving, they will start calling on the radio because they think it's free for them and they want to jump in line. I got in the habit of turning off the radio so I could pee in silence.
u have to go down or to pie in a botle :D
Nice video 👍
they should put a camera on the snatch block then you would have a birds eye view of the load even down shafts are stuff
the newer cranes do actually have cameras on the trolly
tosspot1305 Which manufacturers are doing that? Or are you referring to aftermarket cameras?
Liebherr and potain do it. I'm sure others do too but usually the crane has to be very tall..(over 300ft) or have a large blind section i.e. behind a building
ur crazy
I am an Ironworker currently working a job with the 2 tallest free standing tower cranes in the US and neither have cameras on the block. One stands 400ft other is right at 300ft.
Can I see the outside tower crane ground pls
My channel should have one called walk around a tower crane, or something to the effect. It has some jib walking and looking down from the tower top. It seems to have good effect on people.
I couldn't hardly see what he was looking at, but then these old eyes aren't what they used to be. I imagine having hawk vision would be a prerequisite to this job.
Your rigger radio is missing it's anntennae(sp?) Nice crane. I've operated the 316 and 630 EC-H. THe 316 had heat sensored hurst style levers and frequency drive trolley.The 630 was a monster! 11,000 lbs at 287 ft.
Where is the antenna for your handy talky?
I was getting interference in the distance. Qas nice and clear without it.
What are the shifts for a tower operator? Could you do a vid of the cab
Where do you take a leak?
What... you can't hold it for 12 hours?
Bottles. Carry up bottles that you carry down and dump out or throw away. It's one of the glamour factors.
what?
rotyag what about just going out side and just peeing they might juat think its rain no biggie
Why not just have a funnel and hose tie wrapped to the frame ? home depot about $40.
@@pokerharmon6427 wouldn't it smell like piss after a while haha
I am about to goto school to get training and NCCCO certified but I don't think that covers this type of crane does it?? If not, how does a guy go about getting into this line of work?? TIA.
The NCCCO does have testing for the tower cranes. It comes down to which cranes you start with. It's possible to start with a tower crane. It's all that I run, but it's not exactly the common route. Most people will start with a boom truck where you can see everything and get the principles of craning first. Just getting into a crane with say 300 feet of load line out there without understanding the big picture really well could be disastrous. It should be a progression process to get to a tower crane. I happened to be a crane erector and got exposed to the principles in great detail and the opportunity to hang out with the best operators on the West Coast.
I'm not sure which schools would be the best. I am a union advocate. The training is very good, free, you'll make money as an apprentice, the wages are better in almost all cases, and in a case like mine I pick and choose where I want to work. If I were on my own, I would basically just have to take what is available. For example, I worked 65 hours per week this last year and my employer wanted me to do it for another 15 months straight on the next job. I said,"No thanks." and so I move on and other options are available to me without interviews or struggles. One phone call to my business agent or dispatch and something will be available.
If you live in an area without much for unions, start on a smaller crane and every 6 months ask for more responsibility. Show interest and really recognize patterns. Notice unsafe behaviors of people rigging. Take every opportunity to learn. Some operators are lazy and just want to pull levers. Being a good operator is about not only being good at running the crane, it's about being a leader and the knowledge resource. I've been in tower cranes exclusively since 2001, written state construction crane laws, I've written a test the NCCCO uses and man, I'm still learning just in this facet of cranes. Always strive to be your best and stay safe.
I'm about to start my career as an ironworker this week how hard would it be to learn to operate cranes like this?
+DeathTheKiid30 That is exactly the path I took. Here's the deal. Some ironworkers are really just garbage at signalling a crane. They will tell you otherwise. The secret to knowing the difference is simple. Do they look up? If they don't know to look up, they have no idea what they are really doing. Those guys looking up and calling the crane, have them show you the dance. There is a rhythm to it and it all happens over our heads.
As a greenhorn apprentice, don't get too into it. Focus on learning the basics of your tasks and busting your ass. Show interest in the prints until you find someone to help you there. Once you can read prints and show you know the basics, someone will give you a chance to shine or fail. Then you'll be at a point to show what you know about cranes.
When you can signal, you are ready to learn how it's done from the crane seat. I sat behind anyone who would give me the time of the day. Crane operators can't help but want to tell you why they are the shit. Take advantage of it. Give up a couple hours of your free time. Each crane runs differently and you should see it in action from behind the seat. Then you'll be on your way to getting a seat. Especially if you can become a professional signal person for a while. That's the progression.
Signal people are important on the site and to the job. You can be a second year apprentice that is more important than all but one or two other ironworkers on the site. You can make well over 100k without any injuries like carpal tunnel. Work the entire job. Watch the rod busters come in, fade away and then watch the structural boys come in and go away. Longer jobs, more important, more money, no injuries and eventually you can get a seat. Get the basics and then fight to become a signal person. Show the operator and talk to him. If you get to know what you are doing, he may request you and the rest will be over. Best of luck.
+DeathTheKiid30 get your NCCCO certifications via a school (expensive). Learning the controls is easy, understanding load charts/ osha/amse safety codes and crane physics is the hard part. Being any heavy machinery operator is a skilled trade and not for everybody. There is a lot of risk and responsibility and you could hurt/kill someone or yourself or cause expensive damage with one wrong move.
Learn about the lifting gear, chains, strops, snatch blocks, lifting techniques. Unit weights, (weight estimation)even from the ground catch every swing, be aware of your surroundings,eg: people,scaffolds, where you are standing (don't squash yourself)
If you can show me that, you can come up top. In New Zealand and Australia, its called a Dogman.
Look on UA-cam for crane dogman.
@@dalemehana4726 nah bro dogman is as low as it gets. Advanced riggers can do it all
@@rotam8680 you guys don't have lifting gear, it belongs to the crane crew.
So cool!
Building boom here in New Zealand at the moment, cranes waiting for operators.
Wish I could send some your way. Working in New Zealand would be a great way to get Americans travelling more. We're too busy here for me to suggest losing anyone. After the Christ Church earthquakes when I was still and operator, I pondered the idea of moving and working in New Zealand myself.
@@rotyag hahaha, yeah nobody wants Christchurch, riggers and welders are driving at the moment, they ain't happy but if the cranes stops, everybody stops.
I have seen actually howq high some of these tower cranes can be so I was just wondering if I may ask, when you get up there to the cab, which depending how tall it is, it really must be a heck of a climb, once you get up there, do you pretty much stay there in the cab your whole shift, or do you actually come down let's say for lunch, cause if correct, to get up there, yu have to climb usually a bunch of ladders...Thanks......
you are up for the day and piss into a bottle usually
What happens if you have to go to the bathroom?
What's the going rate for crane operators?
when you can't see the end of your line is there a camera on the end of your line?
Cameras are available. They are cool for being sure you are clear and speed up highrise operations. But if you watch the "Hanging Iron" video, that is pretty much all blind work. I can't see what is going on because they are 300 feet below me and the concrete elevator core is in the way. So if you watch my eyes, I'm looking at the rope speeds. Then I'll look over to the computer and see weights, radius and elevations. Then I might look up to the horizon to be sure my swing is stopping like I want it to. Blind work, especially at the speed you'll see there, has to be done with operators and signal people that really know what they are doing. A lot of operators and signal people, even guys with decades of experience, are just getting by. Being really dialed in for ironwork and 40 story buildings takes a lot of paying attention and thoughtful aggression. Not only are you listening to each instruction, but you can picture exactly what they are doing without being told so you give them what they are looking for without the advantage of vision. It's a bit nuts.
Is there schools that I could check out that you or anyone knows about? I currently have my CDL license and was thinking about doing this as well.
very nice very tidy operating, im from ireland and hoping to become a tower crane operator can you give me some advice im 41 am i too old
I don't think that 41 is too old at all.
I came through the union trades in the US as an Ironworker, Crane Erector/ signal person (I believe that in the UK you would use the term "banksman"). This taught me how to be aggressive and accurate. Not to mention being comfortable with the cranes.
When I was ready to take a seat, I took the time to sit behind good experienced operators to get the tricks of the trade. Do this for multiple types of cranes too because they all run a little differently.
The downside of the job is often longer hours and you are somewhat irreplaceable. Calling in sick is not an option. But you do get treated well for this. You are alone up there. Sometimes it's boring. Other times it's overwhelming. And the sweating you'll do on the first job... oh man! But it will soon just become what you do and the only pressure I ever feel is in the decision to shut down due to weather. I'm a little too willing to push the envelope.
We operate through unions over here so I'm not sure that I have specific advice. We have a different system. If I were to move to the UK I'd call up the crane hire companies and ask how to break in. It might take a few phone calls until your break through, but someone will take your call and give you a direction. Vertikal.net might be a good start on sourcing those Crane Hire companies in Europe. Good luck. Ask me anything any time. I hope that I can be of use.
Gaytor Rasmussen Thanks a lot of that info. Very insightful.
Learn how to flag first, study how the loads act under different circumstances, learn to show up early and stay late. The crane operator will be the first one on a job and the last one to leave, every day pretty much.
It's a very tough job especially doin it from over 200 feet high. Do those crane operaters have AC up in the control room??
+Dan Rhone Some modern cranes have AC built in. It gets hot in direct sunlight up there. Most of them don't though. I just bought one and made sure to have it. I'll let the best operators fight to run my crane. Some guys buy aftermarket systems and give up the space for the comfort of cool air.
Great video
Bottles. The days can be long in a tower crane. You will need to urinate. People that have to poop often will have camping style toilets. Women often choose this option. But if you have an issue where you aren't regular, this wouldn't be the job for you.Probably the most common question I get about my job is about the bathroom.
What if you got the shits ????? How long does it take to get to a toilet?
david sanchez jr Crane drivers have a bag for that and a bottle for urine. Me? When i have a shit i just aim it to the Health&Safety guys and throw at them. It wasn't me, lol
or just shit on top of the counter weights for the length of the job then the iron workers will have a surprise during the dismantle
I've noticed and just about every single operator videoperator video in Asia and including this one that the operators don't wear shoes in the cab. Is there some kind of unwritten rule that you can't wear shoes in the cab?
In most of Asia, you don't walk into living spaces with shoes on. In my case, sitting in boots all day just leads to smelly boots. You are also walking on a dirty jobsite into a crane. If you wear those same boots, now you have to clean multiple times a day unless you want to try to see through the dirt on the glass. Those are my motivations anyway.
@@rotyag Sensible explanation. Thanks. It makes sense. I wonder why this doesn't extend to excavator operators? I always wear my boots when I run an excavator.
@@basspig You are getting in and out of an excavator and you have foot controls. The cabin of a tower crane is larger so there is walking around for various reasons, but you can avoid the dirt. And tower crane operators are looking down through glass at their feet, so the need to keep that clear is there where you don't have that motivation. I have a couple of mobile cranes at my yard and I am always in boots when I jump in those seats. A tower crane is one of those places where you are there for 12 hours at a time.
@@rotyag very interesting distinction. So it's a bit like being at home, because of the duration spent there. Sheesh, the place ought to be equipped with a bath and kitchenette. LOL
Didn't see any monitoring system, zoning and anti collision?
That was a 1990 version of a liebherr 550 HC, even before the E-CH versions that ran until 2005. Zero indicators or assistance on those old cranes. It was quite a skill to hit your marks 80 meters out over and over. The generation before me will often whine about computers, but they make the job so much easier.
I once operated an SGME tower crane it was made in Belgium and that had a movable ballast, The jib didn't have a trolley, The whole jib used to slide across the tower and the ballast would travel the opposite way to counter balance it, I believe there were only ever two in the uk 1960s operated by a company called Trentham
Hello Lakhvir! Does ARAMCO have a lot of use for tower cranes or mostly truck cranes and crawlers?
Another job I wish I could do. I don't see how it could be done without a radio- yes, I heard the radio in this video but his signalman couldn't possibly use hand signals that far away.
been a crane operator for six months now and I make $23 a hour. Miami, fl
Albert Bringas that's it?
I’ve been in mobile cranes for a while now! How do I get into tower crane
I think it depends on the location. North East... and most major cities outside of the South, The Operating Engineers Union is the way to a tower crane seat. In the South, I think it's generally through the crane rental companies as they do a single source on it all. Some contractors that have tower cranes on the non-union side have their own operators. I would call up the tower crane rental companies and ask them how it works in your area as a starting point. In California and Washington, you'd need significant time being trained. It's 500 hours here in Washington.
I worked for taxi fleet and they did have tower cranes. I was thinking about going to school tower crane school
The right answer depends on where you live. I'd love to tell you that the union will pay to train you. They will. But if you live in an area where you'll be trained and unemployed, that's not the best advice.
I don't know what school would be best. Phoenix has one. Florida likely does as they have lots of different crane training centers. Then Morrow in Salem Oregon likely puts on a good one. I haven't been to it, but they are pretty professional.
Functionally a tower and a mobile aren't that different. A mobile is more complex. A tower requires different sighting in for loads and some functionality differences that I'm not sure you'll learn in a school. There is a lot of OJT with tower cranes.
The timing on tall cranes is severe for most crane operators. It's not often with a mobile that you reach out 267' and down 300. So the 4 second delays from the structure moving to the hook reacting takes some practice. The speed differences are something to get used to if you have ran hydro's. In quite a few towers, you are coming in hot all day. Really getting after it is 17 lift cycles an hour.
But overall, there is a lot less to worry about with a tower. No bypass key. No set ups. Same crew day in and day out. Same rig so you can track any issues. It's just a lonely place in the sky by yourself. I enjoyed it. But it's not for everyone.
rotyag what’s the avg pay? Is it much different from tomorrow
I can only speak to Seattle. 40 per hour plus 15 in benefits. I hear in Oklahoma and Arkansas areas it's more like $25. NYC gets crazy with it. I've heard some big numbers, but if you don't know anyone...
Why does the ground look curved?
the go pro has a really wide lens. they always bend the perspective.
rotyag Oh! I thought it was because the earth was round.
m8 you wouldnt be able to see the curvature of the earth from there.
Do the new Liebherr cranes have gear shifts? (Multi-speed gearbox) If so, do you like having multiple gears?
They do. They will often have 3 gears. On the Hanging Iron video, that crane has a 20 (metric) ton hoist. So third will hoist 10,000 lbs and hit like 470 feet per minute. On a 800 foot tall crane, you need that. I would say that you need more speed if you can get it. But 10,000 for most loads is pretty acceptable. The nice thing between the new and the old cranes is that the motors are ran via a VFD. So the inputs are variable like a hydraulic crane. The motors won't overheat. On the old cranes you had a duty cycle to worry about with the electric motors. If you ran at a slow speed for a couple of minutes, the heat coming out of the resistors and rectifiers was absurd. So you had to gear down to make the motors run efficiently or you would burn up the power supply side.
The downside is that we used to have to deal with the speed. This made us productive. Today people want the slow control and it kills production times. Guys hop on the radio and ask for "Easy down" from 200'. I just quietly have a mini-stroke and give it to them at a working pace.
Gaytor Rasmussen Do you like the gear shift? Or do you just like high (but variable) speed?
I am trying to think of any large 2 part operation cranes that have no gearbox. I think that they all have one unless they have a 2/4 part operation with a second block. There must be a mechanical line pull limitation in there. Or, it's a braking capacity issue.
There is this whole unseen design of a hoist motor package and cost issue that needs to be factored in. How fast can you run if you make everything heavy duty, and how much will everything weight, and how many amps will it take? Like a Liebherr 316 can hit 906 feet per min. A 550 hits 459, but each has the same 147 hp hoist motor. So they must be factoring the common maximum amperage in areas around the world vs what's practical and cost effective.
I'm fine with the gear switch. It's not commonly a problem. The modern cranes do it so fast that I often would get my signal people on the same page that if it's near my 3rd speed limit, there might be a seconds pause if I have to switch. It's common stuff over and over with tower cranes, so usually you know about what things are going to weigh.
I love the variable speeds. I find that I get used to hitting the same movements. It does take longer to get used to each crane though. It's also nice to be able to engage a speed and not need to pay so much attention to how much a "bump" is.
Wolffkran's 8060 has
up to 5600 kg at max ~79 m/min
up to 50000 kg at max ~11 m/min
No mention of a gear shift anywhere.
Liebherr's 1000 ECH 50 has (according to the most recent data sheet)
Gear 3: max 4800 kg at max ~77 m/min | max 12000 kg at max ~39 m/min
Gear 2: max 10500 kg at max ~40 m/min | max 24000 kg at max ~22 m/min
Gear 1: max 23000 kg at max ~20 m/min | max 50000 kg at max ~11 m/min
Both have 147 HP (max continuous power) motors.
If Wolff's motors can withstand being bogged out to 14% of full speed, can Liebherr do it too? Yes. In fact, Wolff's winch is actually slightly better because its no-load speed is slightly faster.
But why don't Liebherr? Do Liebherr's motors last longer as a result of less loading due to the ability to use a lower gear?
yeh they have
interesting how much do you make an hour. I am all into heavy equipment
Tower crane operators in Seattle are 40+ + benefits.
at europe 15€ per hour
Where about is it ? I had a look but I couldn't find it,What is it listed under?
Cool video!
I have a question, what is the height of your cabin in this video?
48 meters. 160 feet.
rotyag Thanks for fast reply.
Where's the steering wheel and do you have AC up there ?
how the heck can you see down there?
On a "short" crane like this, It's not so bad. Having good depth perception is critical for the job. This crane reached out 267' with no radius indicators. On Sunny days, using shadows is critical. You can also look at the head of people watching.
On tall cranes, there are lots of times you can't see. So you rely on people with two way radios to call it. If I run a modern crane, I'll literally draw a map of the radiuses preferred to hit the exact location prior to anyone being there.
Visually, this Go Pro is shooting in like 2 mm of zoom as a zoom distance. Our eyes are generally 24 mm or so.