New Job for a New Me

Well I started the new job at SMI yesterday. And I have to admit, it's hard. I knew it was going to be, but I hadn't realized how much until now. Yesterday was my first day, and I had a bang up crash course in how to put together a joist. Don't worry folks, all the joist came out ok, no Wal-Marts will be caving in anytime soon. But the first day was hard, as it is anywhere you work. Today though was better. Well I guess I should tell you what I do now, I am what is called a Rigger. I rig joists. For those of you who don't know what a joist is, next time your in a Wal-Mart, look up. The long metal girder things that span across the ceiling, those are joists. I make those. Well not me alone, but the line that I'm on makes those. I'm on the A Line, so my technical name is A-Line Rigger. What we do is simple. Let me explain: See there is long table, which is called the rigging table, and and it has these things called jigs that sit on top of it. These jigs span the whole length of the rigging table, which itself is probably a hundred or more feet. Then on either side of the rigging table, is rollers that bring in steel, which is in the shape of the letter L. There is usually six guys working the rigging table, three on each side spread out. Two guys take the front (one on either side) and two in the middle and so on. Each of us has our own tacking torch, or tacking welder as some say. So then as the steel rolls in on the rollers, three on each side pick up the steel and lift it up over their heads and sit it down in the jigs. Then the other side does the same, so it ends up looking like two flat railroad tracks. Then comes the webbing. The two front guys start on the front webbing, the middle guy, which they call mid-web, does his webbing and the back guys the back. Webbing is smaller pieces of steal that we lay in a kind of zig zag formation, and get welded into place. Then after all the tacking is down, we put down our torches and pick up another piece of steel to put on top. This we dont weld, but but we put clamps on it, to hold it in place. This happens on both sides. So then once all the clamps are done, we make sure everyone is ready, and the lead rigger hits a foot pedal and the hydralic pumps push the joist up, allowing us to pick it up and put it on its side. Then using the rollers in the rigging table, we roll it down the line to the welding pit to be welded for good. This whole process takes less then 5 minutes, and is pretty fast paced. Not too mention dirty. I start at 5:30 AM and by 8:30 am I am covered in black soot and dirt from the steel. It's a dirty job, but yes someone has to do it. And I guess that someone one is now me. So anyways, that's that. I get home now around 1:35 pm, and I am sore and dirty and stinky, and it's great. I am actually now enjoying it more then sitting on my butt in the help desk. I don't get paid as much, but I feel like I have actually accomplished something at the end of the day. Not to mention I get a heck of a workout and the chance to learn some welding. It's been cool so far, and it's only the second day. Hopefully it will all be good in the future. We'll see.





These are photos of me after I got home yesterday. I think I look goofy, but my cousin insisted I take pictures after my first day. I actually didn't get that dirty on my first day.