Loading…
23
Hot take: I stopped using the load chart for every lift and it made me better
I got called out by an old timer on a job in Houston last year. He saw me checking the load chart for a simple pick of some steel beams, maybe 8 tons with a 50 ton crane. He said I was relying too much on the book and not feeling the machine. At first I thought he was nuts, but he showed me how he estimates by looking at the boom angle and listening to the hydraulics. I started practicing his method on smaller lifts and eventually stopped pulling the chart for routine stuff. Now I still use it for tricky loads or new setups, but I trust my gut way more. Has anyone else had a veteran change their whole approach like that?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
jakewilliams2mo ago
The "feeling the machine" thing works great until a load chart discrepancy gets somebody killed.
1
ray_patel272mo ago
Isn't it the same with gut feelings in driving, cooking, or even relationships (you know, the "I just knew" thing)?
5