Mr. Sherman and welder guyand Mr. Vanderhorf--A prime example of what you are talkin about is the springs that I welded together that I talked about in another post. I told the lad that this was only temporary, and was not gonna last forever, and he understood that, and I made sure he understood that. When you got a a big pile of coal that needs to get to the breaker you gotta have that truck rollin or it doesn't do anyone any good. I knew the springs should be replaced, he knew it, but those 3 days it's down puts everybody in a pinch, so you do what you can, hope for the best, and pray. I figure this way, I'll TRY anything once, I won't guarantee it if I'm not certain about it, but if the customer wants it, he's gotta understand that before I try it. Please forgive me for feeling this way, but I've been doing this stuff this way all my life, and I would have to say quite successfully. Thank you. J Krout
Jay,
I think you know I understood the practical value of being able to do a REPAIR on demand with materials at hand on-the-spot (or nearly so), but I am aware of validity of the other view. Niether position is cut and dried or always right.
I must respect those people with the attitude that they will not do a job at all unless they were confident it would be done "right". Having been of the school subscribing to the concept of doing the best with what is on hand, I must say from experience that there also is merit to the opposite school of thought- that it should not be done at all if not done "right". It's a safer position to take and one's reputation seems to survive better... unless the equipment costs more while "down" than the temporary repair.
There is also valid merit in the ability to at least try to fix anything... the guy who was turned away from a shop or two will recall the welder who repaired a part to his satisfaction, and will have a hard time recommending the shops who played it "safe".
I dont know the right call to make, and try to handle each case and exception on an individual basis at the level I encounter them.
regards
d
dee; The questions you've got to ask yourself when you do something like this is one of safety, if someone is going to get hurt it if it don't work then don't do it. noone will get hurt over busted leaf springs on that machine, and as far as downtime, anyone who understands the anthracite coal industry knows that if something is down as far as the owner is concerned the world will come to an end. And these guys are always lookin for ways to save a buck, it's the nature of these guys and this business, old miners are old miners and set in there ways, and this a slowly dying industry unless more uses can be found for coal, and this is due to the owners themselves but that's another story, but these guys will try to fix anyhting once, and they usually will go with someone who is not afraid to experiment a bit, and I'm that kind of a person.
I guess you could say it's pennywise and dollar stupid. Thank for your comments, I respect everyones opinion here and try to do things right, and I get on here occasionally for pointers and I have picked a few up just listening, but maybe I can help someone else with my neanderthal type experience as well. Sorry to waste so much space. Thanks again. Regards J Krout
I believe everybody who does repair welding recognises my little attempt to be humorous. We have all heard it and most of us have done those "just get me one day" fixes, I surely have. Lots of times the man really does have work and really needs his widget because thats how he feeds his family. In good cases it is as it was with your springs- the customer says get me the day but also order the parts. In bad cases the customer comes back in six months, forgets all you said about this being a one day repair and wants the work redone on warrantee.
As you say if safety is involved you have to refuse but in many cases it is not. Then you and the customer need to agree on what is to be done and the likelyhood that it will be successful.
We all walk the line. Try to keep everybody safe (including ourselves). Still you can't drive the customers away by being to much of a hardass
Seems to me you've got it about right.
Bill