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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    North Central FL
    Posts
    5,695

    Default The Lost Art of the Power Line World

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    What would be considered a lost art in the powerline world? I'm sure climbing is becoming one. What would be some of the lost form in this trade?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    N.E. Mass.
    Posts
    2,030

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    Putting the proper sag in wire. Tieing a secure knot. Splicing an eye in rope.
    National Grid = Retired! US Army vet. 68 - 70
    As of April of 2010 I quit smoking! It's been hard but so far no butts! I am now an X smoker!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    South East Texas
    Posts
    3,278

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    Ummmmmm yep wonder how many of the new guys can make a long splice in a bull line, so it can pass through a shiv unobstructed? With todays technology they use braided rope instead of the old 3 ply bull line we usta use.
    How bout a sunburst wire splice for when theres no sleeves available?
    There is a lot of stuff that usta be common that just isnt taught anymore.I spoze it would be a rarity that it would ever be needed.But when push comes to shove its an option that they no longer have access to kause nobody ever showed em how.

  4. #4

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    Hotsticking

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    3,000

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    How bout the really old cast iron transformers from the 1910's that weighed a ton and hung from the crossarms. Remember those bastards. We still have a few in the backyards of buffalo, no way in hell to get any equipment to. Had to use an old wooden pole gin that looked like some medival contraption. Yould wonder if the nasty ceder pole was gonna stay together. The damn thing would creek and make scarry sounds and your butthole would pucker up tighter than a nuns snatch.

    Try and get a crew to do that today.

  6. Default

    Rigging properly. Also working out of hooks. (thanks to the buck squeeze in part). I see it quite often, if you cant get a bucket to it, there's confusion by the younger guys on how to get the job done.The sad thing is I see it in other states when working storms. The blame is shared between the company's and the apprentices. The company's call it safety, people (engineers as supervisors and safety specialists wrather than a 25 year linemen) making decisions that have never run a handline. and alot of the young guys have no gumption about themselves. They didn't have to work as kids growing up where you learn values and pride. I truly believe all they want is a check. I'm not knocking all the younger guys, but i'm sure you older guys understand what i'm saying.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Hartford, South Dakota
    Posts
    2,413

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    I have not given up on the arts and talents of being a lineman. I know the utilities have almost came to a complete stop with staring apprentices but in construction we are still blessed with lots of young ones. I still will teach the long and short splice, dog nut or crown knot, eye splice, installing an eye in Sampson and if they are lucky and at the right time splicing an inch hard line. The advantage of some of these small contractors is they do not implement all those safety rules and try to manage and punish by using them. They want people that know how to be safe productive workers by using good work practices. It just made my heart glee in joy today seeing a second step apprentice free climb to the work zone. Cool kid came off the street and just happens to be a natural in his hooks. But seeing him climb freehanded sort of gave me some hope that real line-work might get passed down to maybe two or three more generations.

    But in all honesty the skills mentioned in previous post will not be lost if Journeyman will do their job and teach the young ones those skills

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