Mining Millwright Tool Box

[BarrelRoll]

Damni Andy. I can’t believe you of all people bought such quality tools. Especially for some guy using a high lift jack handle as a hammer for years

Haha. I'm finally to a point in life I can afford decent tools. I've got another 20 years of this and I'm not exactly management potential. I might as well buy tools that last and make my life easier. I work with a couple guys in their 50's who would rather beat the **** out of their bodies than use a tool to make their lives easier. Next down day they'll be relining a ball mill (throwing around 100lb liners, hitting out bolts with a 10lb sledge, and running a 1" impact) while I'm doing something more skilled.

 

[zkdiesel]

Haha. I'm finally to a point in life I can afford decent tools. I've got another 20 years of this and I'm not exactly management potential. I might as well buy tools that last and make my life easier. I work with a couple guys in their 50's who would rather beat the **** out of their bodies than use a tool to make their lives easier. Next down day they'll be relining a ball mill (throwing around 100lb liners, hitting out bolts with a 10lb sledge, and running a 1" impact) while I'm doing something more skilled.

Still can’t believe you of all people have such good stuff now.

 

[Earp69]

You guys must get a hefty tool allowance or make a helluva wage. We make about the best I've seen and there is no way I'd drop that kinda money on stuff like that for at work. Props to the new setup, looks great.

 

[BarrelRoll]

You guys must get a hefty tool allowance or make a helluva wage. We make about the best I've seen and there is no way I'd drop that kinda money on stuff like that for at work. Props to the new setup, looks great.

It's a little of both. $1,500 a year from the company which covered most of my pullers this year though I spent more than my allowance every year. Wages are decent though not amazing. I work 14 12's in a row with 14 off, there's more OT than straight time on the check. Bonus is based on equipment availability and usually around 30%. All things considered it's close to double what I would make working 40 hours a week without a bonus for the same hourly rate.

I'm not planning on being here for ever, not sure what the next step is. Possibly self employment, possibly another mechanical trade, maybe another mine. I've been buying tools with that in mind. The next job might be a pay cut, I've been buying the stuff while I can afford it. When I took this job I ended up dropping $5k on tools before I started, I'm hoping I won't have to for the next one. While I'm not flat rate having the tools I have gets me the work I enjoy and gets the company out of binds which is noticed. This up coming ball mill reline is a perfect example. Spending the money on decent tools and the specialty stuff saves my body a lot of wear and tear. I've got 20 years left, I'm trying to remember that and plan accordingly.

 

[zkdiesel]

It's a little of both. $1,500 a year from the company which covered most of my pullers this year though I spent more than my allowance every year. Wages are decent though not amazing. I work 14 12's in a row with 14 off, there's more OT than straight time on the check. Bonus is based on equipment availability and usually around 30%. All things considered it's close to double what I would make working 40 hours a week without a bonus for the same hourly rate.

I'm not planning on being here for ever, not sure what the next step is. Possibly self employment, possibly another mechanical trade, maybe another mine. I've been buying tools with that in mind. The next job might be a pay cut, I've been buying the stuff while I can afford it. When I took this job I ended up dropping $5k on tools before I started, I'm hoping I won't have to for the next one. While I'm not flat rate having the tools I have gets me the work I enjoy and gets the company out of binds which is noticed. This up coming ball mill reline is a perfect example. Spending the money on decent tools and the specialty stuff saves my body a lot of wear and tear. I've got 20 years left, I'm trying to remember that and plan accordingly.

Andy I remeber you not having $20 left let alone 20 years as you were broke down in Indiana Oh how times have changed

 

[BarrelRoll]

Andy I remeber you not having $20 left let alone 20 years as you were broke down in Indiana Oh how times have changed

Yep. It's funny how life goes. I was in Colorado working on compressors for peanuts compared to the cost of living. The owner hired me with the promise of a $2 an hour raise within 6 months, 1 1/2 years later no raise. I applied to a mine, got an offer and asked him about the raise, he wasn't willing to give me one and told me I should take the offer. The next year I made $20k more than I did fixing compressors, 6 years later I'm now at almost triple what I was making fixing compressors. To think I would have been happy with $2 an hour raise, I'd still be broke with junk tools. My current collection would have made my compressor job so much easier. I remember wanting a pair of big Knipex and just not having the cash to buy them. I had to sell my welder to make rent at one point I was so broke.

The compressor shop experience turned out to be very valuable. Our lead man was a mechanical engineer who pounded critical thinking and good troubleshooting into you. You always had to answer questions about why you did things and how you figured out the why. Throwing the parts cannon at things wasn't acceptable. Most of the people I work with here never picked up that critical thinking and troubleshooting, throwing $10k of parts at something to maybe fix it is the norm here. The compressor experience has come in handy as well.

In case you guys were wondering ZK and I go back to when we were in high school. I remember cobbling my jeep together in his farm shop.

 

[speed bump]

Haha. I'm finally to a point in life I can afford decent tools. I've got another 20 years of this and I'm not exactly management potential. I might as well buy tools that last and make my life easier. I work with a couple guys in their 50's who would rather beat the **** out of their bodies than use a tool to make their lives easier. Next down day they'll be relining a ball mill (throwing around 100lb liners, hitting out bolts with a 10lb sledge, and running a 1" impact) while I'm doing something more skilled.

After our last mill liner job I'm trying to figure out how to buy the boys one of these bad boys.

Linerbolt Removal Tool | Mill Reline Technology

Recoilless Hydraulic Hammer for relining SAG and Ball Mills. Same energy as RME Thunderbolt 1500.

www.millrelinetech.com

It always amazes me how many guys like doing liner jobs though.

 

[BarrelRoll]

The last part of my tool box is finally here, a year after ordering and almost 2 years since penciling the deal for the 54" masters I didn't buy.




My tool buying is on hold for a bit till I get my tool allowance in January. We bought a new to us 2016 Duckworth 24 Offshore in June.