Operator’s perspective/tower crane living the high life

[@pauls3740]

Love the videos man keep it up! I finally start crane school this week. You are one of my biggest inspirations!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Sincerely, thank you so much, my friend honestly, that means the world to me!! I bet you are beyond excited and I know that you’re gonna do great things!!! Keep me posted on how it goes

[@marc-r7w]

holy shit dude!!!! i'm a 35 year member of IBEW and have worked on over 100,000 volts LIVE and i would NEVER do what you guys do!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

😂 I hear ya!! Much love to ya!

[@vionettebernis-cazelot263]

Thank you for sharing. Very interesting for those of us who have never seen firsthand and will never see firsthand what that is like. Thank you so much. ❤

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Most definitely Vionette!! It’s always fun to share what I do at work with all the people out there!!! I hope that you’re doing good and Regina. Nice and many blessings.!

[@yhc4785]

Amazing and interesting video. Respect to you and the guys out there connecting the crane. You guys have so much skill. Very beautiful view. I really enjoyed the video. Thank you.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Sincerely, thank you my friend. Honestly, this is one of my favorite parts of a job and knowing that we have to completely rely on each other and trust every move. Nothing but love to you !

[@bowenike]

Amazing video! Nothing else like it on youtube.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@bowenike sincerely thank you 🙏

[@C.GW.H]

Fox, you're really helping me understand all that is to come after the interview process. I've been wondering what assembly looks like. Soooo cool!

[@kevineckstein8464]

Thank you so much for sharing this all the people it takes to do this is very interesting. Keep up the great work. Hope the family are doing great? Thank you again.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Sincerely, thank you my friend and it does definitely take a lot of trust within each other to do this kind of work but it’s all worth it!! Family is doing great and again thank you so much for that! Many blessings to you and yours

[@anderviltok1250]

Best video ive seen for a long time!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Thank you 🙏

[@jamesmccormick1047]

Hope things are well for you and your family. Really enjoyed this video, mad props to you and the guys that put that together, takes alot of trust in each other. God bless and keep safe.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

The family is doing awesome and sincerely. Thank you so much my brother.! You are 100% correct that we must have complete trust in each other in order to do things as safely and efficiently as possible. It’s a beautiful thing! God bless you and your family !!

[@bubblehead78]

Enjoyed this video! Great content. Subscribed.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Sincerely thank you so much!! Many blessings to you and yours!

[@eldonhill4840]

That's gonna be a good view! You're that high up in Queen Anne, meanwhile I'm not far away in Pioneer Square, but I'm completely underground digging new footings and utilities under an old hotel. Going to be a mole person for the whole summer. Been finding some cool artifacts though!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Dam!!! that’s one of the things that I miss about doing underground work years and years ago, especially in Seattle is all the cool stuff you find!! I still have a bunch of old bottles and jars and keys that I’ve found over the years of excavating. Be safe down there, my brother !!

[@eldonhill4840]

@@foxhollerhomestead Oh yeah, I have a shelf devoted to that stuff. Even just this morning we got a cool Budweiser bottle from the 1870s! Worth a few hundred apparently. This hotel was built in the early 1900s on tons of random fill they threw in here after the great Seattle fire, lots of burnt wood and boulders with some treasures mixed in. Be safe too man!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@eldonhill4840 that’s too awesome I’m jealous!! Be safe down there!

[@tritonny5973]

what are the salaries in the industry?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Honestly, that is going to depend from region to region geographically. It also will depend on whether you are union or nonunion. Typically the highest paid Tower crane operators are in the state of New York, as well as Western Washington, and these will be union operators. Another factor will be the total height of the tower in feet.

[@rhondasweeney7271]

I hope that you have a dam good Q.A. inspector to make sure that everything is spot on ! 😮 Never in a million years but I do that!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Most definitely you got that right!! Never say never at least that’s what 007 said!! Lol

[@rhondasweeney7271]

@@foxhollerhomestead Brother I can honestly say I would never do that

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@rhondasweeney7271 😂 I hear ya!! Regina says the same !!

[@Vilizio]

Awesome video! Really makes me miss working on cranes with Apex Tower Crane. I’m currently running a job in shoreline and I can see your crane from I5 heading to work and heading home

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Sincerely, thank you my friend! How long did you work for Apex?

[@biggaenigma4187]

Okay Mr. Dusty, I've got one for you. I hope you think it's worth answering. I've got about nine months of experience now operating smallish tower cranes, Potain 109, 219, and the Potain I go 85 or whatever it's called. I didn't go through a proper crane apprenticeship. I took one or two week classes through my union whenever I wasn't working and managed to get three CCO's: tower, fixed cab, and swing cab. Some days are better than others. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing really well, especially for a newbie, other days I'm sure that I totally suck and I think the best thing to do is just walk away from it. Sometimes it seems like I can control my swing quite well and other times it's out of control, and it's embarrassing. Trolley is even worse. Trying to do all three functions at once is a nightmare. Any comments, insights, better yet instructions? Do you have any experience with simulators? I sometimes may have access to simulators through the union and I'm wondering if they may be useful for developing my skills. Problem in the one and two week classes I took with the union was that they really didn't go into any depth as far as coaching you to develop that technique and finesse, they pretty much just throw you out there on the cranes and you try to do the best you can. I always thought it was really inadequate training. Hope to hear from you. Thanks.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Hello there my friend and I have to say wow you have a lot going on don’t you?! Please rest assured, though that the issues that you’re having are not permanent and as long as you keep with it, it will get easier, and your performance will become better and better! I have been an operating engineer with heavy equipment of all kinds for almost 30 years now and when it concerns cranes, I can tell you that it doesn’t matter what crane you go into. There is always a learning curve at the very beginning when you start to get used to the cranes quirks. It doesn’t matter if you took 5 219’s straight off the showroom floor, brand new and ran them all, each one of them is going to run a little bit different than the next, and that’s just the nature of the game. Even to this day, after 29 years, I in the last month moved to a 268 even though I had operated one around for years back, it took me about a week to two weeks until I was used to running it again. Meaning becoming more efficient and feeling how the crane operates. If I could give you any pointers without being there to show you I would say #1 when trying to catch your load on a swing, it’s the opposite of a mobile crane. Meaning, with a mobile crane, you will wait until the load reaches its High Point and then swing over top to catch it . Typically with a Tower because they’re not as quick as mobiles, wait until the backswing and then start to get into your swing and by the time you get over top of it, you can catch it! #2 catching your trolley, is fairly easy by watching the load. If it looks like it’s getting higher then it’s swinging outward. Make sure when you catch it. You wait till it gets to the High Point and then full on trolley out to get right over top of the load. These things will come in time and progressively get easier as you continue to operate. Just remember, don’t ever give up.!! It’s unfortunate that you were basically thrown right into the seat as I don’t fully believe that’s the correct way that we teach the new generation coming up but with that being said, you are where you are now, so make the best of it. You can always email me which my email is in my bio and I can give you more pointers there! I really hope that this health, and not to repeat myself, but you got this, my friend don’t give up! Nothing worth anything is ever easy to get. Many prayers to you and your family, my friend and I hope to hear from you soon

[@djijspeakerguy4628]

About a week ago I watched a crew assemble a very similar tower crane, also in Seattle at a construction site on 12th between Madison and Spring streets. Different model of course (Linden Comansa 2100 series I believe, not Potain MDT268) but similar size, and this one was blue! I noticed a difference in the way they put it together: they put the entire jib together before they added any counterweights! The tower was very visibly leaning forwards. I wonder if there’s a different procedure for assembly for different manufacturers and models, Terex, Liebherr, Etc.

[@307j.o.a.t9]

What a view!! Very cool vid on how they put that togetjer. Thanls for sharing!! STAY SAFE!!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Seriously it is a beautiful view!! Not really excited about driving into downtown Seattle as the parking is horrid and I really don’t like being in the city, but it is a cool view!! Much love, my brother

[@307j.o.a.t9]

@@foxhollerhomestead yea as beautiful as the view is idk if i will ever go see it for that reason. Im really not a biv city person. Hell im not even a little city person lol.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@307j.o.a.t9 😂 I hear that!!

[@troymine6221]

I’ve seen the guy with the radio in another video building a crane too haha he must be the man they call when they need one built

[@foxhollerhomestead]

He is definitely a beast when it comes to signaling two cranes at once!!

[@guysilvis2044]

Love the video. Chilly up there huh? Trade ya. It was 117° yesterday here with the heat index

[@foxhollerhomestead]

The last week or so it has been in the low 60s with Lows of 40. Not too terribly bad, but with the windchill it’s definitely cold. 117° …….. absolutely not!!! Without a doubt I will 100% melt 😂

[@freekingawwsome]

That's FREAKING AWESOME THANK YOU FOR THE SHARE

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Freaking most definitely!!! Many blessings to you and yours, my friend !!

[@freekingawwsome]

​@@foxhollerhomesteadthank you for the blessings they've helped S.O.B. Showers Of Blessings 🤜🤛

[@foxhollerhomestead]

I got you covered!! 🙏

[@Jersey-GT-F150]

HUGE BALLS, To do this job, Im not what you would "AFRAID" of Heights, But there is no way on Gods Green earth would I do what these men do, My Hats Off to all Especially the operator ! Jesus ,especially standing out on the ends of the Jib, CRAZY HUGE BALLS >>>>

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@Jersey-GT-F150 lol I completely hear ya my friend! It’s definitely not for everyone, but I I love every minute of it!

[@rickgrant9228]

I don’t understand how you guys can do that. I couldn’t stand up for 20 minutes and I still can’t poop, I’m to clinched!!!!!!!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

😂 😆 my brother you seriously have me in tears laughing!!! Like my wife says, Tower crane operators are a special breed!! Lol

[@BohdanAstro]

Super video! Thanks a lot! 10- or 12-tonner version of MDT268?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Sincerely thank you! 🙏 This was a 12t in a 4 part!

[@helloiguess510]

Best video kayden

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Thank you so much buddy!!

[@jspinosa50]

Great video!

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Thank you 🙏

[@Lexelai]

Some say Jeremy is still kneeling there with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth to this very day.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

😂 he most definitely is!!

[@scottmarquiss7941]

Enjoyed your point -of-view. . .I'm always fascinated with the engineering of these things. About a block away for our condo, we watched them erect one about a month ago. (As you mentioned the closer to the tower the heaver the lift) how much can be lifted (next to the cab and out on the end of the jib?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@scottmarquiss7941 on that particular tower Crane my max capacity at the closest radius was 32,000 and at the tip with that configuration was around 8500

[@scottmarquiss7941]

@@foxhollerhomestead any idea k

[@scottmarquiss7941]

Any ideas on how to two gage the length of the jib and tower height?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@scottmarquiss7941 typically on the height of a tower Crane you can look at each section which is 20 feet. Often cases, the jib sections are the same, but it depends on the Crane

[@trdahl07]

All greetings from a fellow crane driver from the other side of the pond.. Not much difference between being a crane operator in the US and Norway I can see, except type of cranes, just found you and love your movies. All love to the family, take care and drive safely.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Hello there, my friend and many blessings! Honestly, I have always wanted to go over to Sweden/Norway and run cranes. My grandfather immigrated here from Sweden and always talked about how beautiful it was over there. Maybe someday!! What kind of cranes do you guys have most of?

[@trdahl07]

Many blessings to you to, you should come over (and if your lucky, come up to a crane, and see how we work), we’re pretty lucky over here, have a beautiful country, with all the magical fjords, mountains etc.. As cranes go, we have mostly Liebherr (different models), Potain (different models), but of lately we have gotten Wolff, Terex and Lindén Comansa, I have the same dream, come to the US to watch some of the cranes we don’t have and how to operate them.. Driver carefully and take care

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@trdahl07 thank you so much and yes I would love to come over there sometime! It’s finding the time with how busy we are at work and the family on our property. So that video is a Potain 268, now I’m back on a Terex 575-32. It sounds like we have all of the same cranes over here as well! If you ever want to come to the US, You stay in contact with me and we have a small cabin on our 9 acre property that you can probably stay at. I live in the mountains, but work in the city. I can definitely set you up to where you can come climb one of these Towers that I work on as well! By the way, my name is Dusty and it is great to meet you my friend. Stay safe.

[@trdahl07]

It’s a potain you driving these days? Right now im in a Liebherr 550 EC-H 20 Litronic, and going to stay there to February..

[@foxhollerhomestead]

That video was filmed when I moved to that new Potain in downtown Seattle about two months ago. My company had another operator on the Terex, but the operator quit, so they asked me to come run this one. I should be here until the end of September and then go back to the Potain in Seattle.

[@helloiguess510]

Your the best

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Thank you my son you are the best as well!! love you kid

[@tritonny5973]

What salary can I qualify for if I'm just starting to work in this field? I live in California.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Hey there my friend, Honestly, it’s going to be really hard for me to tell you that has different states have different scales, but I can assure you that California has one of the highest scales in the country for Tower crane. Are you going to be working union or nonunion?

[@stephenaseltinejr.3564]

whats the low tide lighted sign it looks like. whats that for?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

This is the name of the owner of the building

[@NorthMissouriOutdoors]

Hope everything is well with you brother

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Everything is going pretty good my brother. I hope you’re doing well!! Many blessings !

[@NorthMissouriOutdoors]

@@foxhollerhomestead I’m doing okay

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@NorthMissouriOutdoors well, that’s a hell of a lot better than not doing OK! Do you ever need someone to talk? You know where I am!

[@kland15]

What’s the power requirements to operate that crane? 220 or 440 1,2 or 3 phase.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

The voltage rating is 480 Frequency is 60 Hz Full load capacity, 147 A Largest control load 55 kW Short circuit interrupter capacity, 5 KA!!

[@kland15]

That’s a whole lot of power. Does it connect to a backup generator? Thank you for responding.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

@@kland15 typically the only time the crane will run on generator is before they hook up shore power, but once that happens, they send the generator back. Definitely not a problem, my friend. That’s why I do these! I’m assuming that you are an electrician?

[@kland15]

@@foxhollerhomestead no, I’m an IT guy, I’m autistic and IT was always my passion. I thought about going into the crane industry. I’m a jack of all trades, master of none. I’m autistic and I like to learn about everything. Height’s don’t really bother me…it’s gravity that I’m worried about. 1st day on the job PPE parachute, LOL.

[@Kabanle]

i'm in seatle and i wanna be tower crane operator where i should start or which school i need to go

[@foxhollerhomestead]

If you are in the Seattle area, then I would recommend starting off contacting IUOE local 302. This is the operating engineers union and you can get into the apprenticeship! What you want to do is contact them and ask to specifically speak to a union representative about the apprenticeship program. IUOE Local 302 [phone] Good luck, my friend!

[@EbenCalhoun]

What are you building there?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

We are building condos! I believe that there are three basement floors, and then four levels of condos

[@miguelrosario5872]

What size potain?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Mornin my brother, It’s a 268

[@keewis11]

🇺🇸🦅 💜💜🙏🏼💜💜 🦊🦉🦊⛰️🏔️ Fantastic video, really interesting.

[@foxhollerhomestead]

Sincerely, thank you my brother. I really hope that you’re doing well!! Regina says hi!!

[@czasemdaniel7307]

all over the world this job is the same : > only lang changes

[@foxhollerhomestead]

You are right about that!

[@John-lf3sg]

hope those walmart dyna bolt hold the base

[@foxhollerhomestead]

😂

[@skinnynhealthychannel]

What are the pros and cons of a crane operator? And what state are you in?

[@foxhollerhomestead]

I do have a video of pros and cons, there’s a lot to list depending on what kind of cranes you are on. We are in Washington state