Tool Talk
Blacksmith and Metal Working Forum => Blacksmith and Metalworking Forum => Topic started by: pritch on October 14, 2011, 08:24:38 PM
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I don't think I've mentioned it before, but my job is Construction Superintendent. Lately, I've been over seeing the re-modeling of an existing building at our local Caterpiller dealer. This is so they can have a machine shop all in one place, instead of piecemeal in different areas of their main shop. For the last 2 weeks, they have been moving this equipment over to the new space. I thought you might enjoy some of these.
This is from the little mezzanine. The welders are behind the white wall in the back ground:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines012.jpg)
They said this came off a Navy ship. Musta been "Old Ironsides" LOL There is a tag that says it was reconditioned in 1960:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines002.jpg)
This one is pretty old, too:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines006.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines007.jpg)
This stuff can pretty much handle the biggest Cat engines. It's been pretty neat seeing this. Of course, they didn't want much down time, the Machinists were getting back to work as soon as the Electricians would get it hooked up and the set-up guy got it leveled.
A couple more random pictures:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines009.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines011.jpg)
Next is building a welding shop out back so the can weld together those huge dump truck beds that they use up at the Kennecot mine. And work on these shovels. Welders have been hard-facing the wear pads on this one for two weeks now:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines015.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/wheelersmachines016.jpg)
They don't have anything small!
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I've been in some Caterpillar plants and shops, they do have some BIG stuff!
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Nice pics, interesting stuff.
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Thanks for posting the pictures. Those old machines are always great to see.
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TOO COOL
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nice photos. Makes me kind of homesick;was Caterpillar engineer for close to 40 years. Assume you are in Utah as you mention Kennecot mine. Never got there but get to Salt Lake area occasionely Spent a couple of weeks at mine near Kemmerer, wy with first 130 ton truck.
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Yeah-Salt Lake. I actually live up in the hills, little town called Coalville. I know a big strip mine just outside of Kemmerer, just before you get there coming off I-80. Our company has been doing some work there, too, but not me personally.
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Small world. I think Coalville was where two greatgrandsons played peewee football game in fall of 2010 and we were there.
There are a couple of mines just south of Kemmerer. I spent my time in smaller of the two but did get one trip on the larger
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That's pretty wild. Few have ever heard of the place, let alone ever actually been here. But I like it, it's home.
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Can you still buy these machines ?
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I haul Cat parts from time to time. I see everything from buckets to tracks to booms. I hauled 3 engines not too long ago. They were about 12k lbs apiece if I recall correctly. I picked them up in Seguin, Tx.