I've been a contractor for about 17 years. When I first started I didn't
have much and I couldn't afford much. I hired a friend to help with my very
first job because he had a truck.

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of concrete
walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings. I remember
standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound hammer for 2
days making holes, because when I went to the store I had just enough money
in my pocket for the ladder. I had cramps in my hands and arms after the
first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. (that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

Another thread made me think of this.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I've been a contractor for about 17 years. When I first started I didn't
have much and I couldn't afford much. I hired a friend to help with my
very first job because he had a truck.

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of
concrete walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings.
I remember standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound
hammer for 2 days making holes, because when I went to the store I had
just enough money in my pocket for the ladder. I had cramps in my hands
and arms after the first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. (that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

*** More then ten GOOD type 1A fiberglass ladders. LOL.

Another thread made me think of this.

"Bob La Londe" wrote:

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of concrete
walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings. I remember
standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound hammer for 2
days making holes, because when I went to the store I had just enough money
in my pocket for the ladder. I had cramps in my hands and arms after the
first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. (that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

I bet your drill didn't even have that rubber hand saver on it.

I remember reading a book on building the railroad about how one guy would hold the star
drill and the other one would swing a sledge. Could you imagine putting your trust in
someone like that?

Wes

"Wes" wrote in message
...
"Bob La Londe" wrote:

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of
concrete
walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings. I
remember
standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound hammer for
2
days making holes, because when I went to the store I had just enough
money
in my pocket for the ladder. I had cramps in my hands and arms after the
first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. (that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

I bet your drill didn't even have that rubber hand saver on it.

I remember reading a book on building the railroad about how one guy would
hold the star
drill and the other one would swing a sledge. Could you imagine putting
your trust in
someone like that?

Wes

Depends on the guys and their experience. I traveled with the carnival in
1985 and 1987. We used to drive 3 foot tent stakes that way. Two guys
would start the pattern while a third guy would hold the stake. When it was
started he would step back, pick up his hammer, and join in. Three guys
with ten pound hammers will sink a 3' tent stake pretty quick. ting...
ting... ting... ting... Its not even very demanding because you just give
the hammer a little extra momentum and let it fall. I think I only ever saw
a guy get smacked one time. He moved the stake after the first swing
started down.

And... no... I didn't have a rubber hand saver. I did smack myself a couple
time (not horribly) before I got my rhythm .

On Dec 11, 12:58*pm, "Bob La Londe" wrote:
...
Depends on the guys and their experience. *I traveled with the carnival in
1985 and 1987. *We used to drive 3 foot tent stakes that way. *...

I've been splitting my firewood by hand this year. I can usually hit
within 1/4" of where I aim, and I'm over 60 and not particularly
athletic or well coordinated.

jsw

On Dec 11, 12:33*pm, Wes wrote:
"Bob La Londe" wrote:

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of concrete
walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings. *I remember
standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound hammer for 2
days making holes, because when I went to the store I had just enough money
in my pocket for the ladder. *I had cramps in my hands and arms after the
first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. *(that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

I bet your drill didn't even have that rubber hand saver on it.

I remember reading a book on building the railroad about how one guy would hold the star
drill and the other one would swing a sledge. *Could you imagine putting your trust in
someone like that?

Wes

Reminds me of the Three Stooges bit where Moe, holding a chisel, says,
"OK, I'm gonna hold this, and when I nod my head, you hit it."

Bob La Londe wrote:
I've been a contractor for about 17 years. When I first started I didn't
have much and I couldn't afford much. I hired a friend to help with my very
first job because he had a truck.

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of concrete
walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings. I remember
standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound hammer for 2
days making holes, because when I went to the store I had just enough money
in my pocket for the ladder. I had cramps in my hands and arms after the
first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. (that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

Another thread made me think of this.

rangerssuck wrote:

Reminds me of the Three Stooges bit where Moe, holding a chisel, says,
"OK, I'm gonna hold this, and when I nod my head, you hit it."

I see where that one is 'headed'. BEG

On Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:33:12 -0500, Wes
wrote:

"Bob La Londe" wrote:

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of concrete
walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings. I remember
standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound hammer for 2
days making holes, because when I went to the store I had just enough money
in my pocket for the ladder. I had cramps in my hands and arms after the
first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. (that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

I bet your drill didn't even have that rubber hand saver on it.

I remember reading a book on building the railroad about how one guy would hold the star
drill and the other one would swing a sledge. Could you imagine putting your trust in
someone like that?

Wes
We used to have driven wells where I grew up. One guy holds the block
of maple on top of the pipe while the other guy hits it with a 12 to
16 pound sledge. Every few hits, they rotate the pipe and switch off
on the hammer. Came Dad's turn to hold the block, he noticed that the
would be striker was cross eyed so he asked "do you always hit where
you look?" When the answer came back affirmative, Dad decided to do
extra duty on the hammer!
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
I've been a contractor for about 17 years. When I first started I didn't
have much and I couldn't afford much. I hired a friend to help with my
very first job because he had a truck.

One of my first decent size jobs included multiple penetrations of
concrete walls to run conduit for data and alarm cable between buildings.
I remember standing there on my ladder with a 1" star drill and a 4 pound
hammer for 2 days making holes, because when I went to the store I had
just enough money in my pocket for the ladder. I had cramps in my hands
and arms after the first day and had to force myself to go back the 2nd.

Now I couldn't even imagine taking on a job like that without my 1"
Milwaukee spline drive rotary hammer. (that hammer cost more than ten
ladders)

Another thread made me think of this.

When I first got into the awning business, I needed to make some quarter
rounds and half rounds. I built a big bender out of a big piece of plate,
with a fence welded in place, and a huge bending arm. It would bend only
one diameter, and the bends were not very good or reproducible.

Then I sprang for a $3200 roller bender, and the rest is history. I did
have events all along the way with rotary hammers, sawzalls, and various
specialized power tools.

Steve