8 Apr
2002
8 Apr
'02
1:40 p.m.
Yeah it could be dangerous. I had a friend who had a hand lopped off
between 2 pipe strings when running in. 3 lengths of 33' steel drill-pipe is
heavy. Can't remember any threads getting munged tho. Has to be incredibly
hardened steel.
Lawrence
On Sun, 7 Apr 2002, Lawrence Walker wrote:
lgwalker(a)mts.net
bigwalk_ca(a)yahoo.com
The trick is when you learn to use it
one-handedly. Also the drill-pipe
slips.
The difference between a real roughneck and an oil-rig worker.
You mean slips got more than one handle? :)
That is true fact, though. And the difference between a real
roughneck and a "hand" is when you've done it one-handedbecause the
other is in a sling....
Slips, BTW, for the more sane list-members, are linked wedges that
anchor the top of the drill-string in the drill-floor rotary table,
keeping it from falling through. Typically weighing about 175-225lb,
you never drop them into place, you throw them. You don't pull them
loose when the string is coming up, you jerk them. Mostly two men
together, but often by yourself.
It was a very _manly_ occupation. The epitome of peer-pressurized
behavior.
Doc