I just got the word that I got accepted into the High Pressure Steam Boiler school.
As many of you know, I can no longer farm because the work was too much for my illness (cancer) so I have been working with the USDA in a program that gets disabled farmers working in the private sector. My Medical Team wanted me to take disability, but I am only 45 years old and have always been a workaholic so I had no interest in that. I figured there had to be something I could do.
I like boiler work as I have put in my own radiant floor heating system, boiler, and then back-up boiler with tri-generation. That is kind of nice because I can heat my house via:
Propane
Firewood
Coal
Diesel Fuel
Electric
With wood pellets as a back up, to the back up heaters.
I live in Maine so I like having multiple-heating options.
So I am pretty excited. I have welded some boiler tubes in my early days of welding, but I think operating the boilers will be a better match for me with my illness.
Steam Boilers
- CuttingEdge
- 2010 crawler
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:13 pm
- Location: Maine
Steam Boilers
I have no intention of traveling to my grave in a well manicured body; instead I am going to slide into heaven with a big power turn, totally wore out with busted knuckles, jump off my dozer loudly yelling, Woo Hoo, another Shepard has just arrived!
- CuttingEdge
- 2010 crawler
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:13 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Steam Boilers
And for what it is worth, this does relate to bulldozers, just not MODERN bulldozers. (LOL)
At a Maine Logging Museum they had a working Steam Lombard Log hauler, and their philosophy was; "Mainer's paid to have it fixed up to running order, so why not allow people to ride and even drive it. He asked me if I wanted to steer the thing, so I said sure. It is not very often you get to steer a steam driven bulldozer.
At a Maine Logging Museum they had a working Steam Lombard Log hauler, and their philosophy was; "Mainer's paid to have it fixed up to running order, so why not allow people to ride and even drive it. He asked me if I wanted to steer the thing, so I said sure. It is not very often you get to steer a steam driven bulldozer.
I have no intention of traveling to my grave in a well manicured body; instead I am going to slide into heaven with a big power turn, totally wore out with busted knuckles, jump off my dozer loudly yelling, Woo Hoo, another Shepard has just arrived!
Re: Steam Boilers
I've always wanted to have something steam powered, it seems like a very interesting power source.
JD- 450C track loader
Serial #208336T
Serial #208336T
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- 420 crawler
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:20 pm
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
Re: Steam Boilers
Having worked in the power industry and around Steam Units for many years, it is a very powerful source. It can be very dangerous also, surprisingly at lower pressures!
1960 440 ICD with 602 blade
1960 440 ICD with 831 bucket
1960 440 ICD with 831 bucket, center throttle
1960 440 ICD with 831 bucket
1960 440 ICD with 831 bucket, center throttle
- CuttingEdge
- 2010 crawler
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:13 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Steam Boilers
I took my first class last night and really liked it.
I was afraid where I was not a residential boiler person first that I would not be able to keep up, but that is not the case. High pressure steam is so radically different that there is no need to start at small boilers.
But I also like that there if life-long learning too, just because you have to learn so much to go from Fireman Class to First Class.
There is a huge demand for Boiler Operator's as well because so few kids want to mess with them. The instructor was saying that there is a huge demand for Per Diem Boiler Operators too, so I could work all I wanted too in the winter, but in the summer when the workload drops, mow the sides of the road, and then start babysitting boilers again.
I think this will really work out well.
I was afraid where I was not a residential boiler person first that I would not be able to keep up, but that is not the case. High pressure steam is so radically different that there is no need to start at small boilers.
But I also like that there if life-long learning too, just because you have to learn so much to go from Fireman Class to First Class.
There is a huge demand for Boiler Operator's as well because so few kids want to mess with them. The instructor was saying that there is a huge demand for Per Diem Boiler Operators too, so I could work all I wanted too in the winter, but in the summer when the workload drops, mow the sides of the road, and then start babysitting boilers again.
I think this will really work out well.
I have no intention of traveling to my grave in a well manicured body; instead I am going to slide into heaven with a big power turn, totally wore out with busted knuckles, jump off my dozer loudly yelling, Woo Hoo, another Shepard has just arrived!
Re: Steam Boilers
My good friend's dad was a union boiler operator in Jersey for several decades. He made six figures and retired in his 60s with a full pension. After sitting around for a bit he started operating again as a per diem operator and made pretty close to what he was making full time on top of his pension. Not a bad gig at all.
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