The moon and Cord's Ironworker - finally home.
I've been meaning to tell you this story for some time. Cord has owned an Ironworker - (a machine for cutting and punching and basic processing of iron) for many years but had not moved it home. It lived at a friend's industrial repair shop in Colorado Springs and that friend was moving his business and so it goes - when you have to do something - you do. Cord's friend Lex had a rig they thought would work. Part of the reason for not moving it before, besides time and money, was how heavy this monster is. 6,500 lbs. Together they had the resources to go get it.
They got home to our house at twilight with an increasing moon cheering them on. I got the pic above right before we went inside to eat. In Colorado Springs it was loaded on the trailer with a fork lift borrowed for the occasion. After lashing it down with chains, they began the journey home. They took an alternate route, deciding not to attempt our steep mountain road at the end of a long day.
They got home to our house at twilight with an increasing moon cheering them on. I got the pic above right before we went inside to eat. In Colorado Springs it was loaded on the trailer with a fork lift borrowed for the occasion. After lashing it down with chains, they began the journey home. They took an alternate route, deciding not to attempt our steep mountain road at the end of a long day.
Now, how were we going to get it OFF the trailer? A couple of phone calls later and our neighbor was on his way over with a giant machine.
They put chains around the Ironworker, and hooked the chain on the bucket. The bucket loader picked it up off the trailer and Cord drove the trailer out from under it.
Our neighbor Steve set it down to get re-adjusted but it did not want to lift it again.
Around this time - another neighbor showed up with a skid loader, ready to help. Cord had talked to him the night before and he wanted to see what was going on. So here is this little skid loader and a humungous bucket loader that barely fit in the driveway. Together, the guys figured it out.
They put chains around the Ironworker, and hooked the chain on the bucket. The bucket loader picked it up off the trailer and Cord drove the trailer out from under it.
Our neighbor Steve set it down to get re-adjusted but it did not want to lift it again.
Around this time - another neighbor showed up with a skid loader, ready to help. Cord had talked to him the night before and he wanted to see what was going on. So here is this little skid loader and a humungous bucket loader that barely fit in the driveway. Together, the guys figured it out.
I couldn't imagine what Ray was going to do with that little skid loader - ha! - he pushed and shoved and pushed and shoved and it slid on the snowy, icy driveway! Just like that he had it shoved across the yard and almost into place. It was great! I was amazed - I video'd the entire homecoming of the Ironworker as it happened.
The next step was to see if Steve could squeeze the giant bucket loader into place to help lift it just enough to get it positioned.
And so he did.
The next step was to see if Steve could squeeze the giant bucket loader into place to help lift it just enough to get it positioned.
And so he did.
Such teamwork! The Bucket Loader fit and did the job.
So that's the story of the Ironworker - it sits outside Cord's shop door to be reckoned with and leveled another day. He will begin to collect die's and get it operational. Meanwhile, there are greenhouses to build, seeds to sow and spring is upon us.
Welcome home Ironworker.
Welcome home Ironworker.
Cord working on iron log racks and a greenhouse vent cover with the Ironworker waiting in the background.
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