horst Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Some of you know Ive been in the construction business for a lot of years now, I started shingling when I was about 12 years old and kinda branched out into other fields, finally I was running my own business and doing all sorts of work in just about every aspect of residential construction and some commercial work. Im 35 now and honestly Im getting burned out, I still enjoy the work but am tired of all the crap that goes along with it, customers that cant make up thier minds, trying to collect from people after jobs, companies losing my material orders, every thing seems to annoy me these days. Last summer they started putting some wind turbines up outside of town here and I was honestly kinda facinated with the process.I half jokingly told my wife I wanted to go back to school and learn how to build them, eventually I even started looking into the classes.But with 3 kids and needing 2 incomes it never went any further, it just wasnt a good time to try it. Last week I ran acrossed an ad in the local paper that caught my eye.A company in Ontario Canada that makes the blades for these things was looking for someone in my area to train as a technician to moniter and service the blades they use on the turbines in this area. After debating with myself all weekend about it decided I would send a resume in yesterday and see what happened.Today i got an email back from the company, the lady that does the hiring will be in Iowa the 2nd week of next month and would like to meet with me and discuss the position.If things work out Ill be going to Ontario for a 6 week training course in how to work on them then starting a new job with the company.Im really hoping this works out, Im ready for a change of pace and working a couple hundred feet in the air everyday would definately be different:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Hey if you get it I wonder if you will be coming to Wolfe Island...we are getting 86 windmills very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 That sounds great! I hope you get the job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Sounds good....best of luck with the interview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Sounds like an interesting Venture. All the best with it Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 So I guess getting you to install my standing seem roof is out now UH ... I wish you nothing but the very best in your venture .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPic Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 You gotta do what you gotta do.Last year at this time,my life was a mess--needed some changes.Started out by quitting my job of 23yrs and starting over somewhere else.Had no idea what or where I was going but it all worked out in the end.Actually,it was one of the best decisions I ever made.Good luck--hope it works out for ya:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Best of luck Horst. A little change in life is always good! Wish you the best in your interview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 hopefully all works out for ya :) Changes are good :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Good luck Chris. Those turbines are something else, they can create quite a bit of power. I'd love to put one on my property, but according to my wife , we don't have enough wind around here to make them economically feasible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 ... we don't have enough wind around here to make them economically feasible. You need to average (that's for 24x365) 11 miles per hour to turn a profit, but you probably don't want to put one up yourself. The small ones are 270 feet tall and cost approximately $1 million per unit and produce 1 megawatt. In comparison, a single nuclear plant will produce between 600 and 800 megawatts. Wind power is terribly inefficient, but because most state legislatures have mandated that power companies generate a certain percent from "green" sources (and nuclear typically doesn't count), there's an artificial market for wind energy. Ultimately, the taxpayers and the consumers end up paying for this ridiculous experiment. BTW - Horst, don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing you for wanting or taking the job. There's nothing wrong with that at all. I just think we're (taxpayers and consumers) getting hosed by the environmentalists that are forcing this technology on us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVdeerhunter Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Know what you mean i do the same think thats funny my name is chris to:rolleyes:. Trying to get out 2 tried of this stuff. BEST OF LUCK TO YA. and if you find any luck sent some this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 best of luck horst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted January 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 BTW - Horst, don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing you for wanting or taking the job. There's nothing wrong with that at all. I just think we're (taxpayers and consumers) getting hosed by the environmentalists that are forcing this technology on us. Dont worry about it Texan, I knew what you meant.And youre right, theyre not terribly efficient, from everything Ive read they can only convert about 50% of the winds power to electricity under ideal conditions.And theyre big, they take up a lot of land wherever they put them. But theyre here, and I need a job and this one looks challenging enough to hold my attention:D In the job description on thier websight it appears they dont use cranes to inspect the blades, everythings done from hanging scaffolds which Ive seen them use around here on several, you have to raise and lower yourself.And as you said, theyre high, several hundred feet in the air at least.Im not going to be pysically able to do things like this for to any more years in reality, might as well do it now while I can, then I wont have anything to regret later:cool: Unless I fall, that would suck!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted January 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 So I guess getting you to install my standing seem roof is out now UH ... I wish you nothing but the very best in your venture .. Get the material, I bet we can work something out;) BTW, what kind you considering putting on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 BTW, what kind you considering putting on? Not sure to tell ya the truth ... I haven't a clue about roofing that's why I won't tackle it myself... I'll let the Pro's do thier job, and I'll stick to retail .. I was actually looking into the Mueller, Inc Metal Roofing.. I really want the CF Panels .. Here's what I was looking at .. http://www.muellerinc.com/roofing/cfpanel.php This is to cover a straight forward 30' X 40' roof ,, NO valley's or dormers to work around .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 i think those are pertty good panels, luke. do it once right. and chris, good luck on the interview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Never put that brand on before but it looks good, no exposed fasteners is definately the way to go.The stuff I used to put on was quite similiar but was Butler steel, same concept but you ran a seaming machine down the laps and actually rolled the two pieces together, never had one leak but it was pricey. That stuff actually looks like it would go down pretty easy if you make sure the lapping edges get locked together and its a straight run as you say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Unless I fall, that would suck!!! I would think hitting the ground would suck more! Good luck with your interview. I was thinking of making a job change myself. Don't know how much more production assembly work my body can take! Sucks to wake up feeling like Edward Scissorhands for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 :DIn other words its not the fall that kills you, its the sudden stop:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 From that height you would probably not feel a thing on impact...would be a heck of a RUSH on the way down though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Not sure to tell ya the truth ... I haven't a clue about roofing that's why I won't tackle it myself... I'll let the Pro's do thier job, and I'll stick to retail .. I was actually looking into the Mueller, Inc Metal Roofing.. I really want the CF Panels .. Here's what I was looking at .. http://www.muellerinc.com/roofing/cfpanel.php This is to cover a straight forward 30' X 40' roof ,, NO valley's or dormers to work around .. i have installed some just like that luke. not a bad product either. wish vermont was closer i would be glad to give ya a hand bud:D:D good luck with the new job horst. i know where you are coming from. i am a contractor in iowa myself. hope it all works out for you and your family. you can always still bend a few nails on the side for extra cash and to scratch that carpentry itch. lol. then when you don't have to depend on it for a living you can be a little more picky choosing the jobs. LOL:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 I won't be doing my roof Mike .. ;) I'll leave that to the guy's that do it for a living... And I'll stick to what I do,, this way everything will be done right.. It's worth the extra dollars, to have it done right the first time .. Chris, I was told that this roofing material is actually the cousin to standing seam,, the cost is just a touch cheaper .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 I won't be doing my roof Mike .. ;) I'll leave that to the guy's that do it for a living... And I'll stick to what I do,, this way everything will be done right.. It's worth the extra dollars, to have it done right the first time .. Chris, I was told that this roofing material is actually the cousin to standing seam,, the cost is just a touch cheaper .. it is the next best thing to standing seam luke. all consealed nails and easy to install. i have actually heard that same design called standing seam more than once Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 It looks a lot like the stuff we put on commercially actually, the biggest difference I can see is actually in the accesories, the comercial stuff had a lot more stuff you had to put on, of course thats been 12 years since I did one of them and I sure things have changed a lot in that time.This also calls for a solid underlayment where the stuff we used was put on over steel framing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.