Tyler Cast Iron-A Dangerous Biz

Paul Pollets_2

new respect for foundry workers. The story reminds me of the meatpacking plants in Chicago in the 30's

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Paul Pollets

Making CI Pipe-Not Recommended

Here's the link to today's NYTimes front page story on Tyler Pipe & Foundry.

You may have to sign in (it's free) to read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/08/national/08PIPE.html?pagewanted=all&position=top

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Bill_14

Cast Iron

I wonder if someone will go to the Charlotte Cast Iron plant and do a comparison.

I'd hate to see the condition of the cast iron foundries in the other countries. I know you certainly want to only purchase domestic cast iron pipe and fittings. The other option is a very poor choice.

Hopefully, this article will cause Tyler to clean up their act. Their product is exceptionally good.

Bill

Steamhead

Don't Buy Tyler's Pipe

this is the only way those lowlifes will get the message.

If you know of a supply house that stocks Tyler pipe- or any other McWane product- show the bigwigs that article. Tell them you will not buy any pipe made in such a dangerous factory, no way, no how.

Spread the word to others you know in the business. Have them give the same message to the supply house. If enough of us do this, they will likely pick up another manufacturer's product.

The only way that kind of organization will change its ways is if we make it unprofitable to keep going the way they are.

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Gordo

Foundries

I've worked in a foundry. Everyone should work in the job from hell at least once so you know when you got it good. However, if you give 'em a hard time, like the cockroaches they are, those SOBs will just close down & move to where the sun is warm and extradicion unlikely.

Paul Pollets_2

But..

what about cast iron pipe made elsewhere? Or Offshore?

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Bill_14

Take your pick...

http://www.tylerpipe.com/default.htm

or

http://www.charlottepipe.com/

hot_rod

Foundry work

Been there, done that & it's an ugly job. No shut down is a routine situation. Worked 30' overhead from extention ladders right next to copper bus bars carrying 3-phase to the cranes. One false move would have done us in. It was left up to the crane operator to watch out for us. Worked under the huge electric furnaces melting pigs of metal. Hot, dirty thankless work. Blow outs through the sides of molds as they were being poured were treated by spraying water on the escaping molten metal to "seal" the opening. Rivulets of molten metal to be avoided at all costs! A pace that saw men leaping over recently poured molten filled molds where a mis-step would mean certain death so that they could keep up with production quotas.

Third shift - the one electric furnace blew up & sent a several ton lid up through the roof!

Safety? Yeah right. It was every man for himself.
On the other side? There was a rugged beauty in seeing a multi-ton ladel pouring blindingly hot molten metal into a mold and the resulting spray of fireworks as hot liquid metal contacted any surface that was "cold". Fourth of July fireworks pale by comparrison. The commaradie shared by those of us grunts on the factory floor. Building & tearing down molds & that funky smell of hot metal cooling in the sand - very distinct odor. Damned tough work. Damned glad I moved on.

Then there was the bomb line I worked on at Harley Davidson - before they took over the motorcycle line! 500 pounders destined for war zones. That was another dangerous environment. Many a night, we'd find someone had lost a finger, toe or suffered some serious injury.

After that, I decided I needed some fresh air - so I worked high steel for a few months!

I also took up skydiving that summer and bought a Harley Davidson Hawg - a Superglide(G). First & only bike.

There are millions of hard working men & women out there whose jobs place them in harms way every day. I think of them often.

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Gordo

Romantic Foundry Work

I don't have my copy of Vergil's Anneid handy, but here goes: "forsan et hic olim meminissae uabit" These things will be pleasent to contemplate...later. Sorry, Dave. I can't get romantic at all about the foundry, Vergil notwithstanding. One time, the ventillation fans cut out and vapors started collectting at the ceiling. When they opened the furnace to dump in more scrap, the "beautiful fireworks" touched off the vapors at the ceiling. It blew out a wall, and ignited a Huge fireball. "forsan et hic....

Online Sheriff \"Murph\"

superglide eh'........

I can remember when......oh wait, that wasn't me ....uhhhh nevermind !!

ScottMP

You guys

Should take a look at the Buderus vidio that shows their foundry plant. Very Computerized and high tech. And yet still a dangerous job. I can imagine Viessmanns is just as impresive.

My father in law was a union mason. Worked rebuilding coke ovens most of the time. Told me he worked one job where the ovens on either side were still operating. They had asbestos blankets put up so they could work on the oven in the middle. Three guys fifteen minutes and then OUT. Gave me a whole new repsect for this quite easy going guy.

Scott

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Paul Pollets_2

Buderus Plant

I've been to the Buderus factory in Wezler. It's nothing like Tyler. It's a model of German efficiency and rather safe. They used to serve beer for breaks, but I'm not sure they still do. Retired workers often serve as tour guides and are very proud of their work.

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Steamhead

An American company should know better

I'm not buying any Tyler or McWane products unless and until they clean up their act. We haven't had a good old-fashioned boycott in a while- last one I remember was Crown Petroleum when they locked out all their workers- time to gear up again.

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