Hey Scott I wasn't I went through a 4-year apprenticeship program do you think that with the four-year apprenticeship program I went through as a finisher for concrete I have 10 years invested in the union and they're not including what I did as a teenager do you think that I would have a pretty good possibility of becoming a pump operator that would be a good pump operator versus somebody
Absolutely!!! Much of becoming a proficient pump operator is knowing/respecting the time sensitive nature of the material (concrete) with which we are working. Your knowledge and experience with placing and finishing concrete most definitely gives you a leg up, in my opinion.
This is literally the best video ever, I love how you break everything down so precise, thank you so much man, make more videos like this buddy ! Much love from Alabama
Interesting. I was trained and set out with a 47m. Didn’t really think about it as a big pump at the time. Now to convince the boss to get a 58m+. There is a job on Tuesday that I kind of need one for.
We went through the same scenarios years ago when the 47M was our biggest pump. Then we got into a 58M and now it’s seemingly always 2 hoses short as well 😂😂😂
EWWWWW the pump took a sh*t guess the thing couldn't hold till it found a porta john LOL Hahahaha. Love the videos bud I have an uncle who's head forman for a concrete company down here in the states n a big Whats up from Colorado keep these videos commin I am learning a lot.
I started on a very similar set up like your GMC there. My pump was an alliance though. This is a profession that has treated me both good and bad, so I have a love/hate relationship with it. I got back into pumping last summer after being away for a number of years. The equipment can be cool to operate, the complexity of some job is good for problem solving and to learn, etc, etc. The thing I hate is lack of work/life balance. I was working 12+ hours everyday last summer, and no matter how much money I made that’s just too much time away from home and family for me
Agreed, that’s the toughest part of this business/career. Although with pump rates and operator wages increasing (in our area at least), it hopefully gets to the point in which companies are not having to run the operators 12-16 hours, 2-4 jobs per day, Monday through Saturday just to turn a profit. It’s that component which I just can’t see todays generation of labour force ever coming to terms with.
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 definitely not this generation. I don’t know what the summers are like in the lower mainland, but in Alberta because it gets much colder in the winter the summer hours can be insane, but something has to change because pretty soon all your current operators are going to retire and then you’ll have no one wanting to work in the industry because of what you and I are saying…that lack of work/life balance. Work/life balance is more important than money to me brother. This was a good video and hopefully you can provide an insight for those who might think about getting into pumping, but this was also as relaxed of a day an operator can have lol. I was on a line pump for 2 years. 1 year on a residential pump, and 1 year on a commercial pump. Every day it was 5” hard line and 3.5-4” hoses. Anywhere from 150 to 250 ft of it. I feel those days in my back now 😓
@@rickm.10 very well said brother. Industry definitely need to evolve to accommodate the reality of todays available labour resources. As you had mentioned, pretty gravy day shown here (I figured maybe catching on film the emptying of that single length of 2” hose by hand would be enough to weed out any potential riff-raff) 😂😂😂
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 you actually had me laughing out loud with your last comment. I think you might have done just that with your demonstration 😂
More efficient way to wash at the end to reduce water would be #1 dump remainder of concrete on the ground then scrape hooper sides with a small spade/scrapper #2 put pump in reverse and manual mode #3 reverse pump till you see piston cup which pushes most of concrete from the cylinder #4 jog s- tube to other cylinder and reverse pump to clear concrete cylinder #5 jog s-tube for about 5-10 seconds which shakes concrete from s-tube into the cylinders #6 quick wash into s-tube #7 reverse both concrete cylinders again and when piston cups reaches the end of the cylinders a quick wash to clear remainder of concrete. This process leaves the piston cups clear of build up on the face of them and all components spotless inside. 👍
What I’ve noticed is putting the pump in reverse, as soon as it strokes stroke forward, stop. Then proceed to spray cylinder clean then reverse again and wash it out the back.. seems to be the fastest way.
It seems like here on the west coast we are the only ones who help with pulling the hose and stuff like that. Other places they get it primed and only do pump on pump off.
Yeah, it seems like a lot of the markets with larger sized line (4” and 5”) the operators don’t run/drag the hose, which is understandable. Other markets it seems standard that the line-pump operator also runs the hose (California, as well as Australia. Would be curious to hear opinions on this from people in different regions. I just have a guilt complex with standing around watching everyone else work 😂😂😁
@Canadian Concrete Pumper In the union market, it is the labour's job. I ran system and boom hose my first 8 years. Kinda nice as an old man to have youngsters that do the hard work. I teach, they work. Days go by fast and smooth...
We pump almost everything around here, especially work with our in-house placing crew. They way they in which we like place it down works much better using a pump. 100% it could be done from the truck, but we have our own pumps, so we use them.
We have pumped 700 feet with this machine. With the proper slump/mix design and pushing through 5” steel pipeline, it would likely pump over 1000 feet horizontal. Guys with high-pressure pumps will push 5000+ feet.
Hey Scott. Think my last comment got deleted, well anyways. My dad is currently running a concrete mixing/pumping company, but as the company has gotten bigger we have had more and more issues with bad clean outs. Then i saw in this video you have this inspection report for the operator to check off at the end of the day. Is there any way we could have a look that as an inspiration for a way to create one for ourselves? Best regards from Denmark!
I see you had screens on the pump but didn't use them. I'm sure you have said that they were mandatory to stop the big rocks like that :) I love pumping would love to go have an easy time over there, everyone here seems to use 4 inch pipes lol.
Mix has to be minimum 4” slump to pass through the secondary screen. On that first job, no accelerator was ordered in the concrete, so we kept it dry as such that the finishers would not be waiting around all day to get the machine on it. Second job we had to keep the first couple meters of each load dry because of the slope which the mixers were sitting on (otherwise it would be spilling out of the truck even with the drum in charge mode). We’ve spoiled over here with our 2” line mixes. Mad respect to those whom slug it out in markets where 4” hose is the standard.
Twins? I’m not certain. We did however get called hillbilly’s by one of the commenters on our Luxor Hotel room review video 😂😂😂 (I’ve since deleted the comment), lol!!!
I love pumping. There is nothing else I would prefer to do. Started in '03. I'll probably die with a box in my hands lol It's not a job It's not a career It's a lifestyle.
Absolutely true. Even on the worst of days, I still look back and reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of the day as I’m driving home with a smile on my face. I believe that one really has to love this industry to truly become good at it.
@Canadian Concrete Pumper That, my friend, is what makes it a lifestyle. Some days are super gravy, no denying that. It's the hard days that you remember. It's the accomplishments that allow a fella to look back with fond memories. I'll never forget the first time I pushed 800'+... I'll never forget the first time I ran 5 section.. I'll never forget my first 7 axel machine... I'll never forget my first bad day lmao Pumping isn't for everyone. We are not like them, and they are not like us. Absolutely LOVE what I do lol
@@greghughey9738 I had someone mention to me recently that there should be a podcast in which a bunch of old veteran pump operators shoot the shit/trade old war stories. Interesting concept 🤔🤔🤔
It ain’t safe of the concrete won’t pass through and you’re sucking air. With this 2” secondary screen the concrete has to be a good 5” slump, and there’s certain things we just don’t pour that wet.
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 I understand. I live in long island NY I operate a line pump almost the same as the one you have my pump it has a vibrate in the hopper ,it work good with 5 lumps. But I like your video 📹
@@Davidlaraconcrete same thing, we’ve got the vibrator mounted to the hopper grate and it works really well for shaking most anything through the factory installed grate. The secondary screen which we use when running small line had really tight spacing (2”X2”) so even with the hopper vibrator running it has a tough time shaking 1/2” stone mixes through if they’re not at least moderately wet. Thanks for watching the channel man. These VS series Putzmiester’s are great little pumps 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Just came off a pour today (video coming later this week) and man oh man was the mix ever sandy/coarse. Just grinding through the hoses. I watched a driver add 50 gallons + 5 litres of Adva to a 9 meter load and the slump went from an 80 to maybe a 100.yesteryear sand just be eat’N up the water!!!
@canadianconcretepumper1979 the place I worked at a few years ago started having really coarse sand, almost 5mm where as everyone else in saskatoon was running 3mm. I was pumping a 32mpa mix and it was so bad I had to go 1 stroke fwd and then go backwards a stroke, then I was able to get a few strokes fwd. It also stalled out the pump at full rpm
I’ve got one on the truck (2”X2” mesh screen). Problem is that with this 1/2” mix, it has to be a good 5” slump to vibrate through the screen. Guys forgot to order accelerator, so being that it was a machine finished garage we didn’t want to wet it up too much or they’re have been there all night. I kind of wanted to catch a couple of plugs as well, just for demonstrative purposes.
Hey Scott I wasn't I went through a 4-year apprenticeship program do you think that with the four-year apprenticeship program I went through as a finisher for concrete I have 10 years invested in the union and they're not including what I did as a teenager do you think that I would have a pretty good possibility of becoming a pump operator that would be a good pump operator versus somebody
Absolutely!!! Much of becoming a proficient pump operator is knowing/respecting the time sensitive nature of the material (concrete) with which we are working. Your knowledge and experience with placing and finishing concrete most definitely gives you a leg up, in my opinion.
This is literally the best video ever, I love how you break everything down so precise, thank you so much man, make more videos like this buddy ! Much love from Alabama
Lookin forward to the series my man! ✊️
Very good video mate 👍🏿
best video i’ve seen .. good work
@@samvaughan8700 Appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed it 👊👊👊
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 starting on line pump next week .been operating excavtors last 8 years ...excited to get going now
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 did yo do the other 2 parts you mention in video ?
Interesting. I was trained and set out with a 47m. Didn’t really think about it as a big pump at the time. Now to convince the boss to get a 58m+. There is a job on Tuesday that I kind of need one for.
We went through the same scenarios years ago when the 47M was our biggest pump. Then we got into a 58M and now it’s seemingly always 2 hoses short as well 😂😂😂
EWWWWW the pump took a sh*t guess the thing couldn't hold till it found a porta john LOL Hahahaha. Love the videos bud I have an uncle who's head forman for a concrete company down here in the states n a big Whats up from Colorado keep these videos commin I am learning a lot.
I started on a very similar set up like your GMC there. My pump was an alliance though. This is a profession that has treated me both good and bad, so I have a love/hate relationship with it.
I got back into pumping last summer after being away for a number of years. The equipment can be cool to operate, the complexity of some job is good for problem solving and to learn, etc, etc.
The thing I hate is lack of work/life balance. I was working 12+ hours everyday last summer, and no matter how much money I made that’s just too much time away from home and family for me
Agreed, that’s the toughest part of this business/career. Although with pump rates and operator wages increasing (in our area at least), it hopefully gets to the point in which companies are not having to run the operators 12-16 hours, 2-4 jobs per day, Monday through Saturday just to turn a profit. It’s that component which I just can’t see todays generation of labour force ever coming to terms with.
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 definitely not this generation.
I don’t know what the summers are like in the lower mainland, but in Alberta because it gets much colder in the winter the summer hours can be insane, but something has to change because pretty soon all your current operators are going to retire and then you’ll have no one wanting to work in the industry because of what you and I are saying…that lack of work/life balance.
Work/life balance is more important than money to me brother. This was a good video and hopefully you can provide an insight for those who might think about getting into pumping, but this was also as relaxed of a day an operator can have lol.
I was on a line pump for 2 years. 1 year on a residential pump, and 1 year on a commercial pump. Every day it was 5” hard line and 3.5-4” hoses. Anywhere from 150 to 250 ft of it. I feel those days in my back now 😓
@@rickm.10 very well said brother. Industry definitely need to evolve to accommodate the reality of todays available labour resources.
As you had mentioned, pretty gravy day shown here (I figured maybe catching on film the emptying of that single length of 2” hose by hand would be enough to weed out any potential riff-raff) 😂😂😂
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 you actually had me laughing out loud with your last comment. I think you might have done just that with your demonstration 😂
More efficient way to wash at the end to reduce water would be #1 dump remainder of concrete on the ground then scrape hooper sides with a small spade/scrapper #2 put pump in reverse and manual mode #3 reverse pump till you see piston cup which pushes most of concrete from the cylinder #4 jog s- tube to other cylinder and reverse pump to clear concrete cylinder #5 jog s-tube for about 5-10 seconds which shakes concrete from s-tube into the cylinders #6 quick wash into s-tube #7 reverse both concrete cylinders again and when piston cups reaches the end of the cylinders a quick wash to clear remainder of concrete. This process leaves the piston cups clear of build up on the face of them and all components spotless inside. 👍
100% agree with you. (the intent just here was to keep things as simple as possible for the purpose of the video).
Bendiciones a Scott y todo su convoys bendiciones colega de profesión un abrazo
What I’ve noticed is putting the pump in reverse, as soon as it strokes stroke forward, stop. Then proceed to spray cylinder clean then reverse again and wash it out the back.. seems to be the fastest way.
I always bottom my cylinders out to clean.
Great video. Did you run wet to the second job?
Sure did! I’ll typically run dirty all day and do just one washout at days end.
It seems like here on the west coast we are the only ones who help with pulling the hose and stuff like that. Other places they get it primed and only do pump on pump off.
Yeah, it seems like a lot of the markets with larger sized line (4” and 5”) the operators don’t run/drag the hose, which is understandable. Other markets it seems standard that the line-pump operator also runs the hose (California, as well as Australia. Would be curious to hear opinions on this from people in different regions. I just have a guilt complex with standing around watching everyone else work 😂😂😁
@Canadian Concrete Pumper In the union market, it is the labour's job.
I ran system and boom hose my first 8 years. Kinda nice as an old man to have youngsters that do the hard work.
I teach, they work. Days go by fast and smooth...
Bendiciones Scott me preguntó cuando saldrá el video de la Thom-Katt en la azotea la 60hp🎉🎉
Probably next week for that one
That first job is a direct pour all day. I think more difficult to pump it then pour direct
We pump almost everything around here, especially work with our in-house placing crew. They way they in which we like place it down works much better using a pump. 100% it could be done from the truck, but we have our own pumps, so we use them.
What is the max distance can you pump?
We have pumped 700 feet with this machine. With the proper slump/mix design and pushing through 5” steel pipeline, it would likely pump over 1000 feet horizontal.
Guys with high-pressure pumps will push 5000+ feet.
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 Thanks for the input. I need a slab poured about 500ft from the street.
Hey Scott.
Think my last comment got deleted, well anyways.
My dad is currently running a concrete mixing/pumping company, but as the company has gotten bigger we have had more and more issues with bad clean outs.
Then i saw in this video you have this inspection report for the operator to check off at the end of the day.
Is there any way we could have a look that as an inspiration for a way to create one for ourselves?
Best regards from Denmark!
Shoot me an email at scottjuly79@hotmail.com and I’ll send it over to you 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 Thanks!
Good luck with
defintely need a passion and some love for this job 👍
It’s so true. Won’t find too many great operators who don’t love, or at least love/hate this industry in at least some capacity.
I see you had screens on the pump but didn't use them. I'm sure you have said that they were mandatory to stop the big rocks like that :)
I love pumping would love to go have an easy time over there, everyone here seems to use 4 inch pipes lol.
Mix has to be minimum 4” slump to pass through the secondary screen. On that first job, no accelerator was ordered in the concrete, so we kept it dry as such that the finishers would not be waiting around all day to get the machine on it. Second job we had to keep the first couple meters of each load dry because of the slope which the mixers were sitting on (otherwise it would be spilling out of the truck even with the drum in charge mode).
We’ve spoiled over here with our 2” line mixes. Mad respect to those whom slug it out in markets where 4” hose is the standard.
You my twin? I was wearing a t-shirt like that yesterday.
Twins? I’m not certain. We did however get called hillbilly’s by one of the commenters on our Luxor Hotel room review video 😂😂😂 (I’ve since deleted the comment), lol!!!
Trail/truck-mounted concrete pumps available
I love pumping. There is nothing else I would prefer to do. Started in '03. I'll probably die with a box in my hands lol
It's not a job
It's not a career
It's a lifestyle.
Absolutely true. Even on the worst of days, I still look back and reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of the day as I’m driving home with a smile on my face. I believe that one really has to love this industry to truly become good at it.
@Canadian Concrete Pumper That, my friend, is what makes it a lifestyle.
Some days are super gravy, no denying that.
It's the hard days that you remember. It's the accomplishments that allow a fella to look back with fond memories.
I'll never forget the first time I pushed 800'+...
I'll never forget the first time I ran 5 section..
I'll never forget my first 7 axel machine...
I'll never forget my first bad day lmao
Pumping isn't for everyone. We are not like them, and they are not like us.
Absolutely LOVE what I do lol
@@greghughey9738 LOVE this! You and I think alike 👌👌👌
@@greghughey9738 I had someone mention to me recently that there should be a podcast in which a bunch of old veteran pump operators shoot the shit/trade old war stories. Interesting concept 🤔🤔🤔
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 lol it would definitely be interesting lol
Bro you have to use a grill for safety.
It ain’t safe of the concrete won’t pass through and you’re sucking air. With this 2” secondary screen the concrete has to be a good 5” slump, and there’s certain things we just don’t pour that wet.
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 I understand. I live in long island NY I operate a line pump almost the same as the one you have my pump it has a vibrate in the hopper ,it work good with 5 lumps. But I like your video 📹
@@Davidlaraconcrete same thing, we’ve got the vibrator mounted to the hopper grate and it works really well for shaking most anything through the factory installed grate. The secondary screen which we use when running small line had really tight spacing (2”X2”) so even with the hopper vibrator running it has a tough time shaking 1/2” stone mixes through if they’re not at least moderately wet. Thanks for watching the channel man. These VS series Putzmiester’s are great little pumps 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
@@canadianconcretepumper1979 I also have the putzmeister TK50
Mexican aggregate
Just came off a pour today (video coming later this week) and man oh man was the mix ever sandy/coarse. Just grinding through the hoses. I watched a driver add 50 gallons + 5 litres of Adva to a 9 meter load and the slump went from an 80 to maybe a 100.yesteryear sand just be eat’N up the water!!!
@canadianconcretepumper1979 the place I worked at a few years ago started having really coarse sand, almost 5mm where as everyone else in saskatoon was running 3mm. I was pumping a 32mpa mix and it was so bad I had to go 1 stroke fwd and then go backwards a stroke, then I was able to get a few strokes fwd. It also stalled out the pump at full rpm
Put a pea gravel screen on top of your screen. It should help with those gnarly rocks.
I’ve got one on the truck (2”X2” mesh screen). Problem is that with this 1/2” mix, it has to be a good 5” slump to vibrate through the screen. Guys forgot to order accelerator, so being that it was a machine finished garage we didn’t want to wet it up too much or they’re have been there all night. I kind of wanted to catch a couple of plugs as well, just for demonstrative purposes.