I was researching steel mills for story-writing, and I just had to comment how fascinating I found this. So cool to hear Mr. Kapusta talk about the work from actual experience. It was very immersive and engaging. Cool guy!
Fascinating and nice to see the process explained by someone who was there. More videos like this should be produced of US manufacturing processes that once were to enrich labor history that Americans have little appreciation of.
I would have loved to see a tour of this anyday! My grandparents both worked in the mills.. My one grandfather worked as a big boss in the remaining USS Irvin Plant, and my other pap working in the National Tubes steel mill in McKeesport, and how my neighbor was a big boss in the USS Clairton Works. I've always loved learning about the United State Steel's numerous plants around the Pittsburgh area. shame they are now all but gone for us to never see again. Thank you for a piece like this.
I wonder who was the president at the time the steel mfg. was sent overseas. I was in Pittsburgh 3 decades ago and it was depressing how empty the town and factories looked. We need to bring these jobs back.
rest in peace steve "hutch." Miss you so much bro... a friend of mine who brought me to this place for first time, and many times after, past on... and his last words to me were, "we all dont talk anymore (our group of friends that we had), we need to get together and go to the mill." i was down for a reunion of sorts... he died shortly after at the age of 33. he LOVED this place... the big jesus was awesome...same w/ the steel owl.
i used to be a first helper in the Mingo blast furnace in the 70's started as a cinder snapper, just like you said it was so hot the slag and iron was white hot, i used to jump over the runners pretty cool job at the time.
I worked at British steel Scunthorpe uk for 30 years as a maintenance engineer 👷♀️ at the 4 queens blast furnaces it was hell sometimes . I feel for what you did . Top man
i know what this guy has been thou i work in the steel mill in middletown ohio ak steel and i drilled on the blast furnace in ashland KY and i can say its hot everywhere in the steel mills that i been in and hard work im 22 and im glad to be working where my family has worked for years
Not many people can say they've worked on a blast furnace! Today, it is demanding as EVER. First, you need special CO training for high gas hazard areas just to enter the dept. And nowadays, there is a fraction of the manpower but up to 4x the production, and many job duties are still the same. I've worked in both casthouses nextdoor at ET as well as the stockyard. The casthouse is so brutal that only about 50% of new hires make it. At least back then there were extra men, fewer casts, etc.
Much more advanced in terms of the amount of control operators now have but the biggest factor, other than safety of course, is the tonnages today's high tech furnaces churn out...chalk and cheese.
I just like to say i would like to see the Carrie Furnace before it is gone.. other than that for the guest and staff of the vid "have a nice Holidays from Jay and Joss
A generation will pass with knowledge of when we as a Nation built things. Big things. Now we but things in a big way, with money we borrow from our children. So sad, so terribly sad.
I work there a long time ago. back when I started there were 12 blast furnaces,. . then they built number 13. my last year there was 1983. number one and two furnace had already been torn down. at that time the only furnaces that were running were number 4and6 and 13. what did they ever do with all the old furnaces that they weren't using?
@@dirtphish3523 to thanks for letting me know, I always figured that's what happened. I can't picture that in my mind. when I think of blast furnace division I always have a picture in my mind of 12 furnaces. the amazing thing is when I started working there in 1965 all 12 furnaces were running. it's really cool that I was actually there to see it but I guess things got to change.
@@danielthoman7324 yes its definitely different. But the furnaces that are standing are huge compared to your time. The skip tubs on 14 can fit a full size sedan inside of them. I believe it's a 28 foot radius furnace. Stands about 300 to 400 foot tall
This just goes to show what greedy corporate jerks have done to this country. Steel mills keep closing or selling to the over seas competition and then closing. I lost my job as a dispatcher at Weirton stell thanks to ISG. My uncles lost their pension and the comunity lost a tax base. While they were in bankruptcy and negatiating with ISG, a federal judge approved their bonuses. Rewarded for running the mill into the ground. This video breaks my heart......
Interesting explanations. I wonder why everything looks abandoned? Couldn't they still be using these facilities? Or do they have a lifetime and wear out eventually?
This is very old technology and very unproductive whan compared with today's huge blast furnaces. The lack of safety features would be probibitively expensive to overcome. And he has only covered part of an iron producing furnace...not touched on the steelmaking part of the process. Modern day blast furnaces have a working lifetime and require a complete reline of the refractories every five years or so.
lots of true. that's been said in the global markets. some of the uneducated but hard workers families were left behind. to struggle why corporates. restructured sold out I seen where even for men for holding the Lance rod. And Specialty Steel meal where I worked one or two men held Rod's to open the flow of more expensive Steel. God bless the Next Generation of America
The 50's were a Glorious time in America... Hard work and Wholesome values, bred Happiness and prosperity. These are the same achievements as Donald Trump's visions of America.. it can be done, except for the "Hard work" part, Americans have become fat and lazy... We need robot Americans...
we have no one to blame but ourselves its sad these men gave the shirt off their backs for their families and just because some people would work for pennies over our dollars you killed our whole work system and our economy I want to thank all those responsible you have hurt us more than you will ever know
I worked in the Australian steel industry for over four decades and from the sidelines I can honestly say the US industry brought a lot of their downfall by not keeping up with the modernisation that was happening elsewhere. It was the Japanese and S. Koreans that were leading the field in those days, China was still developing. Even our largest plant had to bite the bullet and undergo huge modernisation in the early 70's.
we were offered a little silver suit a shield. most of the time the men warm nothing but leather gloves hard hat and safety glasses pouring Liquid Gold. in confined areas where one heat a day and 24 hours led to 10 and 12 hits a day sand silica chromium manganese nickel copper aluminum flux bricks and you name it. in the air at 30 2 years old had to have my nose and throat cut out. and they say it was just sleep Acme. I worked in the pits the asbestos it seems like they're always a step ahead. please God help those leaders to help those have served their country and many many other ways for all the weapons of war.
Had you have read and understood what I said there would have never been the need for you to comment on it. But,.. you did, without any bothering to try and understand what I said,... don't blame me.... You made a fool of yourself and got called out for it.
Time to change our mentality. We always blame Asians took our jobs for less but we are the only ones to be blamed for our own failure! Stand up and change thing around, start from the top to the bottom. Vote to elect our best leaders. Chose to buy products not made in China ( if your best choice). Do one little thing at a time, you will see this country turn around in no time! Get up and get thing going today!
The story about the old timers with their cigars cracked me up, reminds me of my gramps. That generation was just a different breed.
When men were men dammit!
The best generation unlike today’s garbage
@@sampickel1030 you got that right they were the best
Yeah a breed that didn’t live past 60 lol
You got the PITTSBURGH ACCENT
So interesting to hear all this explained by an actual worker.
I was researching steel mills for story-writing, and I just had to comment how fascinating I found this. So cool to hear Mr. Kapusta talk about the work from actual experience. It was very immersive and engaging. Cool guy!
Very informational video about steel making. Unfortunately steel mills are dying across the USA.
Met Jim last week still doing tours. Great guy! Very friendly and informative. Everyone should visit this piece of American History!
BRAVO! Two thumbs up from my older friend who worked in the mills!
Fascinating and nice to see the process explained by someone who was there. More videos like this should be produced of US manufacturing processes that once were to enrich labor history that Americans have little appreciation of.
I would have loved to see a tour of this anyday! My grandparents both worked in the mills.. My one grandfather worked as a big boss in the remaining USS Irvin Plant, and my other pap working in the National Tubes steel mill in McKeesport, and how my neighbor was a big boss in the USS Clairton Works. I've always loved learning about the United State Steel's numerous plants around the Pittsburgh area. shame they are now all but gone for us to never see again. Thank you for a piece like this.
I wonder who was the president at the time the steel mfg. was sent overseas. I was in Pittsburgh 3 decades ago and it was depressing how empty the town and factories looked. We need to bring these jobs back.
rest in peace steve "hutch." Miss you so much bro...
a friend of mine who brought me to this place for first time, and many times after, past on... and his last words to me were, "we all dont talk anymore (our group of friends that we had), we need to get together and go to the mill." i was down for a reunion of sorts... he died shortly after at the age of 33. he LOVED this place... the big jesus was awesome...same w/ the steel owl.
Excellent video. So great to hear from an actual steel worker. Very wrong and very real I like it!
i used to be a first helper in the Mingo blast furnace in the 70's started as a cinder snapper, just like you said it was so hot the slag and iron was white hot, i used to jump over the runners pretty cool job at the time.
No way was it dangerous
Cinder snapper took care of the slag runner , keeper and keeper helpers took care of the iron
Its hot everywhere, no matter where you go in the mil, its hot
Top marks, a great video 🇬🇧
I worked at British steel Scunthorpe uk for 30 years as a maintenance engineer 👷♀️ at the 4 queens blast furnaces it was hell sometimes . I feel for what you did . Top man
Great video Steve, thanks for posting.
i know what this guy has been thou i work in the steel mill in middletown ohio ak steel and i drilled on the blast furnace in ashland KY and i can say its hot everywhere in the steel mills that i been in and hard work im 22 and im glad to be working where my family has worked for years
Not many people can say they've worked on a blast furnace! Today, it is demanding as EVER. First, you need special CO training for high gas hazard areas just to enter the dept. And nowadays, there is a fraction of the manpower but up to 4x the production, and many job duties are still the same. I've worked in both casthouses nextdoor at ET as well as the stockyard. The casthouse is so brutal that only about 50% of new hires make it. At least back then there were extra men, fewer casts, etc.
Very interesting. Thank you for posting this.
Gotta love an old yinzer, lots of wisdom
My grandfather worked in the Pittsburgh Steel Works from 1913 to 1922
Excellent, very well done
I had a professor that wore the same shirt as that man. Never forget that design
Most of these processes are so much more advanced and indoors now.
Hans Blitz no it's pretty much the same on the blast furnace now as it was then except less people to do it the same work
Much more advanced in terms of the amount of control operators now have but the biggest factor, other than safety of course, is the tonnages today's high tech furnaces churn out...chalk and cheese.
Hundreds and thousands of people in NW IN and South Chicago have the same story including yours truly
Back when Harbor Freight made quality tools. All the Pittsburgh tools I purchased lately are junk. Thanks for the review.
min 4:56 is what my job was. Cleaning the runner (Utility Gang)
It;s very impressive,working in such an environment might have been scary.
I just like to say i would like to see the Carrie Furnace before it is gone.. other than that for the guest and staff of the vid "have a nice Holidays from Jay and Joss
all closed now just like my cities steel mills Sheffield
A generation will pass with knowledge of when we as a Nation built things. Big things. Now we but things in a big way, with money we borrow from our children. So sad, so terribly sad.
divisioneight we buy those things from the value saved up from that era.
Nothing has changed lol. Same operation we have at garyworks
I work there a long time ago. back when I started there were 12 blast furnaces,. . then they built number 13. my last year there was 1983. number one and two furnace had already been torn down. at that time the only furnaces that were running were number 4and6 and 13. what did they ever do with all the old furnaces that they weren't using?
@@danielthoman7324 they are torn down and all structure is gone. Can't even tell they were there. But it's cool seeing pictures how it used to be
@@dirtphish3523 to thanks for letting me know, I always figured that's what happened. I can't picture that in my mind. when I think of blast furnace division I always have a picture in my mind of 12 furnaces. the amazing thing is when I started working there in 1965 all 12 furnaces were running. it's really cool that I was actually there to see it but I guess things got to change.
@@danielthoman7324 yes its definitely different. But the furnaces that are standing are huge compared to your time. The skip tubs on 14 can fit a full size sedan inside of them. I believe it's a 28 foot radius furnace. Stands about 300 to 400 foot tall
@@dirtphish3523 thanks for the info.
Great info!
You got that Pittsburgh accent from Northside
Robocop brought me here
I wish I could have done that kind of work. Because of some issues my body couldn't do it. I think I could mentally learn the job.
My father and grandfather work in the mills
Fantastic share! thanks!
This just goes to show what greedy corporate jerks have done to this country. Steel mills keep closing or selling to the over seas competition and then closing. I lost my job as a dispatcher at Weirton stell thanks to ISG. My uncles lost their pension and the comunity lost a tax base. While they were in bankruptcy and negatiating with ISG, a federal judge approved their bonuses. Rewarded for running the mill into the ground. This video breaks my heart......
Capitalism at its' finest. The workers are treated like chess pieces.
@@flamingfrancis Workers in North Korea must be living the high life.
Wow I used to work at Jeannette Glass but it wasn't that bad.
Interesting explanations. I wonder why everything looks abandoned? Couldn't they still be using these facilities? Or do they have a lifetime and wear out eventually?
This is very old technology and very unproductive whan compared with today's huge blast furnaces. The lack of safety features would be probibitively expensive to overcome. And he has only covered part of an iron producing furnace...not touched on the steelmaking part of the process. Modern day blast furnaces have a working lifetime and require a complete reline of the refractories every five years or so.
Looks abandoned because it is abandoned .
like a old junk car , would be better to build new than repair rusted up old junk
my great grandad worked in the mills
Very interesting, thanks
My dad died in a coke oven explosion in Pittsburgh in 1979.
How do you acquire a video in 144p? How?
Who sent the steel manufacturing out of the country? Who was the president at the time?
lots of true. that's been said in the global markets. some of the uneducated but hard workers families were left behind. to struggle why corporates. restructured sold out I seen where even for men for holding the Lance rod. And Specialty Steel meal where I worked one or two men held Rod's to open the flow of more expensive Steel. God bless the Next Generation of America
The 50's were a Glorious time in America... Hard work and Wholesome values, bred Happiness and prosperity. These are the same achievements as Donald Trump's visions of America.. it can be done, except for the "Hard work" part, Americans have become fat and lazy... We need robot Americans...
we have no one to blame but ourselves its sad these men gave the shirt off their backs for their families and just because some people would work for pennies over our dollars you killed our whole work system and our economy I want to thank all those responsible you have hurt us more than you will ever know
I worked in the Australian steel industry for over four decades and from the sidelines I can honestly say the US industry brought a lot of their downfall by not keeping up with the modernisation that was happening elsewhere. It was the Japanese and S. Koreans that were leading the field in those days, China was still developing. Even our largest plant had to bite the bullet and undergo huge modernisation in the early 70's.
Two of my great great uncles died at a steel mill.
This is the steel mill where Robocop was filmed!!
Robo cop was filmed at us steel Detroit.
Nope that was filmed in monessen pa it was demolished long time ago sadly
we were offered a little silver suit a shield. most of the time the men warm nothing but leather gloves hard hat and safety glasses pouring Liquid Gold. in confined areas where one heat a day and 24 hours led to 10 and 12 hits a day sand silica chromium manganese nickel copper aluminum flux bricks and you name it. in the air at 30 2 years old had to have my nose and throat cut out. and they say it was just sleep Acme. I worked in the pits the asbestos it seems like they're always a step ahead. please God help those leaders to help those have served their country and many many other ways for all the weapons of war.
No shell cooling
Dahn 'ere.
Robocop or The Deer Hunter?? Which o ne is this? Or neither?
Man. Talk about depressing.
hey how can i get to touch with this former steel worker. thanks
Had you have read and understood what I said there would have never been the need for you to comment on it. But,.. you did, without any bothering to try and understand what I said,... don't blame me....
You made a fool of yourself and got called out for it.
they dont make men like this anymore...
Time to change our mentality. We always blame Asians took our jobs for less but we are the only ones to be blamed for our own failure! Stand up and change thing around, start from the top to the bottom. Vote to elect our best leaders. Chose to buy products not made in China ( if your best choice). Do one little thing at a time, you will see this country turn around in no time!
Get up and get thing going today!
Asbestos. ...?
Robocop location film
+TheVirzo4 that was in Monessen pa
How amazing that one time powerful places of great industries and remembered for movie production over the real purpose they served.
@@mohican19831 a ok 🙂
the men who worked there should make a video, not some guy who filled their water jugs