teksign

Now retired, but many years ago tried to install a sign head on a pole, we couldn't get the feed to the bottom. Found a dead cat inside of the pole. No need to go any further on how we got it out. 30 years digging a sign base in Fort Erie Ontario, the excavator dug up human remains. Apparently during the war of 1812, where a soldier died , was where he was buried. Held up the job for almost a year, while the proper authorities did their stuff. Dave

Hi there Many years ago, with my skyhook, i installed a 110volt water heater element into the tank. It worked great off of a generator, the only caveot was that you had to keep an eye on it. Always made me worry when I saw steam coming from the vent on the tank. Dave

Go with the Tandem, it is better to overspec a truck rather than under spec. We have calculaed that tools alone weigh in about a ton. Under spec trucks have a lot of maintenace issues. Our L60, we used a 33,000 lb gvw. Thanks Dave

very ,very, nice!!!!!!

Lucky us!!! We lost one of our floats a week ago, broke into locked compound and then rammed the gates knocking them off the hinges. Pure stupidity, our floats are custom made for us with special features, its a matter of time before it is spotted. Funny thing stolen on a Sunday night, you figure some one would see them. Dave The rest of them are being equipped with GPS's

We mostly vac trucks, a little more money, but nice clean job. This morning I was arranging for (3) holes 36" dia by 11'-6" deep. The capacity of these trucks are 12 imperial yards but combined with the water they use and the fill. Dumping fees on these are $110 with their hourly rate $265/hr. We actually just finished a base 7' x 8' x 5'-6" in the middle of winter. We actually uncovered conduit that wasn't picked up by the utilities locates. dave

Anyone know of a good sign installation company in Oregon? Must be able to install pylon signage. Providing a base install and asset but not required. Must have insurance etc. Thanks Dave Teksign Inc. 1-800-387-3139

We should always be aware of what our outriggers are positioned on. One of our agents crane started to go over when his outrigger sunk in non compacted soil, lucky that the pylon sign was only a foot off of the ground and prevented the truck from going over past the point of no return. In some parts of my city there is chutes under the public sidewalk from the days of having coal delivered to heat the buildings, the city never filled these in, leaving hollow areas under the sidewalk. The pressures exerted from the outrigger and crane lifting creates a very dangerous situation. Also we have made it mandatory that there is pads under every outrigger at all times. As for the agent above he had a strange way of gauging when the load was too heavy, when he bends an outrigger.(manual outriggers on a skyhook). Thank god he is no longer in the business. Dave

Very Interesting here. I like the minimum charge. We always send two men, for a safety reason. A couple of installers were killed here in Canada while servicing signs that you have to crawl inside to service. Our rated $140/hr for bucket truck and $170/hr for the Elliotte. My boss has calculated with office staff, insurance, plates, and just plain overhead, that our cost is $69/man, so basically were breaking even on the bucket truck. I'd like to charge more if I could. Do we get complaints about our hourly rate? Yup!!! I try to offset it with materials used, our volume buying allows better breaks in purchasing. When quoting a service call for example, I avoid the hourly rate, but provide them with a total quote with hours in. Thx Dave

Try Steel Art in Canada or Day and Night Signs, both do a lot of work for TDH

I'm with Dominic, it is all about commitment by the individuals. Our installers are not union but the plant is. Being an ex union guy, i can see the benefits on both sides. As for the union training being more safe, i don't believe one way or the other. Every employee union or non union has the right to refuse unsafe work. Not only is it the duty of managers, and owners to train the installers/employees in the skills of the sign trade, but is also up to the individuals themselves to educate themeselves thru courses etc Dave

After spending many years of working in association with Cranes Unlimited in Canada and being friends with the Bradleys at Radocy. I can honestly say that the upper controls are one of smoothest and are reliable. I actually prefer operating a Radocy as a bucket truck than anything else. In the earlier days there was some minor problems with the rehostat controls, but now I believe have been corrected. Thanks Dave

As to the common sense thing, many years ago I sent two employees out to install a sign with the crane truck, along the way they did a side job to put a $100.00 in their pockets. Anyways they hit a hydro-line and almost died, our ministry of labour were called in to investigate, I explained to them that they shouldn't have been there, it didn't matter. Everyone was summoned to court, the employees had quit, but in court they received a suspended sentence. I got a $25,000 fine, I argued that it was common sense that you do not operate a crane around hydro lines. Ministry of Labour said that because I did not have weekly, documented safety meetings with the only two employees I had, stating not to operate cranes around hydro lines, i was responsible. Now I cover my butt, the new laws now state that an employee properly trained and warned can be dismissed without severence and also be penalized. Thats my experience with common sense. Dave

Elliotte has a short deck and a low payload, still I like it, the Skyhook has been around a long time and I know how to repair it. The same with the Warwick telelift , easy to repair and very reliable. Thanks Dave

We were looking at Service Ceo, but had not made a decision yet. Dave Teksign Inc.