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| Refractory lining |
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This month I have been working on the maintenance of the refractory lining of industrial furnaces.
Rather than the tasks to be completed (removing deteriorated surfaces, shuttering and pouring of refractory concrete), the hardest part of this job was the working environment: temperatures warmer than usual, low height of the furnace and almost permanent need to use a mask. |
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| A garden over concrete |
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| I have just quit my job in construction safety today to take part in a new project for the next two or three weeks: building a garden on the flat roof of a parking. |
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| A tunnel |
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| I have a new job. At present I am working in a tunnel for rail traffic. I am building the in situ concrete slab of the railway track. |
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| Training |
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I am following a course on construction site safety to upgrade competencies gained on-the-job (and because it is almost mandatory if I want to go on in the sector too).
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| Job done |
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My contract job finishes this week. As the structure is almost ready and it has been built well in time, the work overload (the reason for me to be hired) has decreased.
I have been trained into the most important safety techniques in a construction site and have had the opportunity to use some new machines.
Now I'll take some days for myself and next... well, it is too soon yet and it does not depend completely on me to say what comes next.
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| Support structure for kiwi vines (coda) |
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As the kiwifruits have grown and the first stormy winds and showers have arrived, the support structure shows sturdiness. |
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| Construction safety |
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I have joined a new company. I work in the building of an airport terminal.
So there I am, attached to a harness, dealing with guardrails and safety nets. |
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| Tiles and bricks |
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I have been traveling around Europe working with tiles and bricks for the last five months. Many thanks to all the kind people I have met these days at restaurants and hotels and at workplace. I have been at Kortrijk (Belgium), Varna (Bulgaria), Le Havre (France) and Madrid (Spain). My tasks ranged from the most basic (cleaning, carrying materials, preparing mortar) to the more elaborated of cutting tiles or building in-door brick walls.
I have not reached an agreement on the frequency of travels back home so I face myself with the difficult task of finding a job again. |
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| Support structure for kiwi vines (and IV) |
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Fixing and finishing!
1. Steel strips 6 x 1 cm, 50 cm length are cut. Two holes bored on each side and finally U-bent to fit beam and pole on both sides.
2. Each beam is then fixed to the pole using screws.
3. Plant stems are left over the frame.
4. Contact surface is protected with textile (dust sheets here). |
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| Support structure for kiwi vines (III) |
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Support structure
1. Old structure (metal) is partially removed and picked up using a tractor.
2. Holes (40cm diameter, 90cm depth) are digged in 3 rows at a distance of 2m from one another.
3. Poles are leveled and retained with stones compacted with a sledgehammer. Finally some mud is added.
4. Beams brought up over the poles top.
5. Rafters over the beams. |
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| Support structure for kiwi vines (II) |
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Formwork
Perhaps this process can be called casting indeed.
1. A mould is built out of lumber. Here I use units 2.5x10cm , 2.5m length.
2. A first layer of concrete is poured into, then rebars (10mm diameter) are dipped in. Finally another layer of concrete is poured until reaching the upper top of the mould.
3. I use no release agent: a higher level of roughness is expected, if too much I would apply a thin layer of mortar after deshuttering.
4. Left at least 20 days for curing. |
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| Support structure for kiwi vines (I) |
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Some tools
Tape meter
Shovel
Concrete mixer
Hammer
Bubble level
Pincer
Angle grinder
Drill
A multi-function one: a tractor. This time a bucket is attached |
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