Old timer at the refinery showed me something I'll never forget

I was working a turnaround at a chemical plant in Baton Rouge about 6 years ago. This guy named Jerry, must have been pushing 70, just walks over while I'm struggling with a tight header flange. He didn't say a word, just handed me a beat up crescent wrench and pointed at a particular bolt. Turns out I was going in the wrong order and binding the whole thing up. He just nodded and walked off after I got it. Has anyone else had an old hand save their butt without even really talking to you?

3 comments

3 Comments

charliestone4d ago

Did that old timer even explain why you were supposed to go in that order, or did he just expect you to figure it out on your own? I've run into plenty of guys like that who act like they're passing down ancient secrets but just leave you guessing half the time. Half the time they're showing you some random trick they learned forty years ago that doesn't even apply anymore with modern tools and flanges. Sometimes all that silent wisdom is just them not wanting to actually train anybody properly.

brian3283d ago

@charliestone probably thinks torque specs are just a suggestion.

viola_ward4d ago

Found asking "teach me like I'm five" got a lot more out of them.