Hi Dan No these were welded up in the boiler Makers Workshop when I did my Apprenticeship I spent 6 months there. We used to weld 4 together at a time that was a length which fitted into a coal skip for transportation underground. Cutting the ends out was quite inflammable at times because they had oil residue left inside. Welding up the ends needed sometimes to have a 7 pound hammer on hand for these drums were knocked about a fair bit. The four section drums were joined together underground by rubber tubing pulled over the gaps thus making a long tube from which dust was extracted from the work face. Very dusty noisy and dirty underground and at 750 feet down and miles of tunnels everywhere an interesting experience for a young guy then. If welding or cutting had to take place the area was tested for gas and the total area was covered with stone dust to prevent fires from happening. But I must say I really enjoyed my time there for my father grandfather and I worked there. Talk to you about it sometime.
Regards Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Rossi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 11:50 PM Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Cutting Circles in Sheet Metal > Ray, > > Just a quick comment. you were talking about cutting the ends out of > steel drums and then welding them together to make vacuum lines for coal > dust. Well, welding around a bunch of coal dust must have made for some > exciting times. > > You must have some interesting stories about working in the mines. > > -- > Blue skies. > Dan Rossi > Carnegie Mellon University. > E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Tel: (412) 268-9081 >
