Old-timer in Odessa told me my swing was too fast, he was right

Last month I was on a job outside Odessa, TX and this retired operator, Lou, watched me do a few lifts from the cab. He said I was bringing the load around way too hot, that I was going to slam a concrete panel into a column. I slowed my swing speed down by about 20 percent, using the friction brake more deliberately, and now the load barely drifts even in that west Texas wind. Anyone else get that same feedback early on and have to fight the habit of cranking the swing lever?

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amy9741mo ago

Lou sounds like he knows his stuff. Reminds me of a welding instructor I had who yelled at me for pushing the gun too fast, said I was making cold lap. I thought he was just being a grump until I slowed down and the beads started laying down perfect. Funny how the old guys always spot the same bad habit in everyone. Took me a full week to unlearn the speed thing, my arm kept wanting to rush. Now I catch myself doing the same thing with my truck when I'm towing, gotta ease into the brakes or the whole rig starts swaying. Some lessons just carry over to everything.