I was told "never use your plumb bob as a hammer". The year would have been about 1970. Then, the boss, (dad) proceeded to use his to set nails in witness trees.
We even learned which plumb bobs could take it, and which ones would "come apart". Ones with a light steel cap were best. Ones with a heavy brass cap were worst. We'd knock the threads off of the brass only ones.
To use as a hammer, wrap the string around your finger twice. Then, put the bob point toward your body. Hit the nail, so that the weight of the bob is about equal, on both sides of the nail, and the sharp point is towards you.
I've even heard of people no longer carrying a plumb bob. How can they tell "what's up", without a plumb bob?
Well, I love my bob. Don't bury me with it when I die. But, don't try to take it away from me before then either. The lowly plumb bob is my friend.
Nate
My plumb bob has several small crescents around it from me "not using it as a hammer".?ÿ Sorry.?ÿ Sometimes it's just the handiest thing to use.
The one "no-no" that is so very detrimental is using a plumb bob as a pick or digging tool.?ÿ I don't know how many times I've seen a tip sheared off from someone prying on something with the plumb bob.?ÿ The points are brittle steel.?ÿ
I still have a pointed dental tool for removing the threaded part of the point.?ÿ It's a teejus chore.
I have the bob I got in 76. It looks like a custom finish from decades of driving tacks. I have a 32 ounce that I occasionally use as a hammer for real nails but the old 16 doesn't cut it..
Somewhere there is a retirement home full of Plumb Bob's sitting around playing checkers and telling stories of the humans who once were their friends but have gone on to that big boundary survey in the sky.?ÿ Can't layout proper streets of gold without a few surveyors to tell the others how they are doing it wrong.
Them fella's from Arkansas have a hard time using the right tool for the job...
What's a plumb bob?
Been working as a surveyor for 2 years. Never used one. Boss always has one in case he needs it.
I used to have one hanging in the office to use when finding the center of the Earth. Then one day I needed the string to make a bookmark.
Thanks @Dave Karoly.
I'm using an Apple Phone. I don't like this thing. Cannot figure out how to copy the links. I think its malfunctioning.
Nate
I was told "never use your plumb bob as a hammer". The year would have been about 1970. Then, the boss, (dad) proceeded to use his to set nails in witness trees.
We even learned which plumb bobs could take it, and which ones would "come apart". Ones with a light steel cap were best. Ones with a heavy brass cap were worst. We'd knock the threads off of the brass only ones.
To use as a hammer, wrap the string around your finger twice. Then, put the bob point toward your body. Hit the nail, so that the weight of the bob is about equal, on both sides of the nail, and the sharp point is towards you.
I've even heard of people no longer carrying a plumb bob. How can they tell "what's up", without a plumb bob?
Well, I love my bob. Don't bury me with it when I die. But, don't try to take it away from me before then either. The lowly plumb bob is my friend.
Nate
I rarely use it because most everything is done with the prism pole and bipod??but when you need the plumb bob you really need it. There isn??t really another option? I??ve never used it as a hammer though.
I remember one day a few years ago when I was an I man the boss called my crew chief and asked if he had a plumb bob? Chief said ??is this a trick question?? Turned out one crew couldn??t get a shot on something because they didn??t have one. My chief answered ??I always have and always will have a working plumb bob and peanut prism?. Lol. The boss said okay good.?ÿ
Thanks @Dave Karoly.
I'm using an Apple Phone. I don't like this thing. Cannot figure out how to copy the links. I think its malfunctioning.
Nate
I picked the worst time to also switch to an iPhone. Now I??m learning to a new field software, data collector, robot, gps and cell phone all in the same month.?ÿ
Tried the iPhone because I was having multiple issues with my oneplus 8 pro android phone and my fianc?? and her family all have iPhones so it??s convenient in some ways. 12 years using Android makes it a hard switch though. I should have tried Samsung instead.?ÿ
As a young chainman I got pretty good quick-drawing my plumb bob and sticking it in trees and utility poles. A fun diversion but also a good way to break the tip off a bob if you don't hit the target square. If you can't get the threaded shank out of the bob then you have to put it in the bed of the truck and it will rattle loose by the time you get back to the office.
