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Plumb bobs are not common anymore

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norm-larson
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Our crews are in the field and the schedule guy forgot that we had an appointment to punch some monuments. That is bad, but, isn't the point. These are in hand wells (cases) so we had to find a plumb bob in the office and I know that there are plenty, but, we couldn't find a one. Yes, Plumb Barbara is one the job today... After 20 years of being a decoration. Hellofa Friday so far

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 9:58 am
nate-the-surveyor
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I am a supporter of 2nd amendment rights. To openly carry my plumb bob. I have a whole story on how to set one up. (The gammon real etc) It's good.
N

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 10:10 am
Crashbox
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I still carry one, though I now haul a 16-ounce one versus my old 24-ouncer which I semi-retired recently. I find I don't use it nearly as much as I used to, but it is nonetheless an essential tool for me. My co-worker opts not to carry one unless absolutely necessary, usually upon my request on a case-by-case basis.

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 10:16 am
a-harris
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I upgraded my helper's plumb bob yesterday by putting prismatic reflective tape on the backside of his gammon reel.
B-)

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 10:36 am
norm-larson
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She's back now, her work complete


Image stolen without permission from site shown on picture

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 10:44 am

paden-cash
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I still "carry" occasionally.

I was asked to remove it once a few years ago by a local off-duty police officer when I entered the lobby of my bank....fuggin' schmuck...

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 11:21 am
RPlumb314
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paden cash, post: 363021, member: 20 wrote: I still "carry" occasionally.

I was asked to remove it once a few years ago by a local off-duty police officer when I entered the lobby of my bank....fuggin' schmuck...

Puts me in mind of a story told by Ed, a hard-drinking instrument man from the crew I worked on in 1967.

Ed and a fellow surveyor were seated at the bar in a roadside tavern. As usual, they had come directly from work, so they were still wearing their plumb bobs in their sheaths.

Ed noticed that it was a beautiful, varnished mahogany bar. Having finished three beers and started on a fourth, he pulled out his plumb bob, held it up, and asked the other surveyor, "How far do you think I could stick this plumb bob into the bar?" The bartender watched them suspiciously.

Ed waited until the bartender had moved down the bar to draw a beer for another customer, and was looking the other way. He unscrewed the steel tip from the plumb bob and balanced the tip-less brass bob on the bar. Then he slammed his hand down to make a noise.

The bartender came charging over and saw what looked like a plumb bob driven a half inch into the polished mahogany. He didn't appreciate the joke, even after Ed showed him. He threw both surveyors out. Ed was used to that, and by that time he had finished his fourth beer.

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 12:15 pm
paul-in-pa
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Yeah, but did they pay for the beer?

Paul in PA

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 12:21 pm
skwyd
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My field crews wouldn't know how to use a plumb bob, even if they carried it daily. And it drives me nuts sometimes because I'll come out to some job where they are surveying and I'll think that I want to use a plumb bob to check something (because I still know how to use one) and none of them have one. And mine is on my belt, languishing in my garage at home...

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 12:47 pm
paden-cash
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skwyd, post: 363031, member: 6874 wrote: ...And mine is on my belt, languishing in my garage at home...

I use to have a spare plumb bob, sheathed on a leather belt and stored in the back of the last full size suburban I ever had. One day I got it out to use it and realized there was absolutely no way that belt was going to fit around my fat ass...

years go by swiftly...

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 12:50 pm

jimmy-cleveland
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paden cash, post: 363033, member: 20 wrote: I use to have a spare plumb bob, sheathed on a leather belt and stored in the back of the last full size suburban I ever had. One day I got it out to use it and realized there was absolutely no way that belt was going to fit around my fat ass...

years go by swiftly...

Don't ya hate it when those darn belts shrink???:-P

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 1:04 pm
Williwaw
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There was a stretch in the late 90's I rarely ever carried a range pole/prism setup. Shot just about everything using a peanut prism hanging on a plumb bob string and gammon reel. Got line on the string and turned the gun up to prism to get the shot. Could do layout with it faster it seems by getting line and a come or go and whipping out the pocket tape. Wasn't carrying elevations so didn't care too much about the HR. That plumb bob and gammon reel is still sitting in it's well worn leather sheath in the milk crate behind the drivers seat in my rig in case I need it, but I don't carry it like I use to.

Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 1:14 pm
ddsm
 ddsm
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Norm Larson, post: 363015, member: 7899 wrote: She's back now, her work complete

I try and let Plumb Barbara rest at home...I will take her daughter, Plumb Brandi, out in the field.


(Stolen photo...lol)

DDSM:beer:

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 1:33 pm
norm-larson
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Yours has clothes!!! Mine both look like the stolen photo. I guess I didn't realize there was a PC version

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 1:43 pm
RPlumb314
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Paul in PA, post: 363029, member: 236 wrote: Yeah, but did they pay for the beer?

Paul in PA

Very good question. The bartender might have forgotten to collect for it in his excitement.

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 1:52 pm

ddsm
 ddsm
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Norm Larson, post: 363056, member: 7899 wrote: Yours has clothes!!! Mine both look like the stolen photo. I guess I didn't realize there was a PC version

Norm,
I have one of each...Barbara I show adults and Brandi for the kids...

Tried making Barbara some clothes out of flagging and duck tape...but failed.

Maybe you could whip up a 3d printer outfit?

DDSM:beer:

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 2:06 pm
norm-larson
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Yes, I have 3D printed girls before ... Latte swizzles for a bikini barista stand anyone?

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 2:15 pm
skwyd
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paden cash, post: 363033, member: 20 wrote: I use to have a spare plumb bob, sheathed on a leather belt and stored in the back of the last full size suburban I ever had. One day I got it out to use it and realized there was absolutely no way that belt was going to fit around my fat ass...

years go by swiftly...

And that's problem number two... I can see where the belt is comfortably worn in at the place where it used to fit around me. Now, there's no chance of that belt going to those holes when it is around my waist.

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 2:28 pm
a-harris
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I've never been comfortable wearing a belt of tools or putting tools on my belt.

Everyone I've worked with has lost every tape, phone, data collector or whatever they had clipped to their belt. A backtrack search found most of the stuff and not nearly all of it.

My method is to put plumb bob holder, machete sheath and a couple of button down or velcro covered pouches for nails, flagging, tapes and such on an extra long belt or strap and throw it over my shoulder to carry and hang on a branch along the way.

I keep two 16oz plumb bobs with 12ft gammon reels, one with me and another in my truck.

:plumbbob::plumbbob:

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 3:56 pm
anonymous
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I still carry mine, it's attached to my field bag.
12 oz, enough oomph to drive tacks, clouts.
I have about 2.4 metres string and it makes a fantastic Bolas for those times I need to pull garden shrubs aside and tie off when they interfere with line of site. Works very well.
Years ago I jumped into the F-250 my boss had who being a lead foot sank the throttle and launched us towards our next set up.
Unfortunately the plumb bob string was still outside the vehicle, wrapped around some gorse whilst the brass works was secured on my belt!
Thankfully it separated from the plumb bob without too much fuss. I can still remember the thwump as the cord left the vehicle.

 
Posted : March 18, 2016 3:59 pm

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