Installing a pier (Operator’s Log, Entry 005, 1/4/2026)
They say you can only have two: good, fast, or cheap. The boss told us to make him proud but “get in and get out.” That meant we were aiming for good and fast. Of course, he also mentioned we were over budget before we even turned a wrench, which meant he actually wanted all three. I didn’t have a genie in my back pocket to make that wish come true, so we just had to rely on grit.
Our task was replacing a pier inside a factory after a forklift had splintered the bottom five feet of it. This wasn’t a cut-and-dry swap. We jacked up the main horizontal beam, and for a moment, the upper section of the pier just floated there—eerily held in place by nothing but friction, temporary posts, and a prayer.
We’d pre-built a replacement post using 2x8s and plywood, but the real challenge was the armor: large C-channel steel that had to fit like a glove. The sparks were flying as we hit the steel with the hot saw. We “dog-eared” the front, which was easy enough, but the backbone had to clear an angled brace. That meant bending the steel—two 90s and a 45—to match the profile perfectly.
I say all this because “good” wasn’t optional; this pier held thousands of pounds over our heads. Failure meant the roof coming down. We tried for “fast,” but between the rips, the pre-drilling, and an oxygen cylinder running dry right in the middle of the heat, time was slipping away.
When it finally came time to set it, we dry-fit the channel and started reaming holes for ten massive bolts. We were pulling them tight when they started bottoming out. “More washers!” I yelled. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the boss and the client negotiating. I couldn’t hear the final numbers, but the client was staring at that custom-bent C-channel with a look of genuine impression.
We didn’t hit “cheap,” and we weren’t exactly “fast,” but the work was undeniable. The boss didn’t complain once, which in our world, is the highest form of praise. He got the compliment from the client, and he saw we didn’t even stop for lunch.
The building is still standing firm. I’d call that a job well done. Sometimes, when the boss stays quiet, that’s your cue to pat yourself on the back. So that’s exactly what I’m doing.
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