Nothing brings folks together like running electricity

Nothing brings folks together like running water, electric, and HVAC lines in, plus raw sewage out.



Today's episode involves duct banks. Housed in PVC and encased in rebar reinforced concrete - underground duct banks make nice homes for 16000 Volt plus cables. The big fat kind that may arc flash and blow you to little bittie pieces. The kind that leave people looking for burnt embers to remember you by. So the specs on electrical duct banks are pretty tight... For more info on the safety for electricians go to OSHA's site



Anyhow, that's not really our deal - we prepare the lines. The prep work for duct banks may be done in the ditch or occasionally outside - really depends on the stretch being laid.

Helpful tools:
1) Tie wire and pliers - connect any overlapping seams, tie the pipe to the plastic seats, tie the rebar to the rebar and to the plastic seats... basically if it seems like it might wiggle free tie it down with plenty of tie wire.

2) Pipe primer and glue - here is a great video on glueing and priming PVC pipe

3) Sledge hammer and 2x4" beater block - especially with the larger lines 12"+ These lines may take a beating to get into place. Don't hit the plastic directly - it may snap - rail the back of a 2x4.

Real art rests in our streets

"The art is IN the walls"
—Sally Mann

So spoke Sally Mann upon exiting the gallery. I have never heard a more accurate summary of an exhibit. While some acclaimed "artist" had draped some dreadfully dreary rags along the wall, Mrs. Mann spent her time studying the lay of the sheet rock, the joinery along the edges of the wall. An exceptional builder had framed and remodeled the gallery. A perceptive eye, Mrs. Mann saw under the sloppy tripe to the beauty beneath - where 2x4 studs and 16 penny nails sculpted a gracious and human space. The real art rested in the walls.

There is no one word in any Aboriginal language for the term 'art'. Art forms are viewed as an integral part of life and the celebration of life. —Penny Tripcony

Art - the word now used of toothpaste spills came from a glorious Roman past - Ars - meaning skill or craft. It may be applied to any action that requires skill - as such many of the greatest artists I have ever known work in the field of construction. Industrial artists of the third millennium - greater civilization is their craft - indoor plumbing, electricity, running water. Trademarks of the work, the ars, of our land.

Those two 24" water mains running like Tron characters through a ditch line - those are pieces of modern industrial art. High art. Pure art. More whimsy than you can shake a stick at. The real art rests in our streets. Trackhoes and shovels are our paintbrushes. Earth is our medium. And back to work.