I had this apprentice working with me a few years back. he insisted on playing the radio wide open . He couldn’t understand that after the 5-6 time that i lost my cool about it.(i did feel somewhat bad about it, cause it was his radio).now i have to provide the radios.
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I did one in with a hammer once. Does that count ?
anyway that the job get's done.Ican handle their crying.
I just unplug it and cut the cord at the plug.
Radio's used to shattter pretty easy-- until they came up with the DEwalt armored model.
I had a young guy who loved to play the radio to loud just to harass me. After speaking to him once to many times, I set a cube of 2 x 10 rafters on top of it. No more radio ,no more problem greg in rainy connecticut
All I got to say is, if it's too loud you're too old.:-)
Edited 3/26/2002 9:31:43 PM ET by DAVE_MASON
this question makes me remember the time while working for a friend/neighbor that the phone company guy showed up, grumpy because my friend's phone, which sat on a stump with a bucket over it to keep off the rain (his log house was under construction), evidently had a minor short (from moisture?) which for the second time had taken down a chunk of the local phone network. while the phone guy was ragging on my friend about his fricking phone, my friend walked over, picked up a sledge, and without saying a word calmly flattened the phone with a single blow. not really flattened, more like exploded. the phone guy's eyes got very large and he left. those of us who witnessed it took a while to quit laughing and I laught to think of it this many years later ...
I dont mind radios on site, but when the 'music' is very loud mindless crap, then I object. I usually start off by asking for it to be turned down and/or change that station. If it continues then I seriously thing about a permanent fix for the thing.
Wood Hoon
I've never had this problem,as long as I'm signing the checks everyone just seems to do what I ask.If I'd like the radio off, it just gets shut off by someone.
I would never damage someone elses property,If they refuse to do as I ask they're gone.
I think it's called being the boss
Vince Carbone
Edited 3/27/2002 6:20:41 AM ET by Vince Carbone
I think it is unprofessional to have music blaring on job sites. But I can't control other trades when it is at an offensive level. But super glue has many uses...
i work on a framing crew...and for some reason, the first tool that gets plugged in every day is the radio...and usually who ever plugs it in turns it up very loud... so one day my boss does waht ive always wanted to do...he walks up the stairs and drop kicks the radio....i was rollin on the floor
I have to say that being a one man show has it's advantages. I do plug the radio ("Mr. Music") in first usually. Years ago, I built a wooden box around it so it doesn't get damaged. This has also served as a step up several times and an occational breaktime seat. I am always very aware of who's around me and I don't turn the music loud. If I need to hear it 3 rooms away, I move it closer to me.
I use a walkman a lot too when I'm outside painting or up on ladders (exterior) because I don't think the neighborhood needs me to provide the soundtrack for them. When I had employees, I had a "One Ear Policy", which was walkman radios are ok but only use one earpeice (as a safety feature).
By-the-way, I'm not bitter about DeWalt taking my armor plated radio idea from me. For you see, I stold the idea too! Thanks to ya Craig!
David H. Polston
Founder, Sawdust Inc.
Mr music is the best... he provided many hours of entertainment on those hot summer days of deck building and house painting... However... this year at school in the boatshop me and some of the guys epoxied a CAKE Cd to its owners bench... the same 10 songs 4 times a day 5 days a week was enough to break anyone!
Had a guy who used to play the radio so loud you couldnt understand what it was playing. If it was a talk show you couldnt understand the guy. Well a nice pair of dikes solved that problem hehehehehe Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
I prefer a #10 Sledge. It takes care of noise problems when simple curtosey doesn't exist.
Also a NPR listener and supporter, so if the guys can't handle the classical guitar or jazz thats too bad. I just tell them that I pay $100 a year to listen to this station , and by golly I'm gonna get my moneys worth. :-)
Dave
As the boss, I hate radios on the job. They are a distraction and are therefore, a safety hazard. Besides, you can never get everyone to agree to one station. I usually tell my people they can listen to any station they like as long as it's not rap, country, soft or hard rock, r&b, easy listening, or talk shows. This usually works. And yes, I have kicked a radio across a room after repeated requests to turn it off.
I don't mind radios on the job if they're tuned to NPR or turned off. Andy Engel, Forum moderator
Gee Andy...I like my NPR and all their associate shows but around here they play funeral dirges from 9-4 when ATC starts.No Carl Hass for us.Which leaves us with about the same 25 rock songs(or 25 Country songs(Im an equal radio employer) all day.Usually broken up with loud annoying Car dealer ads.
My NPR station plays opera during the day. Nuh-uh. So I postpone working on my construction project until 3:00 when Fresh Air comes on, then I work through that money show after ATC. But I'm not working for a living, just fixing up my own house while I wait for the economy to improve so I can get a job again.
Problem is, now I developed this habit in secret while my husband was at work, so the weekend rolls around and he wonders why I'm not fixing his supper on a Saturday evening. Because I'm listening to Prairie Home Companion and figuring out how to frame a box for a bathtub! Put a chicken pot pie in the oven, honey, and leave me alone. It's time for news from Lake Wobegon.
I hear that Breese. Up here Prairie Home comes on at 10 a.m., so from 10 to noon the only time I get up out of my chair is to get another cup of coffee.
After awhile the kids start whining for me to turn it off, but I tell them the same thing I tell the guys at work.
Andy,
From one Andy to another bro......I agree.NPR totally rocks. Hope you listen to the Fordham University listener sponsered channel (if not I'll send you a link to their stream site.....you'll absolutly love it if you dig NPR). WFMU.....I'm a long time subscriber. I heard that NPR is in trouble for being a far leftist news show...cool! Not cool that they are in trouble but cool that they are THE people.
As for radios....The first thing I do if it doesnt effect my customer is turn on my battery chargin best invention worksite DeWalt radio to listen to......uhhhhh..sorry....HOWARD STERN in the morning. Been listin' to Howard for over 20 years each morning (as long as no customers are around...lol..duh) then comes WFMU a listener sponsered radio station outta the Bronx NY) . The RADIO has made my workin alone days in a 5x8 bathroom for five days....or.....an intense walk in closet gig with furnature grade workmanship thats takin me two weeks ($8500) a place thats kept me company. I'd NEVERRRRRRRR brake someones radio. Turn it off or down if its innapropriate or your fired on the spot!!! I'm the boss! Hot headed bosses shouldnt be bosses IMHO. It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
ANDY- I've listened to NPR for about 30 years, usually when working alone or when I was in the Art Glass biz with a partner. Unfortunately NPR wouldn't pass muster with 99.9% of the people I've been on jobsites with. Our local area affiliate, KPLU in Tacoma, has mostly Jazz programming (again, most tradespeople don't like it). Over the years have really enjoyed All Things Considered, Prairie Home Companion, Whaddya Know, Car Talk, Piano Jazz w/ Marian McPartlan.
Ken
Dave..Try WFUV.ORG stream. NPR news and fantastic new music. Weekend days are worthless though unless you like Galic music. Its a station out of the Bronx (Forham University) NY. Its not a college station. They just broadcast out of there.
Be well..Andy
PS...I never met an Eskimo before.cool!lol
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 3/30/2002 6:23:08 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
I never work with a radio or any other artificial sound source. I want to hear the sound made by the tool I'm using. Mostly it confirms that things are working right, but sometimes it can be the first warning that something's going wrong. Of course, it depends what you're using. I think it would be nuts to use a bottle jack without the ability to listen carefully, but if the tool is a paint brush or push broom, what could it hurt?
-- J.S.
Hi, John
I agree that there are many times when you really need to hear the work going on and the sound of the tools. Very good point about jacking!
Sometimes it's just plain relief to work with no radio going. Jobs where my coworkers insist on radio all day long, I request (and usually get) breaktime without it.
Ken
A place for everything bro's..ya know? I truley dont wanna hear me puttin up drywall or tile for the zillionth time. Just wanna hear tunes and real news......heard today a great new artist......Nora Jones....turns out shes Ravi Shankars daughter....(changed her last name).....music is so great to work alongside within a dull day.NPR is a great news source so all great things together IMHO = a great day of inspiration. Some days should be just of thy tools sounds.no dout! Lighten up homes.It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM