A Day in the Life of a New Metal Finishing Salesman #2

It has been one month since my last posting...and boy, was it a month!  I traveled to Concord, NC (some of you Nascar fans will know it as home to Lowe's Motor Speedway) to help put the finishing touches on a new chrome plating line.  One of my first tasks was filling baskets with nickel anodes.  I started as a novice basket loader, but left a pro. Who knew nickel could weigh so much?  I didn't, and I was happy to have the help of a fully operational hoist system!

I also became highly familiar with the inner workings of Flo-King pumps.  One was not functioning, so I sat down, tools in hand, and began the macgyver troubleshooting process.  After locating and removing an obstruction within the propeller casing, putting the contraption back together, and plugging it in, I was elated that my tinkering had paid off.  The pump was functioning properly and placed back into the semi-bright nickel tank from whence it came.

The biggest "wow factor" of the week would have had to be the addition of hydrochloric acid to water for the activation tank.  Although I didn't pay attention in my high school chemistry class, I most certainly kept my eyes glued to the chemical reaction taking place that day.  The massive cloud of gas i witnessed coming out of the tank reminded me of the one rule i did learn while awake during high school chemistry...always add an acid/base (thanks, Dustin) to water...never vice versa. 

Since returning to Forest City, NC after my Concord field trip, it has been back to work as usual at Finishing Market.  I have a better understanding as to what I'm selling.  When I list an item for sale online, I know which measurements need to be taken and how descriptive I need to be of the product.  I even got into the modeling business while listing tyvek coveralls.  As for the forklifting, my cousin says I might be able to receive my forklift operator's diploma in the near future...I think i have to maneuver a large, heavy rectifier around some traffic cones or something to that effect.  Oh, what a day in the life!!  

Last edited by UNC-Tarheel (10/21/2008 - 06:55 PM)