We were setting piles for a house build, and the boss told me to use recycled steel that looked rusty. I mean, I know it saves cash, but that stuff can fail under load. I pushed back and said we should use new materials for safety. He called me difficult and gave the work to another guy. Now I see they went ahead with the old steel. Maybe it's just me, but risking a collapse over a few bucks feels wrong.
I nearly had a serious incident after my fabricated lead extension flexed under load. This deflection can compromise pile alignment and operator safety if not caught early. How do you stress test your custom components to ensure they handle job site forces?