Bits ‘n Pieces – The Driller’s Blog

Who would have thought a few months ago at the beginning of this year and this decade, that COVID-19 would impact so much of our lives? We had all heard about it, but it seemed far away. Now it has landed in just about every country and in everyone’s life. It has had a huge impact on so many industries such as healthcare, but how is it impacting the world of drilling and mining? We talked to a few sources to find out.

Oftentimes, while I am visiting a customer, I will see a new helper struggling to carry some of the heavy loads that are common on the drill site. Additive pails, core boxes filled with core – they all weigh a lot.  This happens to young guys who are fit and train often at the gym and they are annoyed and puzzled by how hard it is to carry heavy things.

Some of the things that have made Fordia successful are our customer service and our willingness to listen to customers. Our goal is make driller’s’ lives easier and that applies to every part of their work life. Our new web site was recently revamped and one of the goals was to make it a better resource for our drilling community. How did we do that, you may ask?

We’re taking some time during this holiday season to chat with Rod McCoremick, our resident blogger, about how he came to be a diamond driller. Leveraging his more than 20 years in the industry, Rod is an old-hand who has been writing about the challenges of the industry, and providing tips, advice and general information we think would be of interest to the diamond drilling community.

The holidays have arrived and many of us will have some time to celebrate with friends and family. Whether you’ve had a rough time dealing with core washout, or drilling in sandy conditions, the holiday period is a time to put those thoughts away and relax and enjoy some good food and drink.

Yesterday, August 26 was National Dog Day – yes there really is a day dedicated to dogs. I realized that many diamond drillers, and people in general, own a dog or owned one in the past. With no disrespect to cats, dogs are considered our best friend. They have evolved from wolves to become domesticated companions, displaying an unwavering loyalty and unconditional love. WE have domesticated dogs and kept them as pets for over 12,000 years. So in honour of the day, let’s look at 15 facts about dogs that you may not have known.

INTRODUCTION:

Some people are simply mosquito magnets. In the summer months they are the ones who are endlessly bitten and around whom mosquitos seem to swarm. So if you are a diamond driller who is working on a remote job in the bush, the summer months can be a real pain if the mosquitos love you. While there are many mosquito repellents are available on the market, a lot of them contain chemical ingredients that some people and children may be sensitive to. If you are sensitive to ingredients like DEET and you attract mosquitos, you may think you have to suffer through the summer. Luckily, there are some effective natural ways to keep mosquitos away.

Spring is arriving (at least in the northern hemisphere) and many drillers will soon be dusting off the BBQs, digging them out of the ice, and refilling tanks with propane in preparation for the new BBQ season. In a previous blog, we already covered how to grill the perfect hamburger, and we covered tips on salmon fishing so it only makes sense to look at how to grill a fish like an expert, once you've caught one

Whether you work in diamond drilling or another industry, we all face some misconceptions about our jobs. For me, it appears that when people ask what I do and I tell them I’m a diamond driller, there are always false assumptions and some confusion. Maybe it’s because it is not a well-known industry in general but I find myself repeating the same corrections. In this week’s blog, I thought it would be interesting to look at the most common myths about diamond drilling.

For us guys who like to go to the gym after finishing a shift of diamond drilling, there’s nothing worse than forgetting some key grooming product that you need. Most guys will remember their towel, gym clothes and exercise stuff, but once you’re done and ready to meet up with friends, you may have forgotten some stuff that you have at home. So here’s a nice of items you should have in your gym bag at all times.