Flag throwing

**scap** · April 17th, 2009, 08:07 PM

How many of you guys throw flags, instead of put them in the ground manually? I used to put them in manually, then I learned how to throw them..now I wanna flag everything lol...I get out my truck and have a bundle of flags for cable tv, which are orange..and my bundle of flags for phone, which are white...that sit on my left and right beltloops, respectively...this works 100% better than any kind of super -vest flag holding bullshit unless you really find a very nice vest........

these days,after I throw down paint and just flag everything...i flagged a damn residential telephone service line today (was flagging 2 separate ducts) that fed a shitbox trailer. There was a stake right next to where the svc went, so I flagged it (long power pole installation job, coupled with installation of a water main, and soon to be gas main relocation and roadway improvements due to hurricane fund money and kip's "green lighting" ...)

I'll never forget when one of the Florida guys, Hollywood Jerry saved my ass with an old phone flag in a yard....He flagged a main in a backyard my 3rd month in, and I was just showing up to the ticket when they smoked the 100 pair...I wasn't liable though because he flagged it. Flags have saved my ass on more than one occassion

**RD_Wrangler** · April 17th, 2009, 08:47 PM

Scap, man how long you been locating that you just learned how to sling a flag? I guess I spent too much time playing chicken with knives and flinging target blades growing up. I was throwing flags half-way through my first day.

That's why the idea of plastic flags gives me the willies.

**beyond help** · April 17th, 2009, 09:06 PM

I fling my plastic phone flags. In the deep snow of winter that is.

**6feetunder** · April 17th, 2009, 10:02 PM

Flinging'em in the ground is the only way to go once you know how. I learned that in the first month from my mentor. The only time I manually put them in is when I have a project and want the flags to stay in place for a long time.

**scap** · April 18th, 2009, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by RD_Wrangler

Scap, man how long you been locating that you just learned how to sling a flag? I guess I spent too much time playing chicken with knives and flinging target blades growing up. I was throwing flags half-way through my first day.

That's why the idea of plastic flags gives me the willies.

Heh, we got a few guys who did that when they first started...but now they don't even use flags at all, it's pretty ironic..but like the last guy said, throwing them definately is ideal

Ours are long metal flags, not huge like the water co's flags, but not tiny.

imo flag throwing would be a kosher locate rodeo event. they should add it.....

'throw three at once, land each flag within the boundaries of the duct run dots' (3 dots, 3 flags)

**RD_Wrangler** · April 18th, 2009, 08:29 AM

Oooooh yeah. Complete with crushed beer cans to throw them through as well! Extra points if they go through the can and go at least an inch in the soil.

**scap** · April 18th, 2009, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by RD_Wrangler

Oooooh yeah. Complete with crushed beer cans to throw them through as well! Extra points if they go through the can and go at least an inch in the soil.

This guy would make a good flag thrower

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1bDVidSXY

I want that dude flagging my roadjobs

**yahoo** · April 18th, 2009, 07:40 PM

you know my stand on throwing flags scap!!!! hate it!!!!

**scap** · April 24th, 2009, 09:55 PM

Yahoo you should love flagging!
/plonks flags at your feet

**NINJA** · April 25th, 2009, 06:34 PM

I use to be so good at throwing flaggs I once tagged a pigmy rattle snake now that was one hell of a throw..............

**Mke** · April 27th, 2009, 09:07 AM

I'll throw if i'm flagging a job out in our industrial area, but on the airfield its a no-no to use flags unless they are in the ground a minimum of 6'' . I can't throw them into the ground that deep.

mke

**Mr. Pittsburgh** · April 27th, 2009, 10:11 PM

I have seen where locators sling flags and they are 6 to 10 inches off their original paint markings. Honestly, what good is slinging a flag if it is not accurate? Losing the paint to a hard rain and you have flags that... Well I am sure you get my drift.

**RD_Wrangler** · April 27th, 2009, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Pittsburgh

I have seen where locators sling flags and they are 6 to 10 inches off their original paint markings. Honestly, what good is slinging a flag if it is not accurate? Losing the paint to a hard rain and you have flags that... Well I am sure you get my drift.

If that's the case, those locators suck at slinging flags, lol!

You're right. If you can't hit the mark, and make it deep enough to stay, DON'T THROW!

**wet_boots101** · April 29th, 2009, 12:34 PM

...used to call it "ninja starring" the flags (no reference to our friend Ninja here, but that WAS a nice shot hitting a rattler~!)

And yeah, you'd better be accurate or you're going back - pulling 'em all out - and redoing the flags all over again, IMHO.

**GPGrasshopper** · April 29th, 2009, 09:42 PM

Throwing them is only way to go. To hell with all that bending over all day. Of course you do need to get the right flags. The plastic ones SUCK. The metal ones are great unless they are the really long ones like the water guys and some of the gas companies use. When you throw those, they just bounce off.