A cook was the member of a structural steel riveting gang responsible for heating solid steel rivets in a coal or coke forge until they reached a glowing cherry red. Once the rivet hit the exact right temperature, the cook tossed it through the air to the catcher, who placed it in the hole for the riveting gun. If the cook overheated the rivet, the steel would spark and become brittle.
Heard on the job
Tell the cook to hold off on heating the next batch until we get this beam aligned.
Insider tip
This role disappeared from steel erection when high-strength bolts and welding replaced hot riveting.
Also heard as
- heater
- rivet heater