Why a person is called "chain-head" who needs to have "sand to make a hand"?
Why a person is called "chain-hand" who needs to have "sand to make a hand"?

It's a passage from a book about hard life on a drilling rig.

The chain-hand is the man saddled with most of the schooling, and he knows all too well that the new guy will probably not be back tomorrow. Orientation was kept to a minimum until the prospect shows signs that he’s got the sand to make a hand. If a weevil lasts long enough to collect his first paycheck, the odds increase significantly that he’ll become a roughneck.

Question

Why a person is called "chain-head" who needs to have "sand to make a hand"?
Why a person is called "chain-hand" who needs to have "sand to make a hand"?

It's a passage from a book about hard life on a drilling rig.

The chain-hand is the man saddled with most of the schooling, and he knows all too well that the new guy will probably not be back tomorrow. Orientation was kept to a minimum until the prospect shows signs that he’s got the  sand to make a hand. If a weevil lasts long enough to collect his first paycheck, the odds increase significantly that he’ll become a roughneck.

Answer

“Hand” as used here means a worker, somebody who does a job with their hands.  I don’t know what a “chain-hand” is, but I guess his job somehow involves chains.  “Got the sand” means “has the grit/determination/guts” to become a “hand” — a good worker on the team.

Answer

Thank you!

Answer

"Chain hand", "sand to make a hand" - these are very non-standard English. Some occupations where workers are isolated from the cultural mainstream develop their own customs and jargon. The jargon is often incomprehensible to outsiders - the rest of us. In your passage I suspect the writer is reporting or imagining such a distinct, unusual workplace language.  I have never heard or seen these terms used in these ways; I would advise against using them yourself in any other context!  I hope this helps.

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