On the job metal

[BaldLoonie]

I stopped by a furnace swap to see how Rick was doing. I was so impressed by his metal, out came the digital. Our guys do metal right at the job, we don't have a shop. He wasn't done, we will run a flue pipe to the liner :)

http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hvactalk/176120_metal1.jpg

Each install team can pull a trailer with a brake in it. Some take the brake out, others hop in the trailer.

http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hvactalk/176121_metal2.jpg

Here's his workbench. On a fantastic late summer afternoon, excellent working conditions. Beats the stuffy house!

http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hvactalk/176122_metal3.jpg

[absrbrtek]

Very clean looking job.

[jdh]

Nice quality work

[Servicepro]

Hey baldie

What size is the trailer? I am in the process of getting one
probably 4' x 8'. How do the guys like them?


Regards
Servicepro

[extremeair]

im playing, wow we have a 10x6 trailer and ive always said a break would be a nice thing to have in there.Nice hey why u put the air cleaner on the supply.

[muskie770]

nice job, need to throw a portable lockformer in that trailer.

[mayguy]

YEah.. Why the Air Fitler in the supply run?????????



This furnace something new?? "Pick your Effencey!" "Flip of a swich you get 80% or 90%!" :-)

[Servicepro]

......by looking at the vent connector sticking out of the top of the furnace..this is a downflow!

[BaldLoonie]

We now have 3 of those trailers, they are 5x10.

The furnace is a sealed combustion 80% model. Vents like any 80 but has the capability of pulling in combustion air from another location, in this case the attic. The furnace is in a hall closet so rather than use heated house air and cause more infiltration, we pipe attic air in for combustion.

And yes, the Pro is right, it is a downflow furnace. We gots us oodles of them around here. Where I grew up, everyone had a basement. I didn't know what they were either!

[roger g]

I have always liked trailers for a multitude of uses.I've attached tarps to the back of trailers for shelter from rain snow and sun. Always wanted to do what you have done but never seemed to be able to do it for some stupid reason. Do you lockform a bunch of metal in advance and then cut to fit or do you have a lockformer hidden from view?
roger

[Timber]

hey baldie

I want to start making my own plenums

Can you give me a list of all the tools necessary to make plenums.
That looks very nice.
Do yall insulate the inside or outside.
How much would I have to invest.

Thanks
Mike

[BaldLoonie]

Only machine we have is the brake. We buy sheets of metal, S-lock & drives and the boys cut & fold as needed. That plenum is uninsulated. In the garage we use reflectix type externally.

[Timber]

any suggestions on a brand and size brake for a beginner.

And loonie, what is that sticking up in the first pic, looks like a long handle ...............

[rayr]

Tennsmith 4' 24 ga. finger brake will do for openers.

We have 8' 16 ga. brake, 4' finger brake, 52" 16 ga. power sheer, Lockformer, numerous rollers. (make 18 ga. round pipe) Looking for a used Duct Master.

[Green Mountain]

Originally posted by rayr
Tennsmith 4' 24 ga. finger brake will do for openers.

We have 8' 16 ga. brake, 4' finger brake, 52" 16 ga. power sheer, Lockformer, numerous rollers. (make 18 ga. round pipe) Looking for a used Duct Master.

rayr knows twice around the world's ass about sheet metal then I do. We bought a used Cybermation system to do the lay out work. It cost 30k but so far it has been worth its weight in gold.

I guess we need a cheek bender now. Rayr. do you know of any around? The best I have come up with is $600. What should I look for in buying one? Is there any advantage or disadvantage in a 18" over a 24"?

PS: the Eagles suck.




[Edited by benncool on 09-19-2003 at 10:30 PM]

[rayr]

Definetly 24" Ben. They save a lot of time when bending plemum cheeks & with todays short furnaces the plenums can get pretty tall.

[Edited by rayr on 09-20-2003 at 09:08 AM]

[sonc]

I used to carry a 24" hand brake in my rezi daze. Very handy for quick plenums on site ,or a-coil faceplates,etc. I'd carry 30" sheets with a "pittsburgh" on each end. brake weighed 4 lbs.

[Tempted]

Are those snap-locked together? How did he do that? If there not, how did he make them?
I have a break and stomp shear, and I'm open for some education on how to fasten it together.
Man, thats nice, no hammer dings or even ripples on those edges.
Looking again closer, They appear to be "S"d together?
Very clean

[Airhead]

Originally posted by Timber
any suggestions on a brand and size brake for a beginner.

And loonie, what is that sticking up in the first pic, looks like a long handle ...............


Malco makes a portable 4' brake, upto 20 gage. Works great for on sight plenums. Costs around $300.

[sonc]

20 bucks says I could find a few beer cans in the back of that rig :)

[AllTemp]

I also carry a brake,shear,roll on our truck and I use a layout program by http://www.design2fab.com
http://www.design2fab.com/Products/PatternSRsmall.jpg

[Timber]

what is a finger brake as opposed to a brake with no fingers

[Wannamakeice]

Originally posted by Timber
any suggestions on a brand and size brake for a beginner.

And loonie, what is that sticking up in the first pic, looks like a long handle ............... It's called a push broom im betting . One of the necessities needed when u do on the job work , and in fact is used quite a bit in the shop .... I hear :p

[Wannamakeice]

Originally posted by Timber
what is a finger brake as opposed to a brake with no fingers a brake that has removable plates on top part so you can make pans and such without bending your metal up as you would with a regular brake .

[selfemployed]

Tell your installer nice work. Seeing more job trailers around here and they do save a lot of travel time.

[lordan]

Very nice metal but that wiring.....................

[bareyb]

Wow. That is some great sheetmetal work! I hope my neighbor never sees that... His Aprilaire 2200 filter housing was installed directly onto the roof of his downflow furnace. 26 inch filter setting onto a 20 inch hole... No transition....

I'm having a new furnace installed tomorrow with an Aprilaire 2200 (actually the Lennox branded PMAC-20) air filter. I hope my installer does a beautiful job like that. That's a work of art. If he even acts like he's gonna install my filter housing to the roof of my furnace I downloaded that picture and printed it out. Hopefully can shame him into doing it like you did. :D

[aircooled53]

I wish we could bend tin that way here but everybody around this area uses supply house plenums,transitions and not much tin-work...I used to been a little tin 1975-1985 but I don't even have much in the way of sheet metal tools anymore.

Long snips
rights-lefts
center cut
24" folding tool
yard stick

I would be in trouble if I tired to do a top-notch install will metal like that job.

Give your guy's a thumb's up from TEXAS..
Great looking installation,customer should get long life from that system..

<<<<<<<<Aircooled>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[seatonheating]

That looks a lot like my work except for the dimples and footprints my supply house adds to it. Josh

[HVAC Pro]

I've been working on my trailer (6x12 Haulmark) for the past few months. Been busy, but finally got it to the point I can take it to a job. Have a 4 Tennsmith brake, a lockformer pittsburgh machine, overhead flourescent lights and receptacles so far. Planning to add built in bins for fittings, a rack for 10 lengths of drives/slides and pvc and maybe surround sound and central air. Need to take some pics. :D

[AllTemp]

saw oen of these up at the Carrier distributor a few days ago, sweet!
http://www.wellscargo.com/models/images/EW1.jpg

Around $4000 for starters without some add ons...

[bennytec]

I worked with a guy doing siding that we had a 20ft car hauler a bit over kill but it had a refigerator and microwave. How much does the break weigh can i pull it with a 4.3l S10 ?

[grasshopper]

I am setting up a trailer right now. I want to get the brake off the floor though. Loonie do your guys ever need generators for power? I got a small gas powered one with an air compressor and 4 ft brake set up so far. I still need to find a good deal on a Lockformer machine. Anyone have a lead for me?

[woods mech]

I don't know squat about sheetmetal work but would like to learn. Does anyone know of any good schools in the Dallas/Ft Worth area? Or maybe an internet resource?

[BaldLoonie]

No compressors or generators. Guess Dave hasn't thought of that yet or he'd be wanting them :D