s locks or Pittsburgh lochformer

[ralph]

What do you guys use for your sheet metal work? Do you consider a pittsburgh machine esential for residential work?

[dec]

Have triplex and a pittsburg so its pittsburg on fittings and snap lock on straight duct. When I started out 35 some years ago all I had was a pittsburg machine .......contractors hated me when I was putting duct together on job. I did get an electric hammer a few years later to keep from having to use a tinners hammer beating it together. Better have earpluggs or you will have hearing like me.

In reality knowing what I know now I would have just broke down and bought a triplex from day one knowing how much it would save me, Went a good 5 or 6 years without one. Sure saved on scraps to be making s's and drives

[hvacvegas]

s-locks.

[cboe]

maby thats why i lost some of my hearing. too meany years knocking duct togeater using pitt. mich.
guys use your ear plugs, and protect your lungs. an old timmer in the HVACR trade. 50+ years and it takes a tole on our bodies. be safe out there.

[dec]

huhhhhh ......... what did ya say

[hvacker]

Pittsburgh's are more labor intensive and probably not necessary for resi work. If needed one can always make a Pittsburgh on the brake.
Snaplocks are also a plus when making a plenum as they can be put together in pieces with the unit in place w/o having to squeeze an assembled plenum in place. While not as strong as a pitts they have a more finished look but your stuck with not able to make radius fittings.
Anyway, faster, better, cheaper IMO.

[1coldac]

still using pittsburgh for residential here.

[hvacker]

still using pittsburgh for residential here.

I also know a lot of shops that only have a Pittsburgh. Years ago when I worked at a shop that had both, almost all resi fittings were made w/snaplock. The reasoning was it was faster and could be assembled on site if necessary. A Pittsburgh can also be assembled on site but better hope no one's home.
If a shop is considering commercial work then a stronger will be necessary.

[Cooked]

Scuse me for my alzheimers but are the s-lock and the drive cleat the same thing?

Truthfully, it's been so long for me I can't remember.

[tlb]

Use ductboardWe use pitt when we do metal.Also S" and drive cleat are not the same.Drive will normally be on two narrow sides of duct and the "S" on the two wide sides.

[dec]

and thats why someone using only a pittsburg or duct board doesn't know what an s lock is