Furnace Tearout Field Measuring For Sheet Metal Adaptions

[@sbitschy]

I have been looking for retrofit layout tips and tricks for ages to speed up jobs. Some of the things you mentioned, I haven't seen/heard anywhere else. I love your videos and learn lots. I almost want to beg you to keep showing how you get your measurements for the jobs in the first place - like this vid. Thank you!

[@tractorman4461]

Well Steve, I am glad you enjoyed the video. There are so many subtle things to making the measurements you go through that I can't explain. But I'll tell you one thing for sure. I wish they had the laser measuring tool 40 years ago !! Those things are the berries when measuring for changeouts. I have a Bosch and I use it like crazy. Even for aligning the furnace squarely to the duct to begin measurements. Mine is the older version of this: www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-BLAZE-65-ft-Laser-Distance-Tape-Measuring-Tool-with-Real-Time-Measuring-GLM-20-X/206839262

[@donnovanschultz9478]

Same. I love how in the videos, " then we do it just like this.." but uts not that easy for us tractorman!!! Lol. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have been in the trade now for 5yrs and want to learn everything I can.

[@jankotze1959]

It is always amazing how you make it looks easy, but yet again, this is where experience come in, great video 44

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks Jan for taking the time to watch. I don't do this anymore except for family or very good friends. Occasionally I get the opportunity to help out an older person that cannnot afford to have it done due to limited resources. But I do not actively search out the jobs. I'm retired and have my own list of projects to get done.

[@jankotze1959]

@@tractorman4461 Yes that was my guess as well, you do it for goodwill to help people, so awesome, your other projects are very interesting and I learn every-time something new

[@anthonylosego]

@@tractorman4461 I got more on my plate than I can handle (mostly). But by next year, if you got a project and you are east of the Mississippi, I would be thrilled to drive out and help you with a project. Why? Why not? I say. lol I'd love to glean some knowledge from you and I'm dabbling in HVAC with my own house right now. Just reply and FB friend me or something.

[@regsparkes6507]

I'll never have to use this 'education' but it is fun for the viewer, (like me ) to watch you working at this installation. Thanks, and yes I'll be watching the next video on this too. Stay safe Wendell.

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks Reg for watching. I better warn you, the shop fab video is pretty long. I did FF a good percentage of the repetitive motions as much as possible. I was telling the Missus last night while editing that preparing sheet metal videos are the hardest ones to edit. It's hard to cut out pertinent parts, but leaving everything in make the videos entirely too long and tedious. I think it depends a lot on the viewer and what it is he wants to see in a metal video. So I trust that they skip through and stop at what interests them...but I don't know for sure. I like to fool myself and think that maybe some of the younger fellas just getting into the trades might latch onto sometime I toss out there in the rambling.

[@regsparkes6507]

@@tractorman4461 It may be like 'the instructions' to a given product, nobody reads them, but a video, well that's easy to watch!

[@tractorman4461]

@@regsparkes6507 Hahahaha...I hope you are right..LOL

[@regsparkes6507]

@@tractorman4461 :)

[@coldspring624]

Amazing how an 1/8 fat or shy when laying out makes the install go so much smoother.

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, the simple act of flipping an 'S' can make the difference in a neat and tidy look or a nasty look in many instances too.

[@johnbeeler767]

Love watching all your videos but especially your HVAC and duct videos always pick up something to add to the skills toolbox

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks John. That's certainly a nice thing to say. I should have a really good set of fab and install videos in a very short while. I'm glad to hear that you hang around in the shadows and watch some of the other stuff as well.

[@tomwalker9184]

Great video Thanks for Feeding your older HVAC friends. But that was only a Snack, give a full plate when you can.

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha....you need a daily dose to feed the old habit huh Tom...?? Well I can tell you for sure that old habits die hard. The next one should overflow the plate...a LOT !! Thanks for the smile this fine and beautiful day.

[@thesmallwoodlot433]

Thank you Wendell, Andrew knew to point me to another gentleman Dan of Kain kustom Garage, who really knows his saws! I recommend checking out his channel sometime.

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, he was the second I was going to recommend. He and Andrew work closely on a lot of things and both are really knowledgeable.

[@ButlerOutdoorsCanada]

Great work sir!

[@tractorman4461]

....just not enough of it huh. LOL. More to come on this project. Thanks Andrew for the compliment.

[@BigBruPB]

Excellent Again Sir

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks for watching so many of the metal vids. On another topic, if you like metal fab work and welding, you might take a look at this tandem gooseneck dump trailer rebuild: kzbin.info/aero/PLk72G9DTzZ1uV4lrmUIfmZEjGluUdftz- Or this 21' trailer made from bar joists for the Frontier sawmill: kzbin.info/aero/PLk72G9DTzZ1ue1qK_JUYgFoJ2ENbV7VVs

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Bonsoir mon ami, you are pretty good with that hammering job to removing that old furnace !!! Can't wait to see your next PICASSO steel building plenum mon ami !!! Cheers

[@tractorman4461]

Well Dave, just hang in there.....its on the way. But I cannot speak to its 'art' quality !! It just turned out looking like bent up flat sheets that happened to resemble what was needed to fill the gap in the ductwork. LOL

[@akquilter3519]

What is the name of the tool you were using when you made the comment that one piece was caulked to another? (At 2:55 on video) It looks just like the tool I used when I removed some of my cedar siding this year. Honestly, I don't know the actual name. It worked like a charm, I remember that. Anyway, a good start on a trio of videos we can look forward to viewing.

[@tractorman4461]

That's a Vaughn 'flat bar'. I thin the edge down on the belt sander which allows it to be driven in between tightly attached sheet metal and sever the heads of the screws that cannot be reached easily...or in this case, slice right through caulking. The Vaughn has good metal and holds up against the abuse needing a touchup ever so often. The cheaper bars won't work because the metal is so soft. It works wonderful for siding nails as well as removing damaged roofing shingles for minor repair or the installation of chimney flashing or vent pipe flashing. If you thinned it down like mine, you would find it much more satisfactory to use. The fab video is painfully long, but it is quite comprehensive concerning layout. Of course, I talk too much. LOL

[@andrecontois8510]

I like demolition! Smash it!

[@tractorman4461]

Demo is always the best time on the job Andre. You are probably not old enough to have torn out coal fired gravity heat systems that were converted to natural gas or LP. Or the old 'one pipe' steam boilers and similar systems for change out to new forced air with central air. Now THOSE were the good old days. Wrestling sections of cast iron do-nuts up basement steps...dealing with the asbestos insulation before we knew it was hazardous.... Yes, those really were fun times. I could write a book. The job was not for the weak willed or faint of heart at all !! LOL Thanks for the visit today.

[@larrydurkee5741]

I only ever had to replace a converted gravity coal/natural gas furnace at a house that had a basement walkout. We thought we were lucky until a scrapper drove by and saw us and asked if he could have the furnace. We were so happy we even helped him remove it. Sure is fun adapting to that duct system. Good work on the measure up. I always had fun remembering is it flat top-right?😉

[@tractorman4461]

@@larrydurkee5741 Man, I did a ton of those change outs back in the mid to late 70's. But when I got into the trade in '75 we were still removing coal stokers and installing 'Inshot' or 'Upshot' natural gas conversion burners up in the big city. I did a good number of them. Totally inefficient beasts...but they were simple. Fun stuff back then. No computers....

[@donnovanschultz9478]

Could you ever do some videos in where you are doing the layout?

[@tractorman4461]

Aw man...I've got a ton of 'em. Here is a few specialty fittings:kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2Oud3-QfMeNras another:kzbin.info/www/bejne/harRoZ6ogql_Y68 and another:kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZbdl4BvbMeNmpo and yet another:kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIfTfJKthNalbdE and a few more with total install: kzbin.info/aero/PLk72G9DTzZ1taVZjyeN9DKr52HQ3hhcXd Plus there are a few 'sheet metal only' playlists up top plus a lot of welding repair jobs as well. That should hold you for a while Donnovan. Leave a reply on some so I know you have found them.

[@1lilfarm]

👍👍👍

[@tractorman4461]

ahhh...a man of few words tonight I see...LOL Thanks for watching and for the 'thumb ups'.

[@1lilfarm]

@@tractorman4461 Got called for dinner right at the end of the video!!! LOL Can't miss a meal. Well, I could afford to but don't want to! 😂😂😂

[@tractorman4461]

@@1lilfarm Hahahaha...I figured either you were bored with the video or something pressing came up. I'm pretty sure that faced with the same choice, I would've chosen dinner too. LOL.

[@jeffreyhays6970]

I feel like I'm shop class 101!! teacher can I have hall pass need to use the restroom? thank you , your smart butt student. hahaha you would be a great shop teacher!

[@tractorman4461]

Now, that's funny Jeffrey. I was such an ornery student if I was a teacher the class would probably be filled with turdheads like I was in school. You know the karma thing....LOL

[@braideng8069]

next furnace, to open the box cut only the bottom strap step on the folds and take the box of in a whole, then boom trash box

[@tractorman4461]

Oh yeah, I've done that many many times. Sure makes cleaning up the jobsite easier. I do the same thing with the condensor boxes too. I don't remember what the deal was on this job, but for some reason I didn't do it. Thanks for the visit today.

[@Benhamin2002]

From TikTok

[@tractorman4461]

Hey..!! Glad to see you made the trip over for a visit today. Thank you. Here's one of the playlists for you: kzbin.info/aero/PLk72G9DTzZ1tqw8ST_xdUlPoy_O-SmuBx The better fittings and plenums start down about 6 or 7 on the list. Thanks again for the visit. See ya later !!