Horizontal Reducing Offset- Old School Sheet Metal Hack

Today we layout a fitting that does two things, first a horizontal change in elevation and at the same time a change in height while maintaining the width. It's a reasonably simple fitting with a complicated sounding function. Follow along as the layout progresses from flat metal to finished product. A few shop tools are highlighted during the video, an 8' brake, an 18'' cleat bender and of course the Lockformer brand Pittsburgh machine. The normal list of hand tools are 14'' aluminum snips, yellow straight cutting aviation shears, awl, folding rule and of course the 5 way home made stainless steel scribe. #sheetmetal, #fabrication, #ducting, #diy, #shop #oldschool

[@HODGEPODGEDODGEGARAGE]

Nice work Wendell 😎👍

[@tractorman4461]

Good Morning Zane. I've always wanted to do body work. I HAVE, but its only a dabble here and there. But sheet metal is sheet metal, just a variation of materials and application, I guess. Have a great weekend my friend.

[@user-su5ft8lc9q]

I love watching a GENIUS at work.!!!

[@tractorman4461]

Hot doggies I do too Tom, but I find it easier to find one to watch if I go to another channel.... But thank you my friend for always the fun comment.

[@akquilter3519]

Me too.

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

Tin bending at its finest! This sure brings back memories. That cleat bender is slick. I remember have to form my drive flanges with a hand bar folder and tongs in the field. I still have both!

[@tractorman4461]

Oh man, I bet I've bent a few miles of drive cleat 8" or 10" at a time Matt !! It's not my favorite, but onsite, ya gotta do what ya gotta do !! I used a 24" one time, but I prefer the 18" like this one.

[@ricksmith-iw2op]

You make it look easy Wendell. Nice job.

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks Rick. This one wasn't too difficult of a layout once you draw it out. It'd be much harder to make it in two pieces though. Wasteful too. Four piece is the only way to go when hand layout is concerned.

[@mdh7812]

You make using the 18'' cleat bender look so easy. I know I say that each time you show it, but I just couldn't seem to get a handle on using it.

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha....don't feel too bad, most people have a problem mastering it !!

[@mattpukall6230]

That's some mighty fine tin knockin.

[@tractorman4461]

Thank you for the supportive comment. Btw, if you want to see more of this kind of stuff consider giving this playlist a shot: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXKufYODh812haM The good ones start down about 6 or 7 though. Oh hey, thanks for watching too !!

[@akquilter3519]

My favorite part is the rat-a-tat-tat !!!

[@tractorman4461]

When the Missus was pregnant with the youngest daughter, she would start dancing a jig in her tight living quarters every time I'd fire up the electric hammer. It was funny as all get out !!

[@gatorsworld]

It all makes sense and you make it look so easy…..CHEERS

[@tractorman4461]

Well Gator you know I appreciate comments from guys like you the most !! You're one of them that's 'been there and done that'... Btw, my SIL is about to turn out of his electrical apprentice classes soon.

[@zergo0621]

So talented . You are a man that never fails to impress me with what you work on

[@tractorman4461]

How you doing my young friend !! Thank you for an awesome comment. Every day is a new hand dealt to a guy, so you just play it to the best of your ability and the ability slowly will improve....if you keep playing the game. Have a great evening !!

[@zergo0621]

@tractorman4461 that's a great outlook to have . I'm doing good. I hope you are too.

[@lifeisgood6336]

Very impressive sheet metal work. You make it look easy. Thanks for sharing.

[@tractorman4461]

Well, like I always say...if it was hard to do I couldn't do it !! (-; But thank you for the compliment. If you're interested in sheet metal, give this a shot, but scroll down about 7 to get to the good stuff:kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXKufYODh812haM. Thanks for watching too !!

[@tonyjones9715]

Thanks for another wonderful video. You do Great work. 👍👍

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks Tony for another cool comment my friend. I hope all is well with you.

[@keithgoldston2859]

You make that look easy lol I know years of practice and experience led to that another great video thanks for sharing your knowledge with us

[@tractorman4461]

Good Evening Keith and thank you for the cool comment. I'm beginning to get rusty again though. I don't do much metal any more.

[@tomfillmore9710]

Good job buddy have a great weekend

[@tractorman4461]

Good morning Tom. it looks like your comment got sent into the spam folder. I just found it 6 days after you sent it. LOL. Ya just gotta love computers and their programming !! And here it is another weekend, so I found it just in time to be 'on time'. Have a great weekend yourself my friend.

[@allenmoore4400]

Looks good, Wendell

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks Allen for stopping in for a visit. This one wasn't too much of a challenge..fortunately, I AM getting a few years on me now. LOL

[@daviddesilva4971]

Looking forward to the install. Next tin project... a square to round. On centre or mitered if you dare. Thxs for the vids!

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahahaha...its been a while, but I think I can..... If there's a situation where it will benefit the project, I'll do it !! I'll pass on the mitered though. LOL

[@daviddesilva4971]

@tractorman4461 I like to keep it simple. A block end with a round collar cut into it. Offset with an adjustable elbow if needed.

[@tractorman4461]

@@daviddesilva4971 I've been known to do that as well David. Definitely an accepted way this day and time. The old timers back in the 40's and 50's wouldn't do it though...I don't think anyway. I've torn out sooooo many of those old systems back in the '70's. Closely looking at their non-pressurized ducting is where I learned how to lay out radius's and transitions. They did some fancy work !!

[@alejandrobarillas753]

Great work and channel 👏 👍

[@tractorman4461]

Thank you for the compliment. Hey, if you like sheet metal, here's a sample playlist from up above: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXKufYODh812haM Tons of layout and fabrication vids here, but scroll down about 7 for the good ones.

[@Wheelloader__]

Metal man 44 😁. Cool video.

[@tractorman4461]

Well, once upon a time I was known to bend a piece or two...but only if I couldn't get out of it. LOL. Thanks for watching my friend.

[@jeffmc7946]

You look like did that at least once or twice before! Great job looks great!

[@tractorman4461]

Oh...I guess I can recall picking up tin snips at least once before Jeff. LOL. Thanks for the cool comment my friend.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Sheet metal work ! You have a skill and talent that I do not.

[@tractorman4461]

Randall, I always say if it was hard, I wouldn't be able to do it. Machinery makes a lot of difference. With the stuff you know how to do, I could have you bending tin pretty good in just a few hours !!

[@arkansas1336]

Awesome, well done!

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks for watching another one. This one was fairly simple once you draw it out. I appreciate the kind comment too, my friend.

[@arkansas1336]

@@tractorman4461…As a former highway construction contractor I understand grades and angles very well. And you explained everything very well making it easy to understand.

[@davinlaroche3029]

I feel the list of things you can't do is shorter than the list of things you can do. 😄

[@tractorman4461]

I've found that all a fella needs to do is try to do something and eventually he will muddle through good enough....if he stays with it. Thank you for the really awesome but undeserved comment.

[@catfish500mark9]

☆☆☆☆☆

[@tractorman4461]

Just another reasonable easy layout. For my sons project. Good to see ya today my friend.