Sheet Metal-Fabrication- Furnace Change Out

[@1lilfarm]

Even though I worked with tin knockers to learn their trade, I always learn something from watching your videos and hearing the explanation. I am extremely jealous of that box-break of yours!!! I may have told you of the one we had at work. I didn't know they were cleaning out one of the buildings and the mechanics simply threw it in a metal dumpster for scrap!! Was an eight footer in real good shape. Made me sick to see what they did. I for one really appreciate and enjoy your sheet metal videos. 👍👍👍

[@tractorman4461]

No you didn't tell me that one, that's a story I would NOT have forgotten !! Kinda makes you sick doesn't it, to see something so useful to so many just discarded and gone. I was on a commercial heating service call at a machine shop twenty years ago (?? might've been 15, 18 or 23) and the maintenance supervisor asked if maybe I wanted this old brake they hadn't used in many years. Thinking it was going to be a piece of junk I said yes, I'd look at it and see. Low and behold it was a pristine 8' brake covered in dust stuffed in the back of the warehouse. I couldn't believe it....so he said come get it Saturday morning, he'd be there then. BUTTTT...he said, I've got nothing to get it off the dock with, you are on your own. I brought 12' 4x4's and a pile of lag bolts and winched it right off the dock and gently let the tail end drop down the 12'' to my trailer deck. The ends of the 4x4's rubbed slowly down the face of the dock's concrete. I intentionally mounted it to the front of the skids, hoping most of the weight being to the front and on the trailer would give a bit of an easy drop to the tail end. Woo Hoo !! It did better than what I'd planned. By the time I left, he had me load quite a number of old tools and equipment they no longer had a use for. I DID sell the brake a bit later though. I couldn't believe it but he said he was ready to call a scrap hauler when I got there for the service call !!

[@1lilfarm]

@@tractorman4461 Wow! I would have given anything to get the one out of the scrap dumpster. Shame what some people think is useless scrap.

[@tractorman4461]

@@1lilfarm Right now I know of a ten foot ten guage finger brake out of a local factory that's been sitting OUTSIDE a machine shop for over 20 years. He won't part with it because it was a friend of the owners father that gave it to him when the factory closed down. It is a monster and probably goes at least 3 or 4 thousand pounds but I would take it in a heartbeat if I could buy it. It DOES belong to a friend though so time will tell.

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

A lovely 44 video indeed! Always love watching you make up duct work with those great machines. Yes my friend, it is my second full day home from the hospital and boy o boy, it’s great to be home. Not only this but I’m having my first cuppaJO in three weeks and tipping you with it. The hospital coffee should be sold in hardware stores. Anyway, it tastes superb and shortly I’m going out, as I did yesterday and sit in the sun and under the trees. Truly, there is no place like home! Everyone at the hospital were great and made my journey far better. I feel great and am improving. Thanks for this fine video my 44 friend Wendell and Love to all at 44 Ranch. Please squeeze the Missus 44 for me! DaveyJO onna mend!

[@tractorman4461]

Good to hear the stitches are holding you together DaveyJO !! It IS for sure nice to be home. I'll be emailing you shortly about your impending purchase. The Missus has been concerned about you as well as was I. Enjoy the beautiful evening and don't overdo it on the good ol JO!! Take care, and look for an email soon my friend !!

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

@@tractorman4461 Alice has been the best seeing to just about everything. She helped me remove the last of bandages and all. I don’t have a stitch but glued! The incisions on my legs and chest are glued, amazing eh? I imagined the gorilla glue ape in the OR handing the surgeon a bottle of glue. Crazy glue would be appropriate for my crazy self. I had a half cuppaJO with a little honey today but I’ll surely take it easy. Doc said 2-3 cups a day would be fine but I’ll keep it to two later on. I was outside in this beautiful day and walked around the house. My goal is to eventually walk to the mailbox which is 500ft and a slight grade up. I’ll work my way to this goal. A step at a time and lifting no more that 10 lbs for now. I’ll start cardiac rehab soon as well. Kind Thanks to All the 44 Family. I’ll be keepin on keepin on but not stupidly so. Love and Joy from DaveyJO

[@tractorman4461]

@@daveyjoweaver6282 Well by golly, Alice knows she's got a good man and she wants to make sure you get back to your old self !! Yes, they do use glue a lot nowadays. I figured you'd be a bit sore for a day or three. But at our age, a slower recovery is to be expected. We just don't bounce back we did as teenagers. LOL. You'll get there sooner than you expect. We'll keep the good thoughts coming your way and please enjoy the superb morning coffee's and we will be tippin' em back right along with ya.

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

@@tractorman4461 Under the spreading white oak tree, DaveyJO did stand. The muscles on his brawny arms were as strong as rubber bands ! But they will improve. Thanks for all the 44 energy coming my way, the best kind of healing medicine fer ser!

[@tractorman4461]

@@daveyjoweaver6282 hahahaha....I didn't mean to laugh, but I did anyway. I didn't realize among so many other talents you possess, you are the perfect embodiment of a reincarnated Henry Wadsworth Longfellow!! (-:

[@larrydurkee5741]

Great job, brings back lots of memories. Not sure why people even bother to take the time to comment if the video is of no use to them. I see your four legged apprentice wasn’t even paying attention😂😂🇨🇦

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha....That's Layla. She's not too fond of the noise, but she's a good little gal. Thanks Larry for watching and I'm glad to have sparked a thought or two of the past.

[@ButlerOutdoorsCanada]

Great work as usual sir, there's some silly people out there man but they're probably having a worse day then we are if they can't enjoy a fun tinkering video, especially when it's someone as skilled as yourself. Cheers man!

[@tractorman4461]

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have went into that little rant. But ya know sometimes something just sits a little crosswise with a fella. LOL. No biggie. I like to stay positive, and thank you once again for a kind comment Andrew. I sent another viewer to visit you about an old saw. He said you referred him to Dan. He was gonna be my next suggestion anyway...LOL

[@ButlerOutdoorsCanada]

@@tractorman4461 a no harm in blowing off a little steam sir, I remember chatting with him he was looking for some information on an old starter assembly and I think Dan's already got a good video covering it 😊 dans a good dude I really like his videos

[@marklester7034]

Another great video! I enjoy all of your videos but especially the sheet metal work. You have inspired me to up my metal game. I now have a 1954 Lockformer that makes a crisp pittsburgh. A new box and pan brake, a small Smith cleatformer, an old Milwaukee electric hammer.............Thank you for all you do!! Its a good day when I see a new TM44 video in my cue!!

[@tractorman4461]

Its comments like yours that make the videos worthwhile Mark. I am tickled to death to hear you have been lucky enough to make some purchases. Good Luck to you and always try to do the best with each piece of metal. Remember...just about anybody can MAKE the metal, but it takes a good mechanic to measure the job to where it will fit !! LOL. I just get lucky a lot.

[@Silky_boi]

I’m always impressed with your masterful work!

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks for the awesome comment. I should remind viewers in the videos that half the job is in taking the correct measurements. Sometimes it takes a little effort to get accurate numbers. Thanks for watching too !!

[@agape1757]

I second that!!

[@PaulHVAC1]

Nicely done! I've heard you say in past videos that you say you're just a do it your selfer guy. Well I have been a SM mechanic up here in Canada 🇨🇦for over 40 years and I know a real SM mechanic when I see one. You are too modest sir, as you are obviously a top notch SM fab man. Keep up the videos as I really enjoy watching. Cheers!!👍

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, now that I am retired I'm a professional DIY'er. LOL But I did more than 40 years in commercial HVAC. But until retirement I hadn't done sheet metal for probably 25 years to any extent. Being a service tech, I did mostly troubleshooting and repair, refrigerant, chilled and hot water piping, boiler and chiller installation, DDC control conversions to older units and all that good stuff. A little building automation tossed in for good measure. But there was no official sheet metal training or apprenticship in the past.(Except for high school shop.lol.) FWIW, compliments from other tradesmen I hold in the highest regard. And for that, I thank you Paul.

[@jankotze1959]

Another mind blowing fabrication job, I am getting used to all the names for joints and parts, I believe you was a great asset for your company, fast and accurate, big bucks in short time, well done my friend. 44 Your comment on my latest video of the Gen that works disappear, I replied and youtube or my PC just rolling when I replied, it totally hang up, when I go out my channel and go back I see that your comment is gone, sorry if you don't get a reply but your comment is gone, I read of that machine you got from a friend that clean commutators, wish I can have the comment back, just to let you know, thanks my friend

[@tractorman4461]

Oh heck Jan, that is ok. I know you got to read it at least. That happens to me quite frequently and I don't know why. My friend DaveyJO up above leaves a comment on just about every video then he got a new computer and almost every one of them disappear just as you describe. So we email back and forth sometimes. Blasted computers. I'll go over there and see if I can resend the comment to you.....Have a wonderful day and thank you for the very kind comment my friend. By the way, I think its tomorrow already over there in South Africa. It's 630 p.m. here and Alexa says you are 7 hours ahead of us.

[@jankotze1959]

Yes it is now 4:10 AM on Monday

[@NestorHVAC]

Nice video!! I don’t have a lockformer machine but I’m waiting on a bargain somewhere to jump on it but I enjoy how you do your stuff and I’m learning from you a lot. Keep them coming

[@tractorman4461]

They show up on Craigs list ever so often. Keep an eye out for a closing HVAC contractor in the small towns outside of the big cities. They don't get near as much exposure and most of the other contractors have the equipment already. I missed 60 sheets of 30x96x26 ga metal last year because I was asleep at the wheel. Another guy got it for 2 bucks a sheet !! Thanks for watching and for such a complimentary comment.

[@regsparkes6507]

Good Morning "Squire' ( well, it is here now as I send this! ) I've been 'out of town' for a couple of days and missed getting here to see this, but better late then never, I guess. This is interesting, even to me who has nothing to do with sheet metal work. But at least now I have a basic understanding of this work. Thanks for this, I'll go now and watch the latest 'lesson' ! :)

[@tractorman4461]

Well, we were both a little late to the party....I just found your comment Reg. LOL. Its always good to hear from you my friend.

[@MrPhotodoc]

Well, I for one want to see how a job is done right, and with the best equipment. So keep on doing what your're doing there Tractorman. We'll keep watching.

[@tractorman4461]

Awesome comment Chuck !! Thank you for such a pleasantly worded comment. I do appreciate the time you guys take to watch and comment. Thanks again....

[@terryluebbe2560]

Your dog did good camera work. It turned out nice.

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha....yes, she's quite the talented little gal. I need to train her to catch only my good side. But wait...they are both equally bad...LOL. Thanks Terry for the smiles and thanks for watching as well.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good morning Mon Ami, Sir you are a true ARTIST OF Sheet metal work. I agree 200 % on your 2nd paragraph very well written Sir !!! Great tricks on the folding table !!! OUTSTANDING VIDEO AND have a GREAT Week Cheers !!!

[@tractorman4461]

Thank you kind sir. Always the optimistic one are you not... That's a good thing to be. I know it was a long video so it can be a bit tough sitting that long but I appreciate whatever time you took to watch Dave.

[@reddye2331]

I think I found a new favorite channel and content to watch. Been wanting to play around with sheetmetal and make a chimney chase. Believe it or not there is a lot of parts and tons of bends tht go into making some the really nice loo,ING ones.

[@tractorman4461]

Well good, I am glad to see you like the metal videos. I have a ton of other things on here as well, like totally rebuilding a tandem dump trailer frame: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKPbaWiifcuEgJI

[@andrecontois8510]

I like the drive bending method. Our shop at work has a manual cleat bender but we still get duct with elephant ears( drives) sometimes. I put the bar folder on and squeeze them to fit better.

[@tractorman4461]

I've had to fold them on site in many different ways. I like the cleat bender while working in the shop on everything up to 18''. Anything over that has to be either on the brake or by hand. Sometimes the situation determines the technique. Thanks Andre for the visit as well as for the comment.

[@andygulick6085]

Me too! Piece by piece I acquired my metal shop equipment. Love the old stuff. Newest tool I have is from the 80's. The rest all the way to the 40's, maybe even older. They made them to last back then. Great video.

[@tractorman4461]

Heck yeah Andy....like Johnny Cash, one piece at a time. I can't imagine stocking a new shop today with new equipment !! It'd put a fella in the hole real quick wouldn't it. Heck I have a metal lathe from the 1800's and a horizontal mill from 1909. I like old stuff too. Thanks for the cool comment and have a great evening sir.

[@mafarmtown2086]

For all the trolls out there the old adage would apply. You can please some of the people all that the time, all of the people some of the time, BUT not all of the people all of the time. For me, even knowing very little about a lot of things, it’s always interesting to watch someone as proficient doing a remarkable job on any number of things. Keep up the videos, ignore the naysayers!

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha....they don't bother me too much. I don't get a bad comment too often...luckily. I should have told that guy being as how these videos cost nothing to the viewer, that he at least got his moneys worth !! LOL

[@tonyjones1378]

Great job 👍👍👍🇺🇸

[@tractorman4461]

Thanks Tony. I appreciate the comment. The installation video will be coming up shortly. Editing is not my strong suit !!

[@rockeerockey6941]

TMAN44 always has an interesting video! Always

[@tractorman4461]

Man Rockee, that's cool for you to make such a pleasant statement. Better be careful though, guys may think I'm paying you to say good things... LOL Thanks again.

[@rockeerockey6941]

@@tractorman4461 OK, I'll insult you next time! 😆

[@tomwalker9184]

Ok Tractor man 44 i never had a brake for many years, so my dad taught me to use a screen tool like you put splines in a screen windows the wheel has to be metal and you have to cross brake on a soft surface like a rug or carpet or ground. It works like a charm.

[@tractorman4461]

Now Tom, that is something I never even thought of. I always used the carboard or carpet square and a straight edge and scored the insides of the pieces to create a sharp cross break. Then fold all the rest by hand. Dang it anyway...NOW you tell me !!

[@pitaeata8493]

Great video, thank you for posting. I'm curious, why did you make this a 2 piece transition rather than 1 big transition?

[@daviddesilva4971]

You'll see when he installs it on the furnace.

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, David's comment is correct. But to give you a heads up, this one was a 90+ AFUE with a 4 ton blower. A 26 guage huge plenum would more than likely billow back and forth with the duct pressure and air velocity. The two smaller ones literally reinforce the duct sides because of their smaller physical size and the additional joint. The next thing is if you mis-measure by a sixteenth, the mistake will be hugely exaggerated by the time you get to the end of a long fitting. With the smaller, shorter transition, it's much easier to hide a small error in layout because it remains small. Then there's the actual installation. Its so much easier to slip in two small ones than it is one large one. There are other things, but these stick out the most in my mind. Thanks for the thought provoking question...and a good one at that, may I add. Remember I say all the time that there are as many variations to making a piece of metal as there are guys doing it. That holds true with a total install. I for one refuse to use duct tape anywhere except the aluminum tape and that's only to secure the double mylar wrapped bubble insulation. You will (hopefully) never see duct tape on one of my joints. But there are those that buy it by the case. To me, It just ain't cool.

[@tractorman4461]

@@daviddesilva4971 I guess that means you'll come back to watch the install video....LOL

[@pitaeata8493]

@@tractorman4461 Thank you for explaining your thought process; I knew you'd have a good reason. I'll have to check what gauge metal my partner at work has been using.

[@brandonkorpi9653]

Pittsburgh away! Looks better and a lot less pooky ie more professional. Shoot, show them how to make a Pittsburgh on a brake if they wanna do it on the cheap. S-Driving , screwing, and taping everything is the definition of hack work. You my friend are no hack even though you declared yourself as one. Years of hard knocks is as good as any apprenticeship. Well done Sir. Appreciate your efforts.

[@tractorman4461]

Well Brandon, I thank you for the extremely supportive comment. I've made my share of hand formed pittsburghs and I never did enjoy the process. It was always on the job with a change out so mostly on short pieces. One day a few years ago, I slipped down the rabbit hole watching some 'how to' sheet metal videos and was shocked at the guys that think screws and duct tape is a proper joint. That's when I started uploading the 'how I do it' sheet metal videos, because I know not everyone has the machinery. I was hoping to maybe by 'action' to show some of those fellows the benefit of buying an old machine at an auction or from an old tinner to improve their end product as a result. I've had more than one guy let me know he was inspired to buy or build a brake and was searching for a lockformer. So all is good. I have a few sheet metal playlist up above to put most of the videos in one spot for interested parties. Here is the latest metal upload:kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2Oud3-QfMeNras

[@brandonkorpi9653]

@@tractorman4461 Sir I've worked for full blown Union shops that just burn out pieces, flange and screw (not even hemmed flanges I might add), then cover all the joints with mastic tape. No duct liner, cross brakes or anything. Now, I guess I'm old fashioned, but I absolutely despise seeing foil tape with red lettering all over the place holding metal together. (I despise taped duct board even more) As I said before, Pittsburghs are more professional, not only do they look better than S or a screwed down flange, it's a joint that doesn't need pooky, so it's less duct sealing, drying, and air leak testing (for areas that require that (WA ST requires that). So to see S & D connections, Pittsburgh seams, beautiful cross breaks, and hemmed flanges and busting out the Roper Whitney punch (love that tool) for said hemmed flanges for screw starting is very refreshing. If I had a critique it would be why you don't add sound liner to plenums, transitions, and pooky your S&D and flanged joints? I'm guessing it's not a code requirement where you are? Maybe capping your base cans too, then your furnace or cased coil can slide on top and seat already aligned. Easier that bracing with a piece of screwed down cleat drive or S. 🤷🏼‍♂️. Overall though you are the best hack out out their my friend, and I mean it as a term of endearment in your case lol. Well done, appreciate the efforts, keep up the good work!

[@tractorman4461]

@@brandonkorpi9653 Well I thank you once again for an awesome comment. I agree with all you said about mastic and tape. You sure can see some nastiness out there and you don't have to look too hard either. I just enjoy doing it the way I do it and do not like to cut corners, because I like people to know its MY job...and I am proud of it. I have done variations on the r/a plenum box for electric air handlers. A lot of them. So I usually let the job dictate what's the easiest route to take. There's a reason most times for the way I do it though it may not be evident to the viewer. I like to refer to myself as a 'hack' because I really have no formal sheet metal training to speak of and I don't do 'how to' videos. I like to leave those videos to the guys that are bending on a 2x4 or ladder leg and post it with a 'how to' title. I prefer to be the guy to post 'how I do it' videos instead. LOL I just like to have fun with it and if it helps someone that's good too. Thank you once again for the really cool and supportive comment Brandon.

[@brandonkorpi9653]

@@tractorman4461 they really should regulate “How To Videos” as from what I’ve seen, the majority are what not to do. To each their own I suppose…. I like your style Tractorman. Now I gotta check out your tractor stuff. Worked at a Kubota Dealership as a kid, that brings back memories! Especially the peacocks they had (very rural dealership 😂), peacocks like the high ground so I spent a lot of time wiping off tractor seats…🦚💩

[@anthonylosego]

You can do anything with a hand former that the machine can do, you just gotta have a whole lotta time!

[@tractorman4461]

Yes, that’s correct. But it sure is easier on your hands and forearms. Been there and done that. (-;

[@tomwalker9184]

Wendell don't worry about the critics, sometimes people's estrogen runs a little low. But informed them that they sell it at Walmart and Walgreen's .

[@tractorman4461]

Hahahaha... I like to troll the trolls before they troll me. Ive been really lucky. I don't have too many negative comments so far. But I am sure that will change... But I will heed your advice and let them know where to 'man-up'...LOL

[@manuallabor7193]

Do not listen to the haters. I watch for the enjoyment. I have no interest in sheet metal.

[@tractorman4461]

Well Manual, I do appreciate your interest as well as your tenacity to hang in there and watch. By the way, the installation is being edited right now. Thank you for the visit and please, have a wonderful week where ever you are !!