Harry Thompson IV

The Cost of Labor in the Field vs the Cost of additional deliveries to Job Site?

The Cost of Labor in the Field vs the Cost of additional deliveries to Job Site?     More Mechanicals and Sheet Metal Contractors are moving in the direction of not only Fabricating Duct Sections in the Shop but also connecting and Sealing the Joints. This is a result of the continuing challenge of quality

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What do contractors mean when they talk about Straight Duct and Fittings in Rectangular Duct Fabrication?

What do contractors mean when they talk about Straight Duct and Fittings in Rectangular Duct Fabrication? Straight Duct One Piece sections of straight duct with Ductmate Flange on ends , corners inserted. When it arrives on job site, the duct film on ends will be removed and the sections will be connected to each other

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Bubble Wrap

Bubble Wrap: a cleaner alternative to Fiberglass Duct Wrap View this post on Instagram R8 Bubble Wrap installed on R6 spec means no overlap required. #ductingac #insulationinstallation #externalinsulation #fiberfree #bubblewrap A post shared by hvacusa (@hvacusa) on Feb 18, 2020 at 5:29am PST The idea of removing Fiberglass from Residential Insulation completely and replacing with

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Degreaser

Degreaser Plasma Table Labels Plasma Table labels are always advertised as “removable” but, once applied they are near impossible to remove easily. In instances where an architect or engineer require them removed (sometimes on exposed ductwork), there’s a lot of effort required to scrape these stickers off the duct.      We sell a product

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Duct Sealant—Longitudinal vs. Transverse

Duct Sealant—Longitudinal vs. Transverse Sealing Rectangular Ductwork: Choosing a Sealant with characteristics that match the Seam/Connection and the point of application Duct Sealant Characteristics Longitudinal Seam: a narrow lock that usually is long and continuous and moves in one direction. Covering this lock with more than 1/2“ width of sealant makes for a messy appearance and a waste

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Are Mechanical Contractors starting to use third party companies to Install the Sheet Metal Ductwork?

Are Mechanical Contractors starting to use third party companies to Install the Sheet Metal Ductwork?   In several of our markets we’ve seen an increase in companies that are built around an increased need: Commercial Duct Installation    Labor Shortages are forcing many Mechanicals to try something new: subcontract the Installation of the Sheet Metal

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SMACNA and Mastic

SMACNA and Mastic on Rectangular Duct “Rectangular Longitudinal Seam leakage for Pittsburgh and Buttonlock seams is low compared to that in Transverse Joints”  SMACNA Duct Construction Standards 2005 But SMACNA also states that “the designer is responsible for determining the pressure class or classes required for duct construction and for evaluating the amount of sealing necessary”.

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Stitchwelder

Stitchwelder We are big believers in that there are three machines required to “semi-automate” the Spiral Pipe portion of a Duct Shop: the Spiral Tubeformer, the Combi-T Gorelocker, and the Stitchwelder.  A lot of shops hold off initially on the Stitchwelder due to it’s $75k+ price tag and instead use a Spotwelder (or free-standing Clinching

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Step Bits

Step Bits: What makes them a “step up” over Drill Bits? Using a single bit to drill holes is a big timesaver for anyone who’s constantly looking through their toolbox for the correct diameter Drill Bit.  Step Bits solve that bottleneck with one bit stepping up to larger diameters.  As it moves, rotating clockwise each

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Male Pitts: the often neglected other profile in the Pittsburgh Lock

Male Pitts: the often neglected other profile in the Pittsburgh Lock The Pittsburgh Lock consists of two profiles: the Female and the Male.  Yet the Pittsburgh Machines run only one of those as standard:  the Female.  For decades the Male Pitts has been offered as an optional set for the outboard side of a 20

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