Good Monday Morning!

The weekend saw many dusty artifacts pulled from the corner of our current shop. Like a time capsule, I had forgotten about many of the items. Almost all of them went in the garbage and should have gone there in the first place. It’s amazing how, in the moment, we believe the item with no home that we place on a shelf or in an unused room for “later” will end up being as important years down the road. There’s a higher percentage that they are not. Moving is fun, isn’t it? ;)

This morning it’s about making good progress on an ongoing fabrication job. We are building a larger duct for a Make Up Air unit that will require a flanging system. I don’t have a TDC/TDF machine yet. So these types of jobs require us to use either a Ductmate or C.L. Ward flange system. For this job, we are using the C.L. Ward H-Flange.

Finished Section of Duct with H-Flange System

The flange process takes longer because all flange racks must be cut, assembled, and screwed onto the finished ductwork section. It’s not a technically difficult job; it’s just time-consuming. But the finished product quickens the pace of install on the job site, with only a seal, (4) bolts to join the sections together, and a clip to secure the flanges across the span of each duct side.

With a TDC/TDF joint, the flange is formed by running the duct section, while still flat, through a roll former. You still have to install the corners, but the process is less costly and quicker.

Needless to say, a TDC/TDF machine is on my wish list.

We don’t do many of these kinds of jobs right now. I take them from time to time. It’s tougher with only a consistent two-man shop and many short-notice residential transitions and duct to make room for each week.

That’s a job shop for ya.

Day 6: Back to Business

Day 5: The Plasma Table Move