What is your experience with Fin Combs?

[luvit]

I received this active heat exchanger with damage.. the factory packaging was a joke. I asked for 35% of my purchase price if I keep it and repair it and they send me free replacement louvers and my warranty is unaffected. So far, it was a wise decision.. a $600 savings.
What is your experience with the corrective Fin Combs?
I don't want to buy one of they are a joke.

 

[Bogie1632]

They work fine. Usually I still need to lift some of the fin with a small screwdriver just to get the comb to engage with as little effort as possible. Small area like that, if you have no future need of the comb, I'd just be gentle with a small 1/8" screwdriver to get that straightened out.

However you correct it, just be gentle.

Good luck.

V/R
Bogie

 

[rlitman]

The combs work on some fin designs. But many fins are shaped in a way that combs don't fit.

The best tool is a pair of very thin nosed and smooth jawed duckbill pliers. Careful use of a screwdriver or butter knife can work too.

 

[nadogail]

While employed by a bank, during the First Gulf War, I used one with good results to restore air flow through a fan coil on an Air Conditioning System.

Prior to discovering Fin Combs I made good use of thin flat bladed screwdrivers and hacksaw blades.

 

[txvwnut]

Results I’ve had have been so so. If the fins have a hard crease in them I’ve had them tear at the crease while trying to straighten them. Like stated above a small flat blade or pocket screwdriver and the comb will get them straight. When using one I tend to zigzag my hand to try and replicate the crimped pattern in the fins, doesn’t ever work but makes feel like I’m trying that much more.

 

[pi_guy]

Combs have worked well on small rock impact damage on oil and water coolers.
In my kit I have several spatula's of different design they often work well.
Many times it a case of getting air flow and not a perfectly shaped fin.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I have a couple of different ones.

The one with “teeth” like a comb doesn’t work quite as well as the one with a bunch of wires held flat by a little crimp. I probably paid half as much for the wire one.


A butter knife is the next best thing.

I check my condensing unit a couple of times a year, when I wash it out (dust and pollen stop it up). I’ll straighten any fins at that time.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[samss]

25 years refrigeration tech
I actually prefer the multihead plastic combs. As others stated, a smooth butter knife to get the majority of the fold straightened then comb it.
http://https://www.diversitech.com/en-US/category/cat_id/263

 

[Jim greengo]

The combs work on some fin designs. But many fins are shaped in a way that combs don't fit.

The best tool is a pair of very thin nosed and smooth jawed duckbill pliers. Careful use of a screwdriver or butter knife can work too.

What he said,I've seen a lot of fins ripped by fin combs over the years.

 

[rlitman]

25 years refrigeration tech
I actually prefer the multihead plastic combs. As others stated, a smooth butter knife to get the majority of the fold straightened then comb it.
http://https://www.diversitech.com/en-US/category/cat_id/263

I have a plastic multi-head comb. I'll reach for it every time I need to comb fins. I've yet to find anything it fits. Though admittedly I surely have not pulled it out nearly as much as you.

Most of the fins I encounter are looped around in a way that no comb will work (think car radiators and car condensers). The really fine fins on window AC units are way finer than my plastic comb, and actually even the metal wire comb is a bit coarse for them.

 

[jjrbus]

I had the same question and went the what ever would lift the fin. The repaired area is obvious, but the majority of fins are open.