sheet metal workers: what tools do i need?

[tpolley]

in 4 weeks i will be a tin bender for sheet metal workers local 2. i'm sure during the first week of orientation they will tell me what tools i need. i'd like to get a head start if i can. i'll be checking craigslist for used tools. in the past i've been a big proponent of harbor freight, but i'll probably stay away from them for these tools. what should i be looking for?

obviously tin snips. but what else?

 

[gonefirefighting]

get a good electric shear, Milwaukee is pretty much the standard and a compact nibbler makes a huge difference rather than using a rotary tool. Depending on what you will be working on the flanging tools can fill up a tool box pretty quick.

 

[metaldad]

Malco Products makes a complete line of tinners tools.
seamers, folding tools, notchers, scribers, duct stretchers, hammers, awls.
go here:http://malcoproducts.com/product/hvacr#metal-duct
good luck in your new escapades.
be sure to buy a first aide kit.

 

[rockwithjason]

does your local have a tool list? most do. get a copy of that tool list an prioritize it according to your budget.

 

[hydramatic]

you should go to work first, see if that `s what you want. make sure your boss isn`t an Esso Bee, before you go and spend that money..

 

[Outlawmws]

Basic hand tools, first and foremost, a sheet metal hammer, (not something you think will do as a SM hammer; get a real one.... Two of my closest friends were in the trade for decades, and both worked as formen and superintendents, and if a guy showed up on a job without a sheet metal hammer, they would send them back to the hall...)

You will also need a rivet set, not to set rivets, but to lock certain seams (I don't recall the official name.. Sorry)

The small one I show is sufficient, but a bigger one or something bigger to use as a dolly is a nice to have...

These are nice to have, you can also get the top set in vise grips as well, the bottom set I made from a set of nippers with crunched jaws. these are VERY good for flattening munged edges of metal. as they produce a lot of pressure due to the short distance between the pivot and the work. (Archimedes lives on!)

If you make a set, clamp down n a couple of thicknesses of 22 or 24 ga, so the jaws are spaced better.

You said snips but there are a lot of types:

Bench - The aluminum are nice if you are cutting all day, but are more limited on the thickness you can cut. If you can find then still, a set of "specials" (not shown) is nice to have. longer handles and the jaws are better for SS and alloy steels.

Look up my thread on Tin Snips 101" for more on snips (inc pics and info on the specials).

Aviation snips right left and straight:

The notchers are a nice to have, as are the angled snips, but you will need them eventually:

And the lowly pop riveter, these are older, but make sure you get good ones.

I don't remember the specific name for these (shinker? Malco C-1...) If you are doing ducting, you need these to make the shrunk end when you shorten a length of duct at times.

 

[metaldad]

Outlaws: that 'shrinker' is a crimping tool. some are 3, some are 5 bladed.
lock seams............ usually a pittsburgh, or sometimes called a snap joint.
the seamers you have shown are kinda archaic. Malco makes them in compound action.

 

[Outlawmws]

Interesting, I'd always seen them used for the duct ends, but I can see them for locking a seam as well, especially the 3 jaw. (always felt like the 3 jaw I'd seen around was sort of useless for Duct ends, now I know why...)

Glad to see Malco has a compound version for the seamers, that "long nose" bent jaw of mine needs Hercules to actually use... Between constant use of snips and seamers, my old friends had the strongest hands of anybody I ever met...

 

[jeffmoss26]

Duct stretcher?

 

[metaldad]

Duct stretcher?

malco makes several, mainly a straight and an offset one.
offset is more better, as it gets your knuckles outta the way,

the wheels are inserted into the 'drive' groove of a pair of adjacent, non connected pieces of duct. when manipulated, it brings the 2 pieces together to be joined. they just came out with a new one which i haven't had the opportunity to acquire yet.

 

[RobertMo1988]

i have 2 extra used malco riveting hammers (18oz), a extra set of crimpers, malco panduit gun(no grip style), wiss hand seamers if you are looking for second hand tools

 

[bigcaddy]

Check out a Malco HC1 rotary hole cutter. They seem to be quite popular and make cutting any size hole in sheet metal a snap. They can be found on ebay for under 40 bucks. Its too bad you didn't post this up a few days ago as i would of sold you my HC1 for very cheap.

 

[slob]

On the first day of my apprenticeship, Local 28 provided me with a small Waterloo toolbox containing an Estwing 16 oz. setting hammer, a pair of Vise-Grips, a large regular screwdriver (which I lost and miss terribly. It was indestructible), Midwest left and right aviation snips, a C.S. Osborne scratch awl, a Lufkin 25' tape measure, Wiss bulldog snips, a drift pin, a combination square, and a wood folding rule. I added almost immediately two ratcheting box wrenches, a full set of screw drivers, larger left and right aviation snips, a 50' tape measure, several more pairs of Vise grips, flange grips, Malco notchers, Malco buttoners, Malco crimpers, a 20 oz Klenk setting hammer and Midwest zip-tie tighteners. If you work in the field you're going to want a serious toolbag.

If your Local doesn't provide you with a set of tools and you have to buy your own, do yourself a favor and buy the good stuff. You're going to wind up buying it anyway. Plan on buying a few sets of snips. The springs break, the nuts loosen up, and the blades get messed up (especially if some douchebag borrows them to cut wire).

Also, in 7 years of knocking tin I never once used a duct stretcher.

Oh, and I've never met an HVAC shop owner who wasn't an "Esso Bee".

 

[Fordman7795]

Get 2 of everything on the required tool list in the handbook plus 5 of every kind of vise grip (older us made) The rest will be supplied by the companies. If u cant afford everything all at once make friends with an old journeyman and he may give you tools.

 

[Fordman7795]

Instead of the wheeled duct stretcher get a pair of lockin horsehoe pullers but if u are fresh you wont need them for awhile. Probably just your driving gloves and broomin shoes for 2 years

 

[jeffmoss26]

I own one Malco tool, it's a scratch awl I found in a ceiling. Still glad it did not end up falling out into my head or eye
I don't do sheet metal work but have always liked Wiss snips for general use.
I am sure a good 1/4 and 5/16 magnetic driver for your screw gun would be very important, since they seem to use a TON of self tapping hex screws

 

[WV Hillbilly]

get these fairmont tongs

you can beat on them forever.

 

[Inventions Creator]

I saw you got a job with the local 2. I'm sorry to bother you with questions, but I took the sheet metal test last month and have a interview coming up. I was wondering what kind of questions they asked and do you know how it was scored? Any tips?

Respectfully Posted,
IC

 

[BD1]

Outlawmws, that ''POP'' rivet gun is older than me ! Is that the type where you need to open or spread handles to insert rivet in hole ? Then the rivet is held in place until handle is squeezed. Mine holds rivet and that can be a life savior.
I would think the shop would supply all power and battery operated tools. At least that's how my combo shop was setup. You should just require hand tools. Do you know what type of work to will be doing ?
Could be HVAC, Architectural metal, and even gutters. Either way I think you will want a good pouch.

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlawmws, that ''POP'' rivet gun is older than me ! Is that the type where you need to open or spread handles to insert rivet in hole ? Then the rivet is held in place until handle is squeezed. Mine holds rivet and that can be a life savior.
I would think the shop would supply all power and battery operated tools. At least that's how my combo shop was setup. You should just require hand tools. Do you know what type of work to will be doing ?
Could be HVAC, Architectural metal, and even gutters. Either way I think you will want a good pouch.

That's OK, lots of my tools are Way older than me too!

And yep it is that type. all of my pop riveters are.

 

[tinbender 66]

I've got about 30 years as a union tinbender so here's a few things I've gathered.

Any power stuff (double cuts, unishears, drillmotors etc.) should be supplied by your employer.

A lot depends on whether you are in the shop or in the field, doing HVAC or architectural etc.

I agree with fordman on using the "horseshoe" pliers for yanking duct together.

You employer should supply the broom

Soo.......snips (Midwest for me), Wiss "bull" snips, a folder (tongs), mine are Hamlets, spendy but the best. Tape measure, screwdriver for bashing holes in things (I wouldn't use that Snap On one lol), Pop riveter (they don't make this one anymore but it's the best I've had), crimpers (maybe), lotsa vice grips. Those other two things on the right are a v-notcher and a dovetailer. Most shops have machines to do those things for you.

Hammers..............When I was in the shop I used a body hammer. It does a much nicer job of bangin' stuff together. Field work, most guys just use a claw hammer, especially in architectural.

Also, a magnetic torpedo level, knife, tape measure.

PLUS...........You'll be going to school so a basic set of drafting stuff is in order.

Work like a dog, **** up all the knowledge you can and you'll be off that broom before you know it (at least if you worked for me). You will be used as cheap labor but a smart biz owner will look for potential...........

 

[tinbender 66]

"horseshoe" pliers and a drift pin which you will have to have if you hang any duct with Ductmate type flanges.

 

[Brad54]

A couple good pairs of leather gloves, preferably high enough to protect your wrists.
Keep a pair in your tool box, and a pair in your truck at all times (in case you lose one).

I'm not a professional sheetmetal worker, but I've been around a lot of pro shops over the years, and do some sheetmetal fab on cars.
One of the best tools I DON'T have yet is this sheetmetal edge deburring tool from Dagger.
www.daggertools.com/m5/DBU03--double-edge-deburring-scraper.html
I first saw it in a sheetmetal shop about 10 years ago, and just found where to get it last month.
After cutting the sheetmetal, drag this down the edge and it will deburr it in a pass.

This is probably the next tool I'll buy.

-Brad
www.daggertools.com/m5/DBU03--double-edge-deburring-scraper.html

 

[Outlawmws]

The old timers would probably run him out of the union for using one of those Brad!

 

[RobertMo1988]

To me it just really depends on what kind of sheetmetal your shop does. these are the tools i typically carry with me regardless. i guess youll never know what you run into. Im a 4th year s/m apprentice. our school will sell you a drafting kit that comes in a bag like the blue one below. They hand us out these books that we keep throughout our apprenticeship, and forever if we want them i guess.