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January 13, 2021 03:34
You’re probably familiar enough with sheet metal shears. If not, getting to know them won’t take too much of your time, because we’ll gamble on a certainty that you do know what scissors are. Sheet metal shears, which are also known as tin snips or aviation snips, have two blades that come together and are leveraged via the force of arms, sometimes compounded, in order to make both straight and curved cuts through sheet metal. They’re probably the most widely recognized sheet metal cutter, and recognizable, as we explained, even with no experience in cutting and working sheet metal.
The question then, is, have you heard of nibblers? Nibblers are their own class of sheet metal cutters that have some unique and very distinct advantages over shears. Yes, shears can be used to make fairly precise, fairly quick cuts along sheet metal, but they come at a price. When not used properly, when rushed or forced, and sometimes through no fault of the user at all, shears create ragged, wavy, even uneven edges along the sheet metal medium.
That clears the way for nibblers, a sheet metal cutter that is not making waves, literally. Nibblers are a special class of metal cutters that are specifically designed to produce long cuts that do not damage the edge of sheet metal. In other words, nibblers are designed to produce an edge that is not deformed, is not torn and is not wavy. Shears can sometimes do the same, but if the material is moody or temperamental, and you need a nice, clean edge, a nibbler may be the answer.
Whereas shears work effectively by cutting through the metal, it is the same principle of leverage and force that sometimes causes the edge of sheet metal to deform. Nibblers, by contrast, remove a thin strip of metal from the sheet. Because most nibblers do not operate according to the same mechanical principles as shears, they produce the clean, even edge aforementioned.
Most nibblers will produce a fine swarf of metal chips after they have cut through the sheet metal, and although they produce an undistorted edge, some nibblers may produce a ragged edge that needs to be smoothed or finished, depending on the needs of the project. Nibblers are also preferred by some to shears simply because they are better at navigating tight turns and recesses. Shears struggle to cut sharp corners (most of the time) and even the best shears can only cut straight lines or straight and to the right or left, but not both.
If you’re looking to learn more about nibblers or you just want to see some nibblers for sale so you can learn more about their relative virtues, visit John Stortz & Son at Stortz.com. There, whether you’re more interested in shears, nibblers or some other type of sheet metal cutting tools or forming device, you’ll be able to find it.
You can also consult their customer service team with additional questions regarding controlled cutting, cutting capacity, or about hand tools for small jobs. Give them a call at 888-847-3456 to learn more today.
Posted January 13, 2021 03:34
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December 29, 2020 08:15
Floor ScraperTo others who have no experience with sheet metal roofing, it might seem like a simple or straightforward process. While it isn’t rocket science, it would be completely ill-advised to assume that it isn’t a highly involved series of processes that require unique skills and a number of specialized tools.
Among the tin snips, nibblers, seamers, edging tools, gutter saws and other specialized tools that sheet metal roofers use are metal bending tools. Each of these categories of tools produces a highly specific effect in the sheet metal medium, and bending tools are no different. The only difference that does exist is in the effect itself.
Whereas cutting tools create marks or incisions in sheet metal or separate sections, bending tools, unsurprisingly, bend the sheet metal according to various prerequisite criteria. Bending tools range from simple models like pliers to more advanced powered seamers, brakes, rollers and everything in between.
The basic premise behind the operation of a metal bending tool is that it concentrates and multiplies mechanical advantage as a certain section of sheet metal, such as at the edge, in order to produce a bend, a carve, a roll or even a seam. The exact alteration to be made in the sheet metal will vary according to the tool but the basic premise does not change.
For example, the Draco Disc Bender is a specific metal bending tool that can be found online at Stortz.com and is used primarily for creating full 180 degree hems from a 90 degree flange that exists at the edge of a sheet of metal. It does this with the help of a unique latch that enables the user to “attach” the edge of the sheet metal at any given point, at which point it can be rolled and worked along the edge, bending the sheet incrementally until the desired angle is achieved.
A disc bender like this is able to create crisp bends in metal through the help of the disc that holds the edge in place and guides the motion of the tool as it is worked along the edge. Other benders may use support plates or rollers in order to create the bend at the desired angle, and they can be used to create a number of different bends in sheet metal, especially along the edge.
Some sheet metal bending tools are also used for creating seams at which point metal sheets can be joined together. In that manner, some forming tools fall under the category of bending tools since they technically create a bend in the metal as well.
If you’re looking for metal bending or forming tools and want to learn more about the different types, even to see videos of them in action as a testimonial, make sure you visit John Stortz & Son at Stortz.com. You can trust them as a resource for learning more about these tools, but you can also find a large collection of unique and specialized metal roofing and bending tools (among many others) right on their website as well. Quality and customer service are key concerns for their business - if you have any questions while you shop, call them at 888-847-3456.
Posted December 29, 2020 08:15
December 19, 2020 02:20
A slate hammer is a specialized tool that you might also sometimes hear referred to as a roofing hammer. Slate is a common material used in roofing; it is durable, strong, waterproof, and reliable, despite its expense and weight, and for that reason it is a trusted roofing material. However, working with it effectively requires slate roofers to carry specialized tools, and one of these is known as a slate hammer, mentioned above.
Slate hammers, to the untrained eye, appear a bit like a cross between a crowbar, a geologist’s pick, and a regular hammer, but they contain a number of specific features that makes them uniquely situated to working with slate and similar stone materials. Some of them are as follows.
As one of the primary purposes of a roofing hammer like this is to drive nails, the slate hammer has a flat face that is typically checkered. The checkering performs the same purpose that it would have in a regular hammer. Namely, it increases the surface area of the face that comes into contact with a nail, thereby reducing deflection.
In addition to that striking face, slate hammers also have a point on the other end of the hammer opposite the face, in the manner of a rock pick, as mentioned above. This point is used to concentrate the force of a blow directed through the hammer. In this manner, roofers can make fairly precise holes in slate through which nails can be driven. Additionally, this end of the hammer can also be used similarly to a brick hammer. It can be used to score slate and make relatively precise cuts along the margin created.
Most slate hammers also have a claw, except it is not opposite the face of the hammer as would be present on a claw hammer. The claw usually lies alongside the middle of the face where the handle intersects the head. Its purpose is to remove nails.
Another unique feature of most slate hammers is that they have a beveled edge along the ‘shank’ otherwise known as the handle. This edge is used to trim the edges of pieces of slate. Slate roofers use another tool known as a slate stake, along with their slate hammer, to trim the edges and use the bevel on the shank of the hammer. In this manner, they can cut shingles from slate.
Although roofing hammers will vary superficially, for the most part they will also contain some variation of the features mentioned above. If you want to learn more about slate hammers or to see a catalog of high quality slate hammers for sale, check out the collection at Stortz.com. John Stortz & Son has been supplying high quality roofers tools for many years; you can learn more about them in their “Slate Hammer Tips” informational post, or see a catalog of roofing tools including roofing hatchets and hammers, sheet metal cutting and bending tools, and much more. Visit their website today or call them at 888-847-3456.
Posted December 19, 2020 02:20
December 17, 2020 06:02
Have you ever been higher than the level of a roof, either a metal roof or even a stone roof, and seen those interestingly shaped little bars or spikes projecting from that same roof, and wondered what they were? Perhaps instead of these, you have seen short sections of bar or strips of metal placed across long stretches of the roof. Sometimes those spikes mentioned above have a decorative or ornamental appearance to them.
Though these interestingly little fixtures of metal and stone roofs are sometimes whimsically decorated, they are not there for their visual allure. They actually serve a very important purpose for public safety, which may become evident once their name is revealed. These little fixtures are known as metal roof snow guards, or just snow roof guards, if neither they nor the roof is made of metal.
Then the question that remains, if you are still unsure of their purpose, is what do these little metal roof snow guards protect from, specifically? To answer this, you need to understand the interaction between either snow and ice, and a gently sloped, often smooth metal roof.
When snow accumulates on a roof surface, at first, it may stick. It may even melt partially on top of the roof and then aggregate into a sheet of packed snow or ice. Eventually, when the temperatures warm up enough, that sheet of ice or snow is going to want to detach from the roof and slide off of it. This presents a very serious public safety concern when the conditions align. People can and have been seriously injured from snow and ice sliding and ultimately careening off of roofs.
Snow guards, when strategically placed along the length or a metal roof or situated at staggering intervals, prevent snow and ice from sliding off of the roof in large pieces. In fact, when the snow and ice melt and then refreeze, often they will refreeze around the snow guards which form a “snow retention system,” thereby locking them in place. When this happens, often the snow and ice melt almost entirely into water before they drain from the roof.
In short, metal snow roof guards help buildings manage snow loads and help to prevent damage to passersby or to the ground beneath them. For this simple reason, snow guard systems are a useful and necessary component of roof slopes across the country.
If you’re looking for yourself or even for a client, and you would like to see a colorful catalog of different styles of snow guards, including aesthetically pleased types of snow guards, visit John Stortz & Son on their website, Stortz.com. Among their inventory of the highest quality hand tools and roofing tools in the industry you will come across a wide selection of snow guards in addition to their other products offered.
They’ll even help you select the right snow guards for your given application or scenario. If you’ve never installed them before yourself or are not well familiar with the system, give them a call at 888-847-3456 and speak with a representative; they’ll help you find what you need.
Posted December 17, 2020 06:02
December 16, 2020 07:36
Solder may be popular for the electrical conductivity that is present in some solder alloys, but that’s far from the only thing solder is in demand for. Many roofers, especially sheet metal roofers, have a high demand for solder bar in order to create stronger joints and to help waterproof seams. Solder, as it turns out, has a lot of utility, and when you’re looking for high quality raw materials, remember that they aren’t all created the same.
If you’re looking for a new supplier of solder for roofing purposes, don’t miss a chance to shop with John Stortz & Son, where you’ll find all of the roofing essentials you could possibly need, including solder bar. As the title of this article suggests, you might come for the solder, but you’ll stay for everything else.
As you probably know, solder is made in a variety of different grades, and you’ll find several options at John Stortz & Son at Stortz.com. For example, their 50/50 Tin Lead Bar Solder is made according to exacting tolerances, from virgin materials; there is neither recycled lead nor recycled tin in this alloy. It is subject only to minimal oxidation, which improves not only its longevity but also its appearance over time. This solder is great for flat lock roofing and other soldered roofing, but it’s suitable for other purposes as well. Stortz & Son also offers 60/40 Tin Lead Solder, if you need a slightly stronger solder.
On their website, they also have lead free solder, which is a cost-effective alternative lead-bearing solder. Their tin free solder creates smooth joints with no visible shrinkage and will alloy for little dissolution of copper into the solder mixture. In addition to these several offerings, they feature spooled solder as well, if that is more convenient for your purposes. While you’re on their website, Stortz.com, you’ll also have your choice from a collection of soldering irons, tips, other soldering accessories, and much more.
Stortz & Son is much more than a purveyor of solder, however, and since 1853 they’ve been a trusted local supplier of raw materials, hand tools and other roofing and coopering tools to their clients in Philadelphia and elsewhere around the country. Family owned and operated, their philosophy has always been to put quality and customer service at the front of the operation. They know you can buy a cheap tool several times throughout your life, or you can buy a quality tool one time that will last for life. They subscribe to the latter camp.
If you want to learn more about solder or need help understanding the chemical nuances present in solder blends, such as, for example, why a higher tin composition (or a lead free composition) is valuable, get in touch with their customer service team.
Whatever questions you have, they’d be glad to help you get the answers you need. Give them a call at 888-847-3456 today and let them know what you need.
Posted December 16, 2020 07:36
December 11, 2020 06:58
Finding the best tools can be harder than you think. Depending on what type of tools are needed for whatever project or job you have going on, they can be hard to find. Not to mention if you are looking for a specific brand of tools that are your favorite or that you trust the most. Of course, the typical approach is to head over to your local hardware store chain or establishment, but sometimes they won’t have everything you need.
Especially during the holidays, it’s common to purchase tools to gift to your friends or loved ones. It can be a useful gift for someone who works a lot with tools or works in a profession that requires tools.
A popular brand of tools that manufacture multi-purpose equipment that could be a great gift are products from Malco tools. These tools have a great range of use and are made with the most durable materials meant for tough work. To get an idea of how great this brand of tools are, here’s a list of the best tools to choose from by Malco.
There are a very diverse range of different tools that Malco manufactures. So no matter what industry you do your work in, Malco might have a tool that fits your needs.
● Box and Pan Brake
○ This is meant to fabricate drip pans and register boxes.
● Snap Lock Punch
○ This Malco tool aids with locking plastic skirting and siding into place to finish the trim.
● Hand Riveter 2in1
○ This tool is helpful to easily set all rivets with one small squeeze of the handles. It’s made with heavy duty and durable steel so it can last through wear and tear.
● Corrugated Metal TurboShear
○ This tool is utilized to get easy cross cuts, lengthwise cuts , and square outlet cuts in corrugated metal roofing and metal roofing panels. This tool allows the drill to easily and safely make cuts to an abnormally shaped piece of sheet metal.
● Sliding Removal Tool
○ This tool is designed to aid in the removal of certain sidings and materials that are not easily removed without assistance.
With the angled blade, which allows the user to keep their wrist straight and hands above the work to protect themselves.
Looking for a place that sells Malco tools? Check out John Storz & Son.This fifth generation tool manufacturing and distribution business has been family-owned since 1853. Founded in Philadelphia, this tool manufacturer has been working out of the same factory since its inception.
All of these tools listed above, and much more can be found on the online store at John Storz & Sons.
Coming from their passion for family values and excellent customer service, you can rest assured knowing that you are receiving the most high quality tools and service you can depend on. The team at John Storz & Son specializes in everything a craftsman, roofers, and coppers need to efficiently perform their jobs.
Give them a call at 888-847-3456 and they will be happy to help you in any way possible.
Posted December 11, 2020 06:58
December 2, 2020 08:22
Brick hammers are also known as stonemason’s hammers or bricklayer’s hammers, and are specialized tools that are highly valued by craftsmen that work with stone or bricks. Consisting of a handle, typically in wood or a synthetic material like fiberglass, and a special head, these tools enable masons and bricklayers to make fairly precise cuts and alterations to brick or stone.
The head of a mason’s hammer has a flat face which is typically square, and serves the same function as the face of any flat striking tool. It can be used to drive nails or stakes or to deliver a breaking blow to stone. To that end, the other end of a brick hammer’s head is flattened and sharpened like an adze or a chisel. This end of the head is used to make scoring cuts in rocks or bricks before that section of the rock can be broken off.
Although this sounds like a cumbersome procedure, skilled masons can actually make fairly precise cuts and breaks to stone or bricks with little more than a stone hammer and some experience. If you’ve ever seen a mason cutting a stone into a detailed, accurately sized shape before fitting it into a space, then you know just how accurate masons can be with these.
In the event that you were looking for a quality brick hammer, then you’ll want to look for some things like a popular pattern, a well balanced design with a strong handle, and a head made from tough steel that has been adequately hardened.
Any mason’s hammer that lacks any of these qualities will end up being more of a headache than an investment. For example, poorly balanced hammers will cause you to fatigue prematurely, whereas poor quality handles can break or cause hotspots. Even a hammer head that has not been properly hardened will dull too soon, impacting the degree of precision with which the tool can be used.
You can search for all of these things piecemeal, or you can save some time just by shopping at John Stortz & Son on their website, Stortz.com. For over a hundred years - since 1853 - John Stortz and son has been providing high quality tools to its customers. Based in Old City, Philadelphia, Stortz’s clients have relied on them for hand tools and powered tools for sheet metal cutting, masonry, roofing, soldering, and other specialty tools for many years.
John Stortz & Son is basically about one thing, and that is providing dependable quality tools to its customers. They recognize that a tool should be a lifetime investment and that when you invest in quality up front, it will serve you well in the long run. You can go in for a dime or in for a dollar, and sometimes a dollar is for life.
You can learn more about their tools and other products at Stortz.com, where you’ll find, among other things, brick hammers and other masonry tools for your trade. Read up on them there and give them a call at 888-847-3456 if you have additional questions that you need addressed.
Posted December 2, 2020 08:22
November 26, 2020 07:12
Sheet metal cutting tools are indispensable for making clear concise alterations such as cuts and punches and to sheet metals like steel, aluminum, copper and other alloys. Tradesmen such as roofers rely on these tools in their repertoire to make precise, replicable cuts in sheet metals can be otherwise difficult to work with. Some of the common sheet metal cutting tools you may come across in a shop - or that you will need to work with sheet metal - are as follow:
Snips - Snips are hand powered shears that look something like heavy duty scissors. These are used for making both straight and angled cuts in sheet metal, and it is important to remember that some shears will cut a curve in one direction, but not the other way. Metal snips are sometimes called aviation snips and some of them have additional levers attached to the handles to create a mechanical advantage - these are called compound snips.
Powered Shears and Drill Shears - Some metal shears look nothing like conventional snips. Powered shears are more easier to use than hand snips and can afford you more effortless cuts. One variant of powered shears are drill shear attachments, which mount to a still and use its power to automate the shear’s cutting action.
Nibblers - Nibblers are also tools for cutting sheet metal, but their purpose is to minimize the distortion of the metal through the cut, leaving you with a smoother surface. These can be valuable tools when the finished product has low tolerances for variation in the finish of the surface.
Slitters - Slitters cut sheet metal, as do the other tools on this list. However, slitters typically work via a cutting wheel instead of two jaws. They can be used to decrease the width of rolled sheet metal coils, and some of them can be used very efficiently to make precise cuts in the raw materials being used.
Punches - Punches, broadly, “punch” a hole through sheet metal, for a variety of purposes. Some create outlets, others create notches through which fasteners can be driven. Wherever you need to open up a small, replicable hole in sheet metal, a punch is probably the tool you will turn to.
This list is neither comprehensive or exhaustive. There are other types of sheet metal cutting tools available on the internet and in specialty shops, so don’t think that just because it isn’t featured here, it isn’t important.
This is just a brief introduction to some of the more common sheet metal cutting tools, many of which you can find online at John Stortz & Son on their website, Stortz.com. Since 1853, Stortz has been providing masons, roofers and other craftsmen with the highest-quality tools-of-their-trade available.
If you need a specialty tool like a hand seamer, an outlet punch, or a brick hammer, you won’t surpass the quality of Stortz.com’s wares. Visit their website today to learn more about each of these, and if you have any questions on them, call one of their representatives at 888-847-3456.
Posted November 26, 2020 07:12