Any Tinners out there

bigtiller · Dec 31, 2018

I'm looking for somewhere between a 4" to 8" hand seamer that has 2 setscrews that are used as a depth gauge when forming hems. An old-timer who has long since pass on, had a pair and they sure were handy. I'm not having any luck finding them on the internet.

Have you ever seen a pair?

Dwellonroof · Dec 31, 2018

I have been doing residential sheet metal work for 45 years and the old tinners tools are getting harder to find and if you do the sky's the limit pricewise.

k0ua · Dec 31, 2018

how about the one that comes up in the targeted adds at the top?

https://www.amazon.com/Malco-S6R-MA...ormat=strip&impressionTimestamp=1546290632957

gator · Dec 31, 2018

These are 3 and a half inches wide with adjustable depth stop but may fit your need: 793 Hand Seamer - Roper Whitney .

bigtiller · Dec 31, 2018

k0ua said:
how about the one that comes up in the targeted adds at the top?

Robot Check

Thanks, but not what I want.

bigtiller · Dec 31, 2018

gator said:
These are 3 and a half inches wide with adjustable depth stop but may fit your need: 793 Hand Seamer - Roper Whitney .

Hey, thanks gator! That's just what I want and it's the first I've seen, but at $69 + $22 for shipping I'm doing some more resurch.

Tractor Seabee · Jan 1, 2019

I worked in the trade with my Dad and we had those. First thing we did was throw the gauge screws away. More trouble than they were worth. we scribed a line where we wanted to make the bend if other than the standard 1/2" we used them for most. We eyeballed most of it.

Al those old tools if they still make them are abnormally expensive because not many are made. Not much is done by hand anymore. I still have a set of sheet metal tools. Have lost some like the set of rivet setters. Actually I saw tinners rivets on Amazon the other day. Haven't seen a hand seamer for years.

That Malco one with the compound leverage joint amazes me. Can't visualize the reason for it.

Ron

bcp · Jan 1, 2019

Could one of these work? Many widths are available.

Bruce

orezok · Jan 1, 2019

There was one of those in my dads tool box that I inherited. Never knew what it was.

bironacad · Jan 1, 2019

I always called them tongs, go figure. Just googled sheet metal tongs and sure enough there they are, lol. thought I was loosing it, CRS,

bigtiller · Jan 1, 2019

Tractor Seabee said:
I worked in the trade with my Dad and we had those. First thing we did was throw the gauge screws away. More trouble than they were worth. we scribed a line where we wanted to make the bend if other than the standard 1/2" we used them for most. We eyeballed most of it.

Al those old tools if they still make them are abnormally expensive because not many are made. Not much is done by hand anymore. I still have a set of sheet metal tools. Have lost some like the set of rivet setters. Actually I saw tinners rivets on Amazon the other day. Haven't seen a hand seamer for years.

That Malco one with the compound leverage joint amazes me. Can't visualize the reason for it.

Ron

I seen that kind and thought the same thing.
For the price of these things, I think eyeballing it is a good plan.
The old-timer I was talking about earlier used to say, "if it is within a quarter inch I can make it fit."
That seams like the way to go cause nothing I make needs to be water tight or in an art exhibit.

jaxs · Jan 1, 2019

All I know about old tinsmiths is you will recognize one by their hands and arms. They appear to have been tying knots in wildcat tails.

bigtiller · Jan 1, 2019

jaxs said:
All I know about old tinsmiths is you will recognize one by their hands and arms. They appear to have been tying knots in wildcat tails.

It is kind of a prickly occupation.
I recently made a 4"x4"x2" box and drew blood twice.

orezok · Jan 1, 2019

bigtiller said:
It is kind of a prickly occupation.
I recently made a 4"x4"x2" box and drew blood twice.

I know that tin knockers have one of the highest workers comp rates.

jaxs · Jan 1, 2019

orezok said:
I know that tin knockers have one of the highest workers comp rates.

Probably chump change as compared to sawmills and cabinet shops.

dfkrug · Jan 1, 2019

bigtiller said:
I'm looking for somewhere between a 4" to 8" hand seamer that has 2 setscrews that are used as a depth gauge when forming hems.

I installed my first standing-seam steel roof back in the 90s. I needed some tool to hem each panel, so I bought a pair of vise-grips with 4-5" wide flat jaws, then glued fabric over the jaws to protect the Kynar roof coating. The steel was thick, so I am glad I had the vise-grip feature. That was before eBay was big, so now there are many more choices.

Today, I would customize the tool to be exactly the width I needed, by welding. It would have saved time & effort in the end.

Budweiser John · Jan 1, 2019

bigtiller said:
Hey, thanks gator! That's just what I want and it's the first I've seen, but at $69 + $22 for shipping I'm doing some more resurch.

Holy cow, looking at these prices and others for good quality hand tools, my tool box is worth a fortune. Like most others on this site, over the years tools are purchased one at a time on as needed.
All of a sudden, that beloved collection is well, Priceless.

Tractor Seabee · Jan 2, 2019

dfkrug said:
I installed my first standing-seam steel roof back in the 90s. I needed some tool to hem each panel, so I bought a pair of vise-grips with 4-5" wide flat jaws, then glued fabric over the jaws to protect the Kynar roof coating. The steel was thick, so I am glad I had the vise-grip feature. That was before eBay was big, so now there are many more choices.

Today, I would customize the tool to be exactly the width I needed, by welding. It would have saved time & effort in the end.

When I was learning the trade from my Dad we had SR roof seamers that were 18" wide 2" deep jaws, and 3' handles. Anchoring clips were embedde in the seam before squeezing shut. At each clip we installed a tinners rivet. We We made SR roof panels in the shop on the brake (10'). 24 gauge galvanized was the standard for a quality roof. Horizontal seams were a flat lock with anchor clip depending on width. Any sealing to make water tight was soldered, not gooped with mucky puck. Who can solder a vertical wall seam today? The panels were interlocked with thru roof and wall flasings. Crickets behind chimneys were a real challenge. We did roofs, flashings, gutters, and downspouts of galv steel, zinc coated steel, copper, tern plated steel, and soft temper stainless. We made everything by hand on the brake. There were special attachments for the brake for forming radiuses.

Dad claimed he never had a roof or flashing leak or destroyed by wind. He learned the trade in CCC camps and then in St Louis MO in the 30s. When you learn those kinds of detail work and the care factor that goes into it it creates an attitude about work that stays with you for life. I hate the statement your hear a lot today; "that's good enough". The work shows that attitude all over.

Ron

jaxs · Jan 2, 2019

We have become settlers Seabee. We settle for less than we should because there is no better to be had.

drivesitfar · Jan 14, 2020

ALL: i'm hoping to maybe pick up a few things on this thread from the pros cause having this skill could be very useful in some of my DIY projects. I picked up this Tin Knocker's anvil that sits on I think and old Model T gear and maybe one day I'll shine it up.

did any of you make toolboxes like this in class or for your tractor? I think they also call them a preacher's box?