Instruction Manual for Sheet-Metal Workers

Originally published in the 1920s, this manual is intended as a textbook for apprentices in the sheet-metal working industry and for students in trade schools, continuation schools and other schools wishing to give thorough and adequate instruction in sheet-metal work.

In making this analysis of the sheet-metal worker's trade we have endeavored to list the fundamental operations of the trade rather than the jobs of the trade. Since every conceivable job is made up of the operations, in various combinations, the simplest method of procedure is to analyze the trade for the operations involved and use these as the basis of analyzing the jobs of the trade.

The operations constitute the alphabet of the trade. All jobs are made up of combinations of these operations just as words of our written language are made up of a combination of letters of the alphabet and with the same lack of consideration for the order in which they appear in the list.

The operations of the trade have been listed and definite directions given for performing each operation. These directions are followed by questions designed to make the learner think out the reasons why a thing is done in a certain way.

There is also a list of the topics of related trade information. These topics are treated in a brief and concise manner, in order to give the learner the necessary information in a readily available form.

Contents Covered:

• Preface
• How to Use the Manual
• Unit Operations
  1. Making a Dimensioned Sketch
  2. Developing Patterns
  3. Making a Bill of Material Needed for a Job
  4. Cutting Material
  5. Folding Edges
  6. Forming Cylinders with Rolls
  7. Forming with a Brake
  8. Grooving with a Hand Groover or Grooving Machine
  9. Beading or Swaging for Reinforcing or Making Connections
  10. Crimping to Shrink Edges
  11. Burring Edges with a Machine
  12. Peening, Closing Down or Setting Down Seams
  13. Forming on Stakes
  14. Double Seaming on a Stake or with a Machine
  15. Turning Edges with a Machine
  16. Wiring Edges
  17. Riveting Sheet-Metal Joints
  18. Tinning a Soldering Iron
  19. Soldering Tin Plate, Copper, Zinc or Galvanized Iron
  20. Brazing Copper and Brass
  21. Raising or Bumping Sheet-Metal Forms
  22. Flanging or Stretching Metal for Riveted Connections
  23. Punching Holes with a Hollow or Solid Punch
  24. Drilling Holes
  25. Tinning Copper, Brass and Iron
  26. Cutting Wire Glass
  27. Building a Charcoal Fire in a Fire Pot
  28. Installing a Warm Air Furnace
  29. Erecting a Metal Ceiling
  30. Sectioning and Hanging or Setting a Cornice
  31. Hanging a Gutter and Downspout
  32. Flashing or Making Roof Connections
  33. Laying a Metal Shingle Roof
  34. Laying a Tin Roof
  35. Assembling, Setting and Glazing Skylights
  36. Hanging and Glazing Hollow Metal Sash
  37. Setting and Erecting Stacks
  38. Laying a Slate Roof
• Information Topics
  1. Mensuration
  2. Geometrical Problems
  3. Solder and Fiuxes
  4. Materials
  5. Roofing
  6. Cornices
  7. Hot Air Furnaces
  8. Blow Pipe Work
  9. Tool kit
• Standard Tables