There is lots to observe at this years Winter Olympic games. One fabrication blog takes on the unique metal fireplace screed seen on NBC’s Today Show…
27
Feb
There is lots to observe at this years Winter Olympic games. One fabrication blog takes on the unique metal fireplace screed seen on NBC’s Today Show…
24
Feb
It takes time, effort and energy to learn how to do something new. A recent post prompted reader, Sylvia, to write in and ask if I could do some posts on simple welding projects and share a few tips. Sylvia has taken on the task of learning to weld at the wonderful age [...]
23
Feb
Dave recently sent this picture in via our facebook page, while he was on vacation on the east coast. His question for Tom had to do with the type of weld used on this underwater exploration vehicle.
Tom thought the machinery looked like it was built out of steel with an aluminum or zinc paint [...]
23
Feb
Sometimes the only way to fabricate a custom metal handrail is on the job site. This handmade handrail was welded partially in the shop and finished off at the custom home.
There are several things to remember when considering on site welding. It is best to be well prepared before leaving your shop. [...]
18
Feb
We received an email from Tim in Southwest Oklahoma. He had seen the video we made of our adventures while constructing our metal building house/shop. His main questions centered around our experience with insulation. He wanted to know what type of insulation we used for the home and if we had experienced any problems with home sweating during the winter months. He also asked if Tom had any advice on how to prevent sweating. Thanks for the questions Tim and we will do our best to try and answer your questions. By the way, best of luck with your building project and send us some updates and pictures for our website!
18
Feb
I continue to blog on the great pictures and notes that my brother in law sends updating family and friends on the home they are building themselves in northern Wyoming. Not many people can say they built their home themselves and really mean it! Way to go Chip and gang… keep the updates [...]
16
Feb
Tom and family travel a few miles south the Estes Park Colorado for a long weekend get away.
13
Feb
Tom uses a compact bender to fabricate metal handles.
4
Feb
Most auto body shops have small covered anchor pots with a removable chain feature installed into the floor. It is easy to incorporate anchor pots into a concrete floor while constructing a new shop. Tom included several anchor pots into the new addition of his machine and welding shop.
25
Jan
We have been busy. It has taken us forever to rough in the electrical work. To date we have run well over 2000 feet of 14-2 wire, 500′ of 12-2 wire, 150′ of 8 gauge wire, 100′ of 10 gauge wire, 750′ of CAT 5 communications cable, 500′ and counting of plenum rated [...]
9
Jan
As the temperature drops in most of the nation during the winter months, it is a good idea to review a few tips to prevent household pipes from freezing. Just a couple of extra steps can save a lot of headache after a night in the deep cold.
Most of the time pipes freeze in [...]
6
Jan
The Millers continue to plug away at building a new energy efficient home themselves…
28
Dec
The week between Christmas and New Year tends to be a little slow at Trade Tool Innovations. We usually take advantage of the time off and pop in and out of town as the weather allows.
This past Christmas day we were up in Boulder Colorado preparing for our Christmas dinner and I (Karen) came [...]
10
Dec
Tom reviews a deep fry kit from Bass Pro Shop in honor of Thanksgiving.
17
Nov
Tom had the opportunity to work on a turbo piston several weeks ago. On this particular piston the compression ratio needed to be lowered. Pistons are a basic part to all types of machinery that employ a reciprocating engine and are designed to work in harmony with the other components of the engine. [...]
17
Nov
Having sled dogs is a popular past time in Wyoming. One of our neighbors brought in a dog sled that he uses frequently with his dogs. The sled had a malfunctioning break that made it difficult for the owner and dogs to maneuver the sled properly. Not knowing much about dog sleds, [...]
12
Nov
Do it yourself home construction continues.
12
Nov
One great way to save money and boost the look of your home in any kind of economy is to replace carpet yourself. Tom usually replaces living room carpet about every 3-5 years. The living room is heavy used in the Gabriel household and it is directly adjacent to Tom’s busy shop area. [...]
10
Nov
In this article, Tom reviews a windshield repair kit found at any local auto parts store.
3
Nov
An easy and attractive way to attach metal stair rail to a concrete or stone wall.
Tom Gabriel has built an entire shop/house by himself from pouring the foundation, plumbing, electrical etc.