A great new website to check out for all you decorative concrete guru’s is www.concreteideas.com The creators of the site have found a way to cut through the clutter… so to speak. High speed internet concrete fans are treated to a smooth rotation of project photo’s right off the get go. The home page is [...]
13
Nov
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13
Nov
There is really ONLY one way a true tool is invented… out of necessity… or frustration. When someone is finally frustrated by how things are going… that someone is more than likely to start thinking of better ways to do what ever it is that is frustrating him/her.
This was a familiar site to young Tom [...]
13
Nov
Welding magazine is one of our favorite resources here at Trade Tool Innovations. The magazine carries one regular feature that is well worth taking time to read. Blodgett’s Basics is a welders best friend.
The author, Omer W Blodgett, ScD., P.E., shares his extensive knowledge of the welding field. He does a good job of describing [...]
6
Nov
Metal Handrails
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Building Code, Metal Bending, Metal Fabrication, Metal Handrails, Ring Roller, Steel, Tubing BendersÂ
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Tom often gets requests to build custom metal handrails from both residential builders and commercial companies. His various projects will be posted to this site as they are completed. I thought it might be handy to review a few steps to consider as you begin a handrail fabrication project.
Tom’s years spent as a building inspector [...]
24
Sep
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The advent of concrete trucks has revolutionized the use of concrete. Concrete is an old building material used since ancient times.Â
23
Sep
Concrete Screed Video
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Building and Additions, Concrete, Metal Bending, Small Business, Tom's World, ToolsTom and crew pour a slab of concrete for his new building addition using the TTI Screedright Pro. The TTI Screedright Pro utilizes a wooden 2X4 as a screed bar. A wooden 2X4 allows for better screeding with no expensive screed bars to purchase. A wooden board can be cut to any length for a [...]
18
Aug
Steel Building Windows
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Alternative Energy, Building and Additions, Small BusinessÂ
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Tom chose to put 8, 4 foot by 4 foot  windows on the south side of the new addition. The solid steel framed windows will allow the southern sun to come in and heat this part of the building. Tom also included two slide windows with built in screens on the west and north walls [...]
18
Aug
Steel Building Structure
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Building and Additions, Small Business, Steel, Tom's WorldÂ
Tom puts up the skeleton for the new steel building addition. After the concrete footings and floor were complete, it was time to erect the steel structure. The main frame steel is put up first. Those are the large steel girders and serve as the main support for the metal structure. Tom started in the [...]
17
Jul
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A plate compactor compacts sub base for concrete and gets your ground to grade. Tom added granite fines to the existing base for a level surface prior to pouring his concrete floor. Leveling your floor surface allows for a more accurate estimate when purchasing concrete. After grading the sub base, it helps to water down [...]
17
Jul
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Water is important to concrete. This article will explain why it is necessary to spray down your concrete after it has been laid.
Concrete hardens through the hydration process. It takes a lot longer than one thinks for concrete to full harden and dry. A chemical reaction is at the root of a good concrete surface. [...]
10
Jul
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Tony from Midwest Recreational Clearinghouse in Minnesota emailed these photos of a truss screed he acquired.  Tony runs the website crankyape.com that specializes in auctioning off repossessed items. He knew they were some sort of concrete screed, but was unsure as to how it worked.
This truss screed unit is obviously in used condition. The long [...]
9
Jul
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It’s easy to mix your own concrete when you have a small job to pour. You will need to have a small concrete mixer. I you don’t own one, check your local small equipment rental outlet.
3
Jul
Ring Roller Project: Spinning Pot Rack
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Kitchens, Metal Bending, Metal Fabrication, Ring Roller, WeldingÂ
A pot rack is a great project to build with a ring roller. This pot rack has the added bonus of a spinning feature.
2
Jul
Tom built a custom cleaning truck for portable toilets. He started with a Ford F-550 with a flat bed. It is a good truck for hauling large loads because it is sprung heavy in the back.Â
Heber Richardson, owner of Honeywagon Sanitation, ordered in a slide in cleaning unit. The cleaning unit comes self contained. The [...]
2
Jul
New Construction: Weld Ledge
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Building and Additions, Metal Fabrication, Steel, Tom's World, WeldingÂ
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Today Tom was busy working on a welding job at the University of Wyoming. UW has experienced an explosion of construction growth in the past year. Much of the building has to do with the state surplus that Wyoming enjoys from it’s mineral money. The legislature has seen fit to allow for many upgrades and [...]
2
Jul
Steel Brackets For Bridge
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Metal Fabrication, Steel, Tools, WeldingÂ
Interesting jobs are always coming into the shop. Summertime is a busy time around here as local ranchers and land owners are geared up to do those outside projects before the snow falls again.Â
A project that came in this week entails building brackets for a rough on timber footbridge. The brackets are custom built for a local [...]
28
Jun
The twenty four foot portable toilet trailer that Tom is building for Honeywagon Sanitation has one last step.   Creating a good system for attaching the portable toilets insures the security, safety and ease when mounting the portable toilets for travel. It also secures the investment a sanitation company has made in purchasing portable toilets.Â
A [...]
28
Jun
Portable Toilet Trailer: Wiring
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Portable Toilet Business, Small Business, Tom's WorldÂ
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Today Tom completed wiring the lights and the charge wire for the trailer breakaway kit.   With a few tools and a little know how, anyone can complete a simple wiring job. Tom used: fish tape, an ohm meter, wire cutter, wire stripper, soldering iron, shrink tubing and a heat gun.
A few wires were needed [...]
26
Jun
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These series of articles will be dedicated to highlighting small business, like ours, who keep the economy churning.Â
In the course of building our concrete screed, we enlist the help of other businesses. The TTI Screedright Pro is almost entirely powder coated. Powder coating is a durable finish that adheres to the object and is heat finished [...]
26
Jun
Portable Toilet Trailer
Posted by Tom Gabriel Published in Metal Fabrication, Portable Toilet Business, Small Business, Steel, Tom's World, Tools, Trucks, WeldingÂ
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This is the first article in our new section “Tom’s World”. When Tom quit his conventional job at the City of Laramie several years ago, his day changed dramatically. Many times we get the question: “What do you do?”. We will try and do a daily update in this section of our website.
Today Tom and [...]
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Tom Gabriel
Tom Gabriel has built entire an entire house by himself from pouring the foundation, plumbing, electrical etc.
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