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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 [...]

Tom builds this unique spinning pot rack using a Shop Outfitters ring roller.

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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 [...]

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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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Commercial and residential structures are popping up everywhere these days with metal roofs. New buildings and remodels alike are opting for this sustainable and economic choice without compromising on architectural design and function.
Metal roofing will outlast most other roofing types. Metal roofing is more durable. Wind can lift the edges of small tiles and shingles. [...]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Join Tom for a quick tour of his metal shop.  Trade Tool Innovations will take you through adding on an addition this summer.  TTI needs additional room for tools and storage.  Tom built and designed the shop to coincide with TTI’s growing needs.  There is an area for larger jobs, enough room to pull [...]

Things here at Trade Tool Innovations have been busy! This spring (as soon as the ground is thawed) we will be embarking on a building addition. It is hard to believe that the process for our current shop/house began nine years ago on April 15, 1999. Tom was on his tractor leveling out the dirt [...]

A metal wood ring is easy to make if you have the correct tools.  This wood rack was made using the Ring Roller from Shop Outfitters.
The Ring Roller Tom used was a 238 Ring Roller.  It is made for a maximum of 2″ wide by 3/8″ steel stock.  First, figure out the desired ring size.  [...]

Many people often ask “What is the difference between tubing and pipe?” I am going to hit some of the high points of each.
Pipe is sized by the inside diameter or the I.D. of the pipe, this will be discussed a bit more later. To confuse matters a bit the wall thickness of the pipe [...]

Most of the time soapstone is used to mark steel for cutting and fabricating.  Soapstone is a natural element that can be easily found at hardware and welding supply stores.
A good alternative for marking steel can be found at any local discount store.  The silver metallic  sharpie works wonders on a piece of steel.  Several [...]