PLUMBING THEORY 1

Portaband/ Portable Band Saw

Portable band saws come in both corded (electric-powered) and cordless varieties (battery-

powered)

A portable band saw, also referred to as a "portaband," is a powered portable tool used to cut

metal, wood, and other materials. They are renowned for cutting metal considerably more quietly

and cleanly than saws that use more abrasives, such a sawzall.

How to Use a Portable Band Saw Safely

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Identify the material that needs to be cut and select the appropriate blade and model Before

cutting, make sure the object or material you wish to cut is securely fastened into place. After

allowing the blade to "run up," place the blade parallel onto the object or material, making sure

excessive force isn't used.

PPE Needed

CSA-certified work boots, long pants or fitted clothing, safety glasses or eye protection, ear

plugs, or muffs are all recommended.

Reputable Brands

● Milwaukee \s

● DEWALT \s

● BOSCH \s

● Makita

Price Points: DEWALT 20V MAX* Cordless Portable Band Saw, $224.93

$488.57 for the corded Milwaukee 6238-20 AC/DC Deep Cut Portable Two-Speed Band Saw.

$319.00 for the cordless BOSCH GCB18V-2N 18V Compact Band Saw.

the DEWALT Portable Band Saw, Deep Cut, 10 Amp, 5-Inch (corded) costs $419.99.

Maintenance
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Keep your portable clean and free of waste or solid garbage that accumulates throughout a task.

Regularly oil the blade to prevent friction heat that occurs during cutting. Regularly grease the

rotating wheel and other small moving parts or joints.

Reciprocating Saw
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Reciprocating Saw Types (Sawzall)

Electric-powered corded; cordless (battery-powered)

Compact/One-Handed (worked with one hand in small, confined situations) Pneumatic (also

known as air saws, uses an air compressor for power)

The primary function of a reciprocating saw, often known as a "sawzall," is to cut through a

variety of materials by "reciprocating," or pushing and pulling. They primarily employ drywall,

wood, and metal to cut through.

How to Use a Reciprocating Saw Safely: Put on protective clothing Check your reciprocating

saw to make sure it has all the necessary parts, including a blade and blade guard Examine the

material you wish to cut and use the appropriate reciprocating saw and blade to prevent injury

Make sure the object or material you wish to cut is securely fastened and won't move or fall

when cutting Maintain a firm two-handed grip on the reciprocating saw at all times and When

not in use, leave your reciprocating saw unplugged and with the power switch in the off position.

PPE Required: Gloves, CSA Certified Work Boots, Ear Plugs or Muffs, Safety Glasses or Eye

Protection, Long Pants or Fitted Clothes

Reputable Brands: Makita, Craftsman, BLACK + DECKER, and DEWALT

Price Points: BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Cordless Reciprocating Saw ($102.01),

DEWALT Reciprocating Saw, Corded, 12-Amp, $139.00, DEWALT Atomic 20V MAX*

Reciprocating Saw, One-Handed, $189.00, and Ingersoll-Rand 529 Low Vibration Reciprocating

Air Saw, Pneumatic, $296.28

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Maintenance

Always operate your reciprocating saws according to the instructions in the owner's manual to

avoid damaging the blade or tool. Clean your reciprocating saws frequently, including the air

vent to avoid malfunctions. Occasionally lubricate your saw blades with oil to keep them cool

and keep them sharper for longer.

Snap Cutters

Snap Cutters Can Be Either Manual (Used With Your Hands) Or Powered (Used With Batteries

Or Electricity).
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The purpose of the powerful snap cutter is to "snap" or cut through various types of pipe,

including cast iron and clay. A pipe is snapped at the desired length by wrapping and tightening a

chain around it.

When using snap cutters, it's important to take the following safety precautions:

(1) Wear protective eyewear and gloves.

(2) Inspect the size and material of the pipe you wish to cut and choose the appropriate snap

cutter for the job.

(3) Clean the pipe of any dust or debris that could reduce the grip and leverage of the snap

cutters.

(4) Wrap the chain around the width of the pipe at the desired point and begin tightening slowly;

(5) Keep your fingers and other body parts away from the chain to avoid serious harm.

(6) tighten it using the trigger or in the case of a manual snap cutter, the handles, until the pipe

breaks in two.

(7)Snap cutters, whether manual or powered, should be put away in a dry, level location after

use.

PPEs Used: Safety glasses for eye protection and gloves

Famous Brands:

RIDGID

Stanley
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LASCO \s

Jetech

Prices

Here are some examples of prices: RIDGID 10531 246L Soil Pipe Cutter, 2 to 12" (manual)

$1182.60 RIDGID 226 In-Place Soil Pipe Cutter (manual) $888.20 RIDGID 42878 238-P

Powered Soil Pipe Cutter (powered) $984.82 RIDGID 34403R Press Snap Soil Pipe Cutter

(powered bit) $752.68

Maintenance

You should only use your snap cutters on the recommended materials to extend their useful life,

and you should keep the ratchet and other small moving parts on manual snap cutters oiled and

well lubricated to keep them from seizing up and malfunctioning.

Screw Drivers
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various screwdriver types (common plumbing screwdrivers)

 Flat Head/Slotted Head, Torx, Philips, Pozridriv, and double cross-shaped tips all have

flat tips (star-shaped tip)

 Square and Robertson (tapered square tip)

 Hex/Hexagon (used for bolts, has a recessed tip)

The purpose of a screwdriver is to tighten or loosen screws and bolts using a metal rod with a

shaped head. It is a straightforward and universal instrument. For every screw and bolt head

shape, there is a screwdriver tip available.

How to Use a Screwdriver Safely:

 Put on PPE;

 Examine the screw or bolt you want to turn; Select the appropriate screwdriver
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 Check that your screwdriver isn't bent; lacking material; cracked; or has any other

harmful flaws.

 Always use your screwdrivers for their intended purpose by placing the tip into the head

of the screw or bolt and starting to turn while maintaining a straight wrist.

 Never use too much effort when using a screwdriver as it could cause the screwdriver to

fall out of the screw or bolt and cause injury.

 When finished using, remove the screwdriver from the screw or bolt and set it down in a

safe location like a tool box or on a table.

PPE Required

Safety Glasses/Eye Protection

Authentic Brands

Klein

TOOLZONE

Picquic \s

Jetech

Price Points: Klein 603-4 No. 2 Profilated Phillips Tip 4-Inch ($12.11), Jetech Strike Cap Go

Through Screwdriver Slotted 5X100mm, S2 Steel ($12.99), and TOOLZONE Pozidrive No. 2 -

8 Inch Screwdriver ($13.81).

Fluke ISQS1 Insulated Squared Screwdriver 1, 4" (square) - $37.32 Klein 19543 T20 TORX

Screwdriver (torx) - $11.99

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Hex-calibre screwdriver Picquic 88153 is available for $17.99.

Maintenance

Use the proper screwdriver for the right screw or bolt head to avoid damage, store your

screwdrivers in a dry, cool location to prevent rust and corrosion, and occasionally spray them

with anti-rust spray. Regularly clean and polish your screwdrivers to increase their lifespan.

Tape Measures

Measurement Tape Varieties

● Steel (made of steel or alloy, most common)

Steel, Stainless (made of stainless steel, can be stretched and retracted without breaking)

Carbon Fiber (made of fiberglass, lightweight, retracted with a reel)

Nothing Metallic (very flexible, made of nylon, plastic or rubber)

In the age of digital (electronic, has a digital screen the measures distance and area)

● Laser (uses a laser for measuring distance, can measure much longer distances)
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Function: A tape measure, or "steel ruler," is a tool used to measure the length or distance of an

object or space. Rather than using standard units of measurement, a long, flexible ruler with

incremental distance is stretched, pointed, or wrapped to get the desired measurement.

How to Use a Tape Measure Safely

Put on protective gear; assess the task at hand to determine which tape measure will provide the

best results; thoroughly examine the tape measure in question to make sure it is in good working

order; and last, use the tape measure with confidence that it will not cause injury.

If you need more stability, you can use the hook at the end of your tape measure, and you should

avoid using a conductive blade like steel around live wires and electricity. To begin measuring,

extend the blade of the tape measure and hold, wrap, or point it on or at the desired measuring

location. Once enough length has been extended, use the locking feature to keep the blade locked

in place to increase accuracy and prevent sudden retrations.

Do not point the laser at yourself or anyone else when using a laser tape measure; when you're

done, retract the blade slowly to avoid wounds and damage to the device.

Personal Protective Equipment Necessary - Gloves, Safety Glasses/Eye Protection

Good Name Products

Komelon

Stanley

LEXIVON

Kreg
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Prices

The Komelon 9901 Gripper Closed Case Long Steel Tape Measure (steel) costs $37.62, while

the Stanley FatMax Tape Measure (stainless steel) costs $40.00. Other prices are as follows: the

Komelon 6622IM Fiber Reel Long Open Reel Tape Measure (fiberglass) costs $46.58, while the

Kreg KMS7724 12' Self-Adhesive Measuring Tape (non-metal) costs $15.

Maintenance

 To prevent damage, never submerge your digital or manual tape measure in water or

store it in a damp or humid environment.

 Inspect your tape measures on a regular basis for signs of wear and tear, such as worn-out

markings, a broken hook, or a dull or bent blade, and clean and dry them after each use to

keep them in top shape.

Power Threaders
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Types of Power Threaders

 Machine or non-portable power threader

 Handheld or Portable power threader

The main function of a power threader, whether it be a machine or a hand-held version, is to

create threading on pipe for a variety of uses, such as producing an incredibly tight seal. mostly

utilized on stainless steel or galvanized pipes.

How to Use a Power Threader Safely: Wear PPE Choose the right die for your power threader

and set it up or adjust it to fit the right size and type of pipe Before threading, make sure your

pipe is securely fastened in place with a vice or inside the machine.

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Hand-Held Power Threaders: Keep fingers, hair, or any other body parts away from the

threader to prevent serious injury Insert the pipe all the way into the die, making sure the die's

blades are not damaged or missing Apply force to the tool's back and squeeze the trigger to start

the die spinning Continuously oil the die's blades to prevent excessive friction heat and keep the

power threader moving smoothly Once finished It's crucial to unplug your hand-held power

threader when not in use and to put it somewhere secure and level.

Machine Power Threaders: Place the threading attachment away from the secured pipe and

start spinning it with the foot pedal. Once it has sped up, approach the spinning pipe with the die

and wait for it to "catch" onto the pipe. Keep hands and fingers away from the machine at all

times to prevent serious injury. Watch the threading process carefully, listening out for strange

noises or unusual behavior. Once threaded, push the lever on the die attachment.

PPE Required: CSA Certified Work Boots; Safety Glasses/Eye Protection; Gloves; Long Pants

or Fitted Clothes

 Trustworthy Brands: HYDRAFORE, RIDGID, MexX Power, and Richfar Tools

Price Points

$2249.93 for the hand-held Ridgid Tools 41935 1/8-Inch to 2-Inch 115-Volt Power Threader.

Richard Farr Tools Handheld power threader, 1/2"-1 1/4" - $589.99

1/2" - 2" HYDRAFORE Electric Pipe Threader (Machine) - $1599.00

MexX Power Pipe Threading Machine 1/2"–2” (machine) 15682 – $3399.00

Maintenance
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When finished using your machine threader or handheld threader, clean the die head. Keep your

machine threader setup and your handheld threader stored in an area free from moisture to

prevent rust. Regularly top up your threading machine with good grade cutting fluid.

Tubing Cutters

Varieties of Tubing Cutters

Action Ratchet (uses a jaw to cut through tubing, allows for ratcheting)

The Spring Thing (more powerful, uses a strong blade for faster cuts)

Means of Transportation (uses a blade, used to avoid cutting enclosed cables or wires inside a

tube)
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Includes Enclosures (uses an enclosed frame, better torque)

It's Telescopic (uses a wheel that is spun around a tube to achieve a cut, preferred in tight spaces)

Driven by (battery or electric powered, uses a powered blade or jaw to achieve a cut)

Use: The goal of any tube cutter is to make a precise and clean cut in a tube made of materials

like plastic, steel, or copper. Tube cutters typically do this by clamping or sawing a sharp blade

into the tube at the desired point.

To cut a tube safely, you should:

Wear protective gear.

Check the tube's material and size to determine which tube cutter to use.

Inspect the tube cutter for damage and missing components, like a dull blade or loose tightener.

Position the tube cutter's jaws around the tube at the desired point.

Squeeze the trigger, grips, or spin the cutters around the tube to make the cut.

If you're using a ratchet action, enclosed, or telescopic tube cutter, tighten the jaw of the tool

every two to three turns to make sure the wheel blade is close enough on each pass.

Also, keep your fingers away from the jaws of the tube cutter while you're cutting to avoid

serious injury.

Finally, once you've cut all the way through, put the tube cutters away in a safe place and turn off

the power to any powered tube cutters you may have been using.

Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Safety Goggles and Gloves

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The Most Trusted Names in Tools: Robinair, Milwaukee, LENOX, and RIDGID

Costs range from $59.28 for a Robinair 42080 Ratcheting Tubing Cutter for 1/4" to 7/8" (ratchet

action) to $13.99 for a pair of IWISS PEX Tube Cutters for 1/8" to 1" (spring action) to $16.00

for a Jetech Hose and Pipe Cutter for PVC, PPR, PEX for 1-5/8" (conduit).

Tubes from 1/8 to 1-3/8 inches in diameter can be cut with the LENOX Tubing Cutter

(telescopic) Price: $49.99 Milwaukee Tool M12 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless Copper Tubing

Cutter: $178.00

Maintenance

Always use the right sized blade and cutter for the right tube to prevent damage to your tubing

cutters

Clean the blade of your manual and powered tubing cutters after each use to prevent debris

buildup.

Lubricate the moving parts of your manual and electric tubing cutters on a regular basis to ensure

the smooth operation of the tools.

Storage of your tubing cutter should take place in a dry, cool place.

Torches (Brazing/Soldering)
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Distinctive Soldering and Brazing Torches

Sweating copper pipe, tube, and fixtures together using propane (the most frequent and

inexpensive method)

Used for brazing which creates a stronger bond, burns at much higher temperatures

Gas MAPP (higher temperatures than propane, can solder and braze without oxygen, single tank

system)

The primary function of a soldering or brazing torch is to apply heat at varying degrees to a

filler metal in order to seal a junction between two pieces of tubing, pipe, or fittings. This can be

accomplished in a number of ways. Copper, brass, cast iron, and stainless steel are examples of

materials that are frequently heated with a torch.

How to Use a Soldering or Brazing Torch:

(1) Put on Protective Clothing and Equipment.

(2) Evaluate the Work at Hand and Select the Appropriate Torch Regarding Heat and Material.
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(3) Check Your Torch to Ensure It Is in Full Working Order, Including the Gage, Handle, and

Torch Nozzle.

(4) Get Started.

(5) Turn on the gas valve for the tank and the torch when you're ready to begin working.

(6) Make sure the object you're working on is securely fastened in a vice or clamped down.

(7) You should hear a soft "hissing" when you ignite the gas by sparking it at the torch's nozzle

with flint and steel. Never try to start your torch with anything else than flint and steel.

(8) The small blue cone at the tip of the flame is the hottest part of the torch, so keep that in mind

while you heat the object you want to solder or braze.

(9) To avoid severe burns, you should keep your hands, fingers, and the rest of your body well

away from the fire.

(10) Keep your attention where the torch flame is pointing at all times, and never swing the torch

about carelessly.

(11) Turn off the torch and tank at the valve when you're done using them; just be careful not to

touch the blazing nozzle.

(12) In order to prevent explosions, torches and gas containers should be kept in a cool, dry

location at all times.

Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Includes: CSA-Approved Work Boots,

Gloves, and Long Pants/Fitted Clothes

PLUMBING THEORY 20

Trusted Brands

Ivation

BLUEFIRE

Sanheshun

Dremel

List of Costs

$63.60 for a BLUEFIRE Handy Cyclone Propane Torch (propane)

High Intensity Trigger Start Torch Ivation Heavy-Duty Trigger-Start Propane Torch (propane) -

$59.71 Price: $59.95 for Adjustable Brazing Torch; Price: $75.49 for TS8000 Trigger Brass

MAPP Gas Torch with High Intensity

Maintenance

Torch nozzle buildup can be avoided with regular cleaning after use and with periodic "chasing

the threads," or unscrewing and cleaning of the nozzle threads.

Torch nozzles are easily damaged by direct contact with a workpiece, so take care to keep your

hands off of them.

Gas can be saved and unnecessary pressure avoided by always turning off the tank on soldering

and brazing torches.