Sheet metal benders and brakes are generally the most efficient method for making longer bends at the ends of sheet metal panels.

However, there are some situations in which the utility of a bender or a brake will be eclipsed by smaller, more humble tools like sheet metal pliers.While benders and brakes are efficient, quick and precise, sheet metal pliers go with you where they can’t and deliver the finest degree of precision of all.

If you can envision it, there’s probably a type of plier designed to do it.Moreover, there are a number of things to consider when assessing the practical value of a given pair of sheet metal pliers, including but in no way limited to the following:● No two pairs of pliers are likely to be the same.

This also makes them useful for bending, forming and crimping alloy steel and other sheet metal panels.● Many pliers intended for working with sheet metal have coated handles which both increases comfort and improves traction.● Some pliers are specially designed for producing certain types of joints and bends.

For example, there are pliers specifically designed to produce lap joints and seams, respectively.● There are special types of tongs that look like pliers that are useful for installing the sheet metal panels in addition to forming them.

For example, Stubai produces vice grip pliers that are ideal for temporarily holding a panel of sheet metal in place.● Forged construction is superior for strength and durability; some pliers are also coated to give them a measure of resistance to the elements.Looking to learn more?

A hammer is a tool that generally uses impulse to alter the shape of a material or to drive small pieces of hardware with a certain degree of precision.

Consider that there are brick hammers, dead blow hammers, engineer’s hammers, soft face hammers, and others, such as the tinner’s hammer on which this article will focus.A tinner’s hammer is a specialized type of hammer for tradesmen that work with sheet metal, specifically soft metals like aluminum or copper.

Although there is not a standard design for sheet metal hammers like these, there are a few features that you will see among them that enable some of the following functions.One of the primary functions of a tinner's hammer is to generally alter the shape of a sheet of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, or copper.

Consider that some of these metals are fairly soft, and that the steel face of a hammer, even a smooth face, would dent and dimple the surface of the sheet metal.For this reason, many tinner’s hammers are made from non-marring materials that are softer than the metal upon which they’re used.

For example, many of these tools are made with PVC heads that enable fairly precise manipulation of sheet metal without the fear of damaging the medium.

For this particular purpose, many tinner’s hammers have flat faces to form correspondingly formed seams.

Slate and asphalt shingles are two common options, but if you are looking for something sturdy then a sheet metal roof is likely the best choice for your home.

They are long-lasting with a longevity of 40-70 years.

Metal roofs are much more durable than slate roofs.Sheet metal roofs are weather-resistant and can easily withstand high winds.

The metal can be easily recycled and will not spark or ignite during a wildfire, making them more environmentally friendly and overall safer than other options.Professionals and new roofers alike are always looking for ways to improve the tools in their kit.

That is why it is important to be aware of tools that can help you get the job done quickly and easily.

All-around, they are a great tool that every roofer should have especially if you are working with zinc.If you don’t already have one, you may want to look into getting a seam locker.

Slate and asphalt shingles are two common options, but if you are looking for something sturdy then a sheet metal roof is likely the best choice for your home.

They are long-lasting with a longevity of 40-70 years.

Metal roofs are much more durable than slate roofs.Sheet metal roofs are weather-resistant and can easily withstand high winds.

The metal can be easily recycled and will not spark or ignite during a wildfire, making them more environmentally friendly and overall safer than other options.Professionals and new roofers alike are always looking for ways to improve the tools in their kit.

That is why it is important to be aware of tools that can help you get the job done quickly and easily.

All-around, they are a great tool that every roofer should have especially if you are working with zinc.If you don’t already have one, you may want to look into getting a seam locker.

Folding and making seams in sheet metal is, to say nothing else of it, a time consuming and laborious process.

When you use the wrong tools, you can add discomfort into that list of qualifiers.

There are things you can do to make the process of making smooth edges in sheet metal and along roofing seams less time consuming and more comfortable and more practical as well.

For those who have yet to be introduced to these types of manual tools, here is the difference between a hand seamer and a roller, since these tools perform somewhat similar functions.A roller or a brake can be used effectively to create longer runs along the edges of sheet metal, a hand tool like a seamer is better able to make precise, small adjustments in cramped spaces, or when working with small sections of metal edge.

They’re indispensable in certain situations and will give you a fine degree of precision over your work that can’t be matched by regular pliers or other conventional tools.John Stortz & Son has been producing quality hand-tools since 1853.

They’ve uncovered quality processes and they’ve been passing along that quality to their customers for over a hundred and fifty years.They make a lot more than hand seamers, but since the topic of this is on the matter of seamers, you won’t find better seamers elsewhere.

The first, the more obvious and likely of the two, is that you saw the impressively long term “snow guards for standing seam metal roofs” and are digging up some information on what all of those words mean.

The other situation is that you saw these interesting figures up near the edge of a metal roof and are getting to the bottom of what they are.In the first instance we can break down the meaning and matter of snow guards for standing seam metal roofs almost to the letter of the word.

They can’t simply be overlapped.

There are a number of methods for creating finished, sealed seams, and one of them is known as a standing seam.Standing seams are seams that “stand” above the level of the flat surface of the sheet metal panels that compose the roofing.

At their edges, panels with standing seams are raised where they come together; these types of seams offer a unique value to roofers because they enable the panels to be fastened in such a manner that the fasteners used are completely shielded from moisture and the elements.

This creates a very durable, watertight seam that will last for many years when done properly.Now, for the snow guard portion of the query; for those of you that got here in a roundabout fashion after seeing those odd, spike-like structures sticking up from the metal roof panels of some nearby buildings, those are snow guards.Snow guards are a critical component of snow retention systems that are vital for metal roofs and other types of roofs where snow can accumulate in dangerous quantities.