Shoutout to the old timer who showed me how to properly crown a tube sheet

Had a 20 year guy walk me through it last month on a condenser retube. Night and day difference. My first few attempts had the tubes sticking out uneven, leaks everywhere. He had me slow down, use a specific touch with the beading tool. Cut my rework time by half. Anyone else pick up a trick from an old hand that changed your whole approach?

2 comments

2 Comments

beth_green14d ago

Wait, wait, wait. You had a guy with 20 years of experience just walk you through crowning a tube sheet and you're only now mentioning it? I mean, that's amazing. My first few times doing that job I swear I created more leaks than I fixed, it was a nightmare. Having someone who knows the exact feel of the beading tool, that's the kind of stuff you can't get from a manual. Honestly, the fact that he got you to slow down and use a specific touch, that's the big secret nobody ever tells you.

the_jennifer14d ago

That thing about the "feel of the beading tool" is so true. A buddy of mine spent years fighting with tube sheets until an old-timer finally told him to listen for the change in pitch while he worked, and it clicked for him overnight.