Whether you've spent six decades in a sheet metal fabrication shop or you're learning the trade basics, Kaempf & Harris’ list of sheet metal techniques helps pros and beginners. 

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Metals, Sheet Metal Fabrication

Like many sheet metal terms, soldering and welding are used interchangeably. However, while these two operations are similar, their process and sub-techniques are different.

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication

While many people use “welding” and “fabricating” interchangeably, others confuse “welding” and “brazing”. However, neither is quite the case.

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication

Galvanized sheet metal is a steel or iron product that has a protective zinc coating to prevent rusting. According to the GalvanizeIt! Online Seminar from the American Galvanizers Association, this method provides corrosion protection, durability under harsh conditions, a long lifespan, versatility, availability, and sustainability.

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication

Galvanized sheet metal is one of the most requested products from fabrication shops around the world. In fact, according to the American Galvanizers Association, the world produced more than 3.4 million tons of galvanized steel in 2012.

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication

When commercial ductwork is considered energy inefficient, it typically results from innate thermal loss and airflow restriction. These problems occur during the installation process when installation teams don't properly insulate or measure ducts, specifcally in shape and diameter.

Topics: Tools & Techniques

Kaempf & Harris knows a lot about commercial ductwork, especially in Maryland. Between ductwork design and materials, our sheet metal experts offer the best information and perform the most quality work on commercial HVAC, including spiral and rectangular ducts. 

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication

Whether it’s your first time stepping into a fab shop or you’re a veteran of sheet metal, job site safety should always be a concern.

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Safety

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Working with sheet metal requires attention to many safety and health issues.” Kaempf & Harris outlines sheet metal, welding, handling, and power press safety:

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Safety

Laser technology, flame cutting, and waterjets have worked wonders for the sheet metal industry. Learn more about each technique from Kaempf & Harris:

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Industry

When it comes to welding, it’s not always about helmets and sparks. Kaempf and Harris gives you a glossary for the different types of welding in fabrication shops:

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication

We’ve explained the difference between metal fabrication and welding, but do you really know about the latter technique? Kaempf and Harris looks into its history, industry projects, where it’s most popular in the United States, and more:

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication

Do you know how many welders are female? Or which states offer experienced metal fabricators the highest salary? How about the number of steel grades that exist?

Topics: Education, Welding, Tools & Techniques, Metals, Industry, Safety

From assembling to tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, sheet metal fabrication techniques can be hard to keep track of. To help you understand the ins and outs of these methods, Kaempf & Harris is breaking down the basics of a newer skill, perforating:

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Metals, Sheet Metal Fabrication

With 2016 coming to a close, the experts at Kaempf & Harris take a look at some of the most anticipated trends and tools that will make their debut in the New Year:

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Industry

Did you know that galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron to prevent rusting? The most common method in sheet metal fabrication shops is hot-dip galvanizing. This is the process of submerging metal parts in a bath of molten zinc to protect the metal. 

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Metals, Sheet Metal Fabrication

Maintaining a safe sheet metal shop work environment is critical to worker productivity and the profitability of any metal fabrication organization.

Topics: Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Industry, Safety

Many people use fabricating and welding as interchangeable verbs, but that’s not quite the case. In its most basic sense, fabrication is the process of creating a project out of metal, and welding can be a singular operation during that process. 

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Metals, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Apprenticeships

Sheet metal fabrication can be traced back to Eygptian jewelry, using natural metals and prehistoric techniques. From modern means to project completion to the tools of the trade, here’s our (practically) comprehensive timeline of the history of sheet metal fabrication: 

Topics: Education, Tools & Techniques

We mentioned in another blog post that there’s an ongoing great debate about whether or not apprentices should purchase their own tools. However, no matter which side of the fence you stand on, there are a few tools of the trade that every sheet metal fabricator should own at any level of experience. Here’s a comprehensive list of the tools everyone in this business should own:

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal Fabrication