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Can this really be fun?

Barry_2
Barry_2 Member Posts: 35
Just got a chance to read the thread... Wow!! Sounds like a great program out at Suffolk County Community College (snicker)....Last night we (John Levey, Alex, Kevin Rooney, Dan from Petro, Billy Rella)worked until almost midnight getting the lab ready for our big grand opening on Thursday... It's now 9:50 pm on Wedneday and I'm still at the college finalizing some stuff for tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for their assistance in creating the best (and only) degree program in HVAC/R on Long Island. And yes... there are lots and lots of nre tools!!!!

Comments

  • stonehouse_2
    stonehouse_2 Member Posts: 30
    Nothing beats

    hands on experience and working under some of the best in the business. I had the great opportunity to lend a hand and several thumbs to Dan, Eugene and John this past Saturday at Suffolk Community College. Several other kind souls also lent their valuable time to this endeavor (sorry, I only remember two names: Robert and Bill).

    We managed to cut and thread a bunch of black pipe, wind a ton of teflon tape and completely goo many threads with Rectoseal and, in doing so, get 3 boilers near completion and ready for teaching.

    As a non-professional, I was honored to be allowed not only to learn by osmosis and example but also by making mistakes with other peoples good supplies.

    For all the knuckleheads that besmurch this noble art, it is great to see this wonderful cadre of true professionals and artisans.

    And despite Dan's protestations to the contrary, he actually does know which end of a wrench goes on the pipe. And I have the staged photos to prove it!

    Thanks again to Eugene, John and Dan for this great opportunity...
  • Pat Clark
    Pat Clark Member Posts: 187
    So

    is Dan cold, long sleeves and gloves. Shorts and t-shirt weather here in Anchorage, -12 degrees.

    Pat
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    And just so you all know

    Alex is not your average homeowner. He sat down on the floor with the electrical specs and then wired the two low-water cutoffs and the feeder (which he also piped) on the steam boiler. And got it exactly right the first time.

    Not bad for a computer consultant. ;-)

    Thanks for being with us, Alex!
    Retired and loving it.
  • Paul Mitchell
    Paul Mitchell Member Posts: 266
    Great pics...

    I would love to come and help out with something like this one time. Keep us posted Dan.
    Paul

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    We're still at it.

    The Grand Opening is this Thursday. The President of the college, and Kevin Rooney, who heads up the Oil Heat Institute here on Long Island, will speak. News 12 Long Island will be there. It will be a fine way to get some attention for the people who take the time to attend trade schools. Eugene Silberstein is the professor in charge of the degreee program. Eugene is a great guy (he's the one who had the big wrench on my head in that photo); he also wrote Heat Pumps, which we offer in Books & More. It's the best text I've found on that subject.

    At the college, we piped the steam boiler to a one-pipe radiator. We also ran a valved line to the outside of the building so that we can blow steam out there. The boiler (thanks to Alex) has two low-water cutoffs.

    Next to this is a boiler piped in primary/secondary. The secondary pumps go to baseboard and radiant manifolds. The students will be piping the tubing off the manifolds. The room is set up so that they'll be able to do that again and again.

    The third boiler is also hot water. It goes to loop baseboard, baseboard piped as reverse-return, and to an indirect DHW tank.

    So many manufacturers donated equipment and cutaways for this project. Thanks to all, and especially to John Levey, who put us all together.
    Retired and loving it.
  • kk_2
    kk_2 Member Posts: 57


    Hi guys,

    Nice looking install.

    I just learned something from the picture of the oil filters and the tiger loop - I didn't know you could buy ready made dual filter assemblies like that. I had to go find Westwood's web site to figure that out.

    Is there a third filter at the tank?

    -kk
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    The tank

    is outside.
    Retired and loving it.
  • stonehouse_2
    stonehouse_2 Member Posts: 30
    Well...

    I did have help! I do love a challange and the sense of accomplishment when it all works. A condition has yet to be proven (maybe this afternoon when I finish up...)..

    As a rent-a-geek, I get to fix a lot of technology, but after 25 years of it, the reward is generally a bunch of workers getting back to work without much sense of the FM that went into it... I would imagine that most denizens of cold spaces are much more appreciative of your efforts as the thermometer climbs...until they get the bill...and that's a common problem in both fields...

    Maybe it's not too late to change careers?

  • stonehouse_2
    stonehouse_2 Member Posts: 30
    I think

    there will be a main filter off the tank. I'll check it out today...

  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    Here's Alex

    hard at work!
    Retired and loving it.
  • jim lockard
    jim lockard Member Posts: 1,059
    Monster garage

    look out Jesse, Monster Heater is here. LOL
    J.Lockard
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    He's back there working tonight.

    Just can't get enough!
    Retired and loving it.
  • stonehouse
    stonehouse Member Posts: 16
    Who

    can't get enough of a good thing? Besides I want to see it work!
  • Robert O'Connor_7
    Robert O'Connor_7 Member Posts: 688


    WOW! Are they using NEW tools? I've never acually seen NEW ones up close. great picks. I think the lad's gonna get a workout threading pipe with his arms in the air, or is that cardio for soon to be dead men?
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    Eugene

    has a nice budget for new tools. It's going to be a mighty fine school!

    Retired and loving it.
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    A budding

    Flamehead. ;-)
    Retired and loving it.
  • Mad Dog
    Mad Dog Member Posts: 2,595
    How could you Dan???? Gloves??????

    The Deadmen are turning in their graves.....ahhh right I know you gotta protect those hands for writin' ...good Job alex!!!!!!say hello to Karl for me.... Mad Dog

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
  • Bruce_6
    Bruce_6 Member Posts: 67
    hard

    to believe that you actually threaded that stuff by hand!! wow, my arm hurts just viewing the pictures!!

    nice looking job!!!
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,610
    The Flameheads

    were wearing latex gloves. I felt quite manly!
    Retired and loving it.
  • Boiler Guy
    Boiler Guy Member Posts: 585
    ATTA BOY ALEX

    I can tell you work just as hard during your "physical" cardo vascular program as you do driving through the Big CITY. I showed these to MaryAnne ..... she has never seen a techno geek work that hard!! Wish we could have been there too. Sounds like a great learning experience was performed by all. I understand the gloves Dan ..... no prints .... no evidence .... right!? Great looking job. Hey Alex wanna move way out West to a slower pace? I am looking for talent like that. Say HI to Mad Dog for us, please
    Tim and lil MaryAnne
  • Boiler Guy
    Boiler Guy Member Posts: 585
    Knucklehead Special

    Thank you Dan for you informative presentation and material! You will be proud to know I found one of you KNUCKLHEAD SPECIALS today (I actually thought they were only a NYC thing) STOOPID ME !! 1 pipe .. 4 year old Burnham 709 full of "brown syrup".. oversized by 210% .. set @ 5.5# .. near piping nightmare ... no hartford loop ... WATER HAMMER oh man! Mains outside of the boiler room are all painted red (good choice!.. so you can duck as they swing around)extra paint on the Trane main vents with valves so they can stop the spitting. no insulation .. BUT the owner is real proud of his "building operator" for the way he piped in the 2 - 1 1/2" F&T at the condensate receiver! Upside down!! He just cannot understand why the boiler room is so full of steam AND water or why these damn defective pieces of expensive iron still leak!! OH YEAH gas bill for last month .... $4250.00 VERY INTERSTING discussion earlier this evening !!
    This is one time I think knowledge is a bad thing!! LOL

    Tim
  • stonehouse_2
    stonehouse_2 Member Posts: 30


    Hi Tim!

    I like the pace here! At least that's what I tell myself! For slow down, I hit PA and the mess I bought out there!

    Maybe after I get my chops here, I can come and work with you in the frozen north...

    What's cardio? We geeks don't exercise! Having no muscles except between the ears, I put my overweight into it! If I did more of this, I might loose some flab and gain some muscle...

    P.S. I WILL get your posters out this week! My best to MaryAnne...

  • stonehouse_2
    stonehouse_2 Member Posts: 30
    What about

    Groucho or Chico...

    Your computer back up and running? I can fix those too, ya know...just need a smaller wrench and a bigger sledge...

    Seriously, if you need help let me know....

  • Boiler Guy
    Boiler Guy Member Posts: 585
    EH Alex

    This pipe twisting can be fun huh!
    Read my Knucklehead post in this thread. I think you might sympathize, lol
    Well, the offer is wide open if you ever decide to slip the bonds of the rat race.
    Minus 19F here tonite ... light snow Friday night is supposed to be -31 ...not on call this weekend ..... hmmmm ..roaring fire, bottle of wine(or 2) Miss MA & me all alone ........ who needs steam heat!!!
    Yeah I am (im)patiently those posters
    Thanks
  • Barry_2
    Barry_2 Member Posts: 35
    The (Almost)Finished Project

    By now you've all seen photos of the work in progress at the college, but I feel compelled to pass on some photos of the lab as it was presented to the media yesterday.
  • Barry_2
    Barry_2 Member Posts: 35
    The (Almost) Finished Product

    By now you've all seen photos of the guys working over at Suffolk to get our labs set up, but I feel compelled to show you some photos of how the lab looked as we presented it at the grand opening yesterday.
  • stonehouse
    stonehouse Member Posts: 16
    I recognize

    the labs but who are the penquins? ;-)

  • Barry_2
    Barry_2 Member Posts: 35


    The "me" photo is me (Eugene) and the "john" photo is John Levey from Oilheat Associates
  • stonehouse
    stonehouse Member Posts: 16
    Oh...

    Didn't recognize you without the stress and T-Shirt!
  • Barry_2
    Barry_2 Member Posts: 35


    Thanks Alex!

    The stress has definitely subsided for now.... unitl the next round! Thanks for all of your help!
This discussion has been closed.