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Flex-Duct, Duct Tape and Clothes Hangers

By
Home Inspector with Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

When I was younger I had an Uncle that thought that a clothes hanger was the ultimate tool, the answer to everything that was broken.  Later on that Uncle discovered duct tape and this took the load off my aunts supply of clothes hangers.  Even later in life he discovered flex-duct and the world was a happy place.  He could use clothes hangers and duct tape to install flex-duct.  In minutes he could run duct work throughout an entire house.  I have seen some of his work and it is, well...... creative, to say the least.  He passed away not too long ago, but I believe that I underestimated him.  It seems that during his lifetime he taught thousands of homeowners and tradesmen the use of his favorite solutions to repair anything.

roll of duct tapeThis is duct tape.  It has a specific purpose.  It is not for hanging water lines, caulking windows (no matter what colors it comes in), covering hole in gas lines, or any number of non-duct uses.

 This is a clothes hanger.  It has a specific purpose.  It is not for hanging water lines, coupling round duct, welding beams, supporting duct, or any number of non-clothes hanging purposes.

 This is flex-duct.  It has a specific purpose.  It is not for exhaust vents, venting hot combustable gases of any kind (no matter what the appliance), or any number of other non-duct work purposes. 

I tried really hard when my uncle was still here to convince him that most things have a purpose, but to no avail.  His perfect hardware store would consist of these three items in different sizes.  Oh, also two screwdrivers (straight edge and phillips) and assorted pliers. 

The right materials for a job usually makes for a job done right (my grandfater said that).

Comments (35)

Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

AFTER :((

Jan 21, 2009 07:33 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jack,

 

You don´t know shoe goo. It comes in different brand names. Basically a clear goop that is used around here to fix leaking p-traps and that kind of thing. Some brands are spelled differently, sometimes but seems to be the same stuff. Originally sold, years back, for gluing soles back on shoes. Charlie uses it to keep is hair in place.

Jan 21, 2009 08:49 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

That is alright, Steve uses it to keep his helmet on in bed:)

Jan 21, 2009 08:57 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Steve never heard of it called shoe goo. I always thought they used contact cement for shoes, live and learn.  I guess that contact cement would work for that too. 

Charles, way to much information,  WAY TO MUCH INFORMATION.  BTW, when you use it for that does it go by a different name (probably shouldn't ask that question).

Jan 21, 2009 10:15 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Kevin - AFTER.

Jan 21, 2009 10:16 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jack---I defer to Steve on that:)

Jan 21, 2009 10:26 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jack,

 

If you go in a hardware store and ask for shoo goo, shoe goo, shoe goop, you should get the same stuff Charlies uses.

Jan 22, 2009 03:05 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

So THAT is what that stuff on my shoe is----smells really bad:(

Jan 22, 2009 03:08 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Steve - Really not sure I want any.

Charles - You need to be more careful about what you step in.

Jan 22, 2009 05:23 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Makes me chuckle, Jack, but duct tape is how most folks get by... ~Pat

Jan 22, 2009 08:14 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Actually shoe goo is good stuff, for certain purposes. It sticks like all getout....just not great for most longterm repairs to hvac, plumbing, windows.

Jan 22, 2009 09:15 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Jack.. My father always said "Any job worth doing, is doing right."  I'd like to add to that.. "With the RIGHT materials.

valerie osterhoudt

Jan 22, 2009 10:01 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Pat - It just seems that I see it used on all too many of the wrong things.

Steve - I'm going to go to the hardware and specifically ask for shoo goo.  We'll see what comes of it.

Valerie - your Dad was right!

 

Jan 22, 2009 01:45 PM
Kevin Welch
American Bulldog Home Inspection Inc. - Rutland, MA

I thought duct tape was invented to repair water pipes, that seems to be the most common use here.

Kevin

Jan 23, 2009 11:01 PM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

That's only if you have a roll.  You have to have 1 roll for a serious leak, 1/2 a roll for a drip, and seapage gets a 1/4 of a roll a month.

Jan 24, 2009 05:30 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Jack, Duct tape and wire hangers, have you been looking in my tool box? So true about needing a roll for a serious leak. I have seen duct tape wrapped on so thick you couldn't tell what it was wrapped around.

Jan 24, 2009 11:37 PM
Mark H. Roe
BeSure Home Inspection Service - Lancaster, OH
BeSure Home Inspection Service

Ok Jack, now I have to get new tools for my shoe box. I always beleived that if you can not fix it with baling wire, duct tape, a screww drive and hammer. You need to replace it. Great post Jack

Jan 28, 2009 11:13 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Well James, if it leaks after 1/2 a roll then you know what to do.  The other half.

Mark - Don't forget the clothes hanger.  My uncle sweared by them (literally).

Jan 28, 2009 11:37 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I think he taught my dad, a big fan of hangars and tape.

I was chuckling as I read through your post. After reading one of your previous posts, I decided not to drink anything while I was in your blog. I learned from that previous post.

Jan 30, 2009 06:12 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

My Uncle taught everyone he met.  He was really big on sharing his knowledge.

Jan 30, 2009 06:23 AM