Old school steam drum repair vs. modern tube replacement kits

I used to swear by the old way of hammering out steam drum tube ends with a hand bevel tool and a come-along. Took me 3 days on a 60 tube bundle back in 2018 and I was proud of it. Then a foreman at the Flint plant showed me one of those hydraulic tube puller kits with a proper cutter head. First job I did with it, I finished 80 tubes in 6 hours with way less strain on my back. I still think there's a place for the old methods on certain tight spots, but for most jobs the new kits are just faster and safer. Anyone else made the switch or are you still sticking with the old way?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_white951mo ago

I remember that Flint plant had some real old timers who wouldn't touch a hydraulic puller. I stuck with the hand bevel tool for years because I figured it was more reliable. But once I tried the hydraulic kit on a tight 4-foot drum, I never looked back. The difference in time and back strain is just too big to ignore.

william_miller1mo ago

@skyler_white95 probably has a back that's still in one piece. The old way works but so does a sledgehammer on a watch. Some jobs are worth the extra elbow grease though, like when the hydraulics won't fit the tight spots.