Tried using a feeler gauge set to check flange alignment on a big heat exchanger repair

Last month we were bolting up a 48 inch flange on a feed water heater at a plant near Baton Rouge and the gap on one side was clearly off. Usually I just eyeball it or use a straight edge but the old lead hand I was working with told me to grab his feeler gauge set out of the box. I thought he was crazy cause those are for small engine work right? But he had me run the gauges around the bolt circle to measure the gap variation and it came out to almost 1/8 inch on the high side. We ended up marking the high spot and shimming the backside of the flange instead of trying to torque it down and hope. Really saved us from cracking a gasket or warping the flange face. Has anyone else used feeler gauges like that on heavy wall stuff or is this just something the old timers keep to themselves?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_olivia7d ago

Old timers know every tool's got more than one use if you think about it.

sandra_moore306d ago

The bit about "every tool's got more than one use" is mostly true but it gets stretched too far sometimes. A butter knife can open a paint can once or twice but you'll ruin the edge and it won't slice bread right after. Screwdrivers make okay pry bars but you'll snap the tip if you lean on it too hard. I think people forget that using a tool for something it wasn't meant for usually wears it out faster than just using the right one.