Understanding Welding Processes

Stick (SMAW)

Recommended for steel, stainless steel, and cast iron

Requires a moderate skill level

Better suited for windy, outdoor conditions

More forgiving when welding on dirty or rusty metal

Three basic types of heaters are convection, radiant, and forced air. The following descriptions aid in determining the heating method that will provide the best solution for any given situation.

Convection Heaters 

Convection heat is the transfer of heat from the heater to the surrounding air by the natural circulation of air through the heater. This air motion is a result of gravitational forces where the heated air is lighter than the cooler air. Heated air rises from the top of the heater and is replaced by cooler air that enters from the bottom. Individual convection heaters are a common heat source for smaller enclosed areas and multiple units can be combined to heat larger areas. Sunbelt offers propane convection heaters.

Forced Air Heaters 

Adding a fan or blower to a convection heater creates artificial air movement, which quickly removes heat from the heater surface. Forced air heaters can circulate heated air over very long distances and are usually the choice for heating larger areas. Sunbelt offers three types of forced air heaters: Direct-Fired, Indirect-Fired and Electric.

Direct-Fired Heaters

Are ideal for applications where lots of heat is required in non-enclosed areas such as general construction, ventilated warehouses, and parking garages. They are highly efficient since all the heat is transferred to the heated airflow. Direct-Fired heaters are also both compact and economical due to their simple design. Sunbelt Rentals offers a wide selection of Direct-Fired heaters, including oil, propane, and dual fuel (propane and natural gas) types.

Indirect-Fired Heaters

Utilize a heat exchanger that keeps fumes and exhaust products out of the airflow providing clean, dry, odorless heat. A flue vents excess moisture, carbon monoxide, and other products of combustion. Indirect-Fired heaters can also accommodate ductwork, which allows distribution of clean heated air to specific target areas. This feature also allows placing the unit outside and in a remote location from the area being heated. Applications include general construction in enclosed areas, special event tents, concrete curing, industrial painting, wrapped scaffold projects, pipelines and hazardous areas, and moisture control/drying. Sunbelt Rentals offers both oil and dual fuel (propane and natural gas) Indirect-Fired heaters.

Electric Heaters

How many BTUs of heating capacity do you need?

The formula below can serve as a rough guide for determining the heat requirements for common building applications:

BTU Required = Square footage x Ceiling Height x ?t x Building Factor

Where t = Temperature Rise (Desired Temp. F inside – Outside Temp F)

Building Factors: .135 (Sealed building), .145 (Unsealed building), .160 (Tent)

Example: A 4000 sq. ft. unsealed building has an 8′ ceiling height. The desired temperature

is 70° F and the outside temperature is 30° F. Therefore,the desired temperature rise (???? t) is 40°.

BTU Required = 4000 x 8 x 40 x .145 = 185,600

Other factors to consider are insulation, ventilation, and the number of rooms being heated. After determining the most suitable type of heater and the BTU requirements for your application, select a heater (or heaters) with a BTU rating equal to (or greater than) your requirements.

Lawn dethatchers

Are power rakes designed for fast easy removal of thatch, promoting healthy growth. Dethatchers utilize specially designed, free-swinging, steel flail blades mounted on a horizontal reel to penetrate the lawn surface, breaking up thatch and promoting vigorous growth. The surrounding grass is left intact. Dethatching also helps prepare the lawn surface for reseeding.

Thatch is a dense mat of roots, stems and grass clippings that accumulates between the soil and growing blades of grass. As thatch builds, adequate amounts of vital turf nutrients, including water, oxygen, nitrates, phosphorus and potassium, are unable to reach the root system.

Dethatchers

from Gamma Rentals effectively remove thatch buildup by “power raking” the lawn turf, utilizing special steel blades mounted on a rotating reel. This allows air and nutrients to reach the root system again.

With thatch removed, air, water, nutrients, herbicide and pesticides can do their job. Turf becomes healthier and more resistant to insect damage and disease.

Dethatching at regular intervals promotes denser growth and helps to ensure you’ll have a vibrant lawn.

Lawn overseeders

Combine the raking function of a dethatcher with a seeder to reestablish healthy lawns. Many feature an exclusive Delta blade reel to plow precisely aligned seed rows to a preset depth for good seed germination.

Lawns that have thinning or bare patches can be restored by overseeding. For best results, we recommend overseeding in two applications, with the second application made at a 45° angle to the first. You’ll notice a distinct crosshatch pattern in the effected soil as the Delta reel blades virtually “plow” precisely aligned rows of seeds into the turf beneath topsoil.

What is soil compaction?

Compaction is the process of applying energy to loose soil or other material in order to increase its density and consequently its load-bearing capacity. This is accomplished by moving or rearranging particles closer together, eliminating trapped air and voids.

Why is soil compaction necessary?

Nearly all man-made structures are supported by some type of soil. Both residential and commercial construction can benefit from soil compaction in numerous ways. Benefits include the following:

Increases load bearing capacity
Prevents soil settlement
Decreases water seepage
Reduces swelling and contraction of soil
Prevents frost damage

What type of compaction equipment should I use?

The primary factor in determining the type of compaction equipment suitable for a given application is the type of soil involved. There are 3 types of soil used in construction application : granular, cohesive, and mixed soil.

Top 12 Reasons for Renting at Gamma:

1. Control Expenses
Renting provides significant savings over buying, so you can improve your bottom line.

2. Inventory Control
Gamma can provide the extra equipment you need, when you need it, allowing you to keep your equipment inventory at a minimum.

3. The Right Equipment for the Job
Renting lets you fit the type and size of equipment to each specific job promoting safety and efficiency.

4. Customer Care
Gamma’s dedicated customer care representatives are easily available to assist and provide you with information regarding the rental equipment, repair services and sales.

5. Save on Storage/Warehousing
You can significantly reduce your costs by eliminating the need for large equipment storage areas and buildings.

6. Reduce Down Time
If a piece of equipment should malfunction, Gamma will quickly and conveniently replace the equipment to ensure that your crew can keep working.

7. No Costly Repairs or Up-Keep
Gamma remains responsible for the maintenance on the equipment, so you won’t need a repair shop, spare parts inventory, mechanics, or extra staff to take care of inventory maintenance records. This will also allow you to say “goodbye” to repetitive and costly repair costs.

8. Save Disposal Costs
No additional time spent or costs incurred preparing, advertising, selling and disposing of used equipment.

9. Cost Control
Renting lets you simplify your bidding and billing, so you have just one accountable cost – the rental.

10. Equipment Tracking
The presence of continuous billing on rented equipment keeps it top of mind and establishes personal accountability.

11. Less Hassle with Licenses
Save time and gain peace of mind associated with equipment licensing, registration costs and paperwork.

12. Conserve Capital
Rent the equipment you need and use your capital for other, potentially more profitable, ventures.