Vent: Tried using a cheap Harbor Freight bevel gauge on a tank job and it bit me hard

I was laying out a manway on a 12-foot diameter pressure vessel last Tuesday and my old bevel gauge gave me a 3-degree error. Ended up cutting a whole 18-inch section wrong because I didn't double check against a protractor. Had to burn that piece out and weld in a new one, cost me 2 extra hours of grinding and fitting. Anyone else have a cheap tool screw up a layout and lose you time?

2 comments

2 Comments

aaron6777d agoTop Commenter

A 3 degree error on a 12 foot diameter tank seems like a lot for a bevel gauge problem. I'd double check your math on that one, because a cheap gauge usually gives you a half degree at worst unless you dropped it off a ladder. Sounds more like you misread the layout or skipped a step in your process.

jaken237d ago

Fair point @aaron677, I used to blame the gauge but now I see it was me skipping steps.