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A hole cutter works great in tight spots when replacing ductwork

Aviator snips work fine to cut holes in a trunk line, but only if there’s enough space. If you’re dealing with close quarters and you own a right-angle drill or attachment, you may want to invest in a sheet metal hole cutter. Otherwise you might have to take down the trunk line.

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Overlap butt joints with draw band connectors

When you’re installing a pipe between two fixed parts, it’s impossible to slip in the piece using the crimped ends and still get the required 1-1/2-in. overlaps at both ends. Overlap one side as you normally would and create a butt joint on the other. Use a draw band connector to complete the butt joint.

If your supplier doesn’t carry draw band connectors, make your own by cutting a piece of pipe to overlap the ends, and then screw and tape the band into place. If you’re working with 6-in. pipe, you’ll need to use 7-in. pipe for the bands.

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Caulk the take-offs

Caulk (don’t tape) the connection between the trunk line and a take-off (elbow) before you connect pipes to it. That way, you’ll be able to turn the take-off out of the way to caulk above it. Regular silicone is fine.

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