What do I do when the over-bitten pittsburgh seam (crushing the pocket)?

What to check first

• Check the raw edge, pocket, or overlap before locking the joint.
• Seat the tool fully and square before applying force.
• Use a full controlled stroke when the tool needs a mechanical lock.
• Test the fit before sending the piece overhead.
• Remake or re-edge the part if the lock will not hold.

Likely recovery path

Hand seamers are for setting spatial angles, not for crushing mechanical pockets. Adjust the internal set-screw stop on the handles of your seamers to physically block the jaws from closing past the single-ply metal thickness, allowing you to set the.

Use this as field logic. Final dimensions, approved materials, tool settings, safety rules, and code-required details still come from the foreman, project specs, manufacturer instructions, employer policy, and AHJ.

Ask Foreman

You crushed the Pittsburgh pocket shut with the tongs. Back the jaws off, pry the pocket open with a flat screwdriver, and set the tool's handle stop screw so you can't flatten the channel track.

Do not do this

Do not force the tool through the problem or substitute the wrong tool just to keep moving.

Why it matters

Bad tool execution damages material, slows the journeyman down, and can create leaks, failed joints, damaged equipment, or safety hazards.