Dowel Pins

• Dowel pins, or locating pins, are common sheet metal alignment tools used during the construction of a tank. The pins are strategically placed so two pieces of sheet metal are aligned properly until they are welded or bolted together. After the tank is assembled, the dowel pins can be removed and the holes sealed with a weld. The pins come in different sizes depending on the size of the sheet metal. This sheet metal alignment tool is circular in design and has two different diameters. The smaller diameter end holds the dowel pin in place and the larger diameter end allows the attaching sheet metal to slide into place.
  
  

Alignment Picks

• The alignment pick is a tool that slides under the end of sheet metal so it can fit into place. The tool is handheld with a circular handle that comes to a point on one end and a hook or grap head on the other end. Each end of the tool can be used to align sheet metal when attaching two pieces together. Since sheet metal is flexible, one end of the metal can buckle preventing the sheet metal from aligning properly. The alignment tool allows you to pry on the buckled end enough to slide the sheet metal into place.
  
  

Wallbanger

• A wallbanger is a pipe alignment tool used to hold two pieces of pipe together to secure them. The tool has two pieces, like a clamping device. Each piece slides over the ends of the two pipes. As the wallbanger is tightened down, the two ends align to each other and remain aligned until a connection can be made. The wallbanger alignment tool comes in many different sizes so you can align different size pipes.
  
  

Pipefitter

• The pipefitter is an alignment tool similar to the wallbanger, but attaches to the two pipes differently. You take one component of the pipefitter tool and bolt it down around the outside diameter of one pipe. Another similar component gets bolted down to the connecting pipe. Once the two pipe connections get secured, you move the two pipe ends closer together. A nut connects the four studs protruding from each pipe securing component. As you tighten the nuts, it aligns the two pipes. This pipe alignment tool comes in different sizes to fit different size pipe.
  
  

Top Dawg

• A top dawg is a smaller pipe alignment tool. The tool has ends that swivel and slide into the interior diameter of the pipe. Once the pipes get aligned, the top dawg can be removed before welding the pipe joint. The alignment tool can adjust to fit different lengths and different diameter pipes. You can get the tool in carbon or stainless steel.