TORQUE & TAPE — The Blue-Collar Skills Guide
Torque & Tape — The Blue Collar Upskill Podcast is dedicated to the people who keep the world moving. Hosted solo with honesty and grit, this show is an educational space for anyone in the trades, on the jobsite, or building a better future with their hands.
Each episode explores practical skills, how-to guidance, and trade knowledge that workers can apply right away. From tool breakdowns and step-by-step tutorials to safety tips and productivity hacks, Torque & Tape is built to teach and inspire. The focus is always respect — for the craft, for the worker, and for the universal blue-collar spirit that connects mechanics, welders, carpenters, electricians, truckers, farmers, and makers across the globe.
Whether you’re tightening bolts in Kingston, welding steel in New York, painting walls in London, or wiring homes in Port of Spain, Torque & Tape is your go-to guide for learning, improving, and taking pride in the trades. This is where knowledge meets respect — where the hard work of today becomes the foundation of tomorrow.
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Episodes
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Show up prepared, finish in one trip, and leave proof. “Truck Stock That Saves the Day” is a hands-on HVAC service field manual built for blue-collar upskill. You get a repeatable truck layout, a fast restock loop, and a safety kit routine which keeps you sharp on the first call and the last.Across seven tight chapters, the guide walks you through power and control saves, leak-free brazing with nitrogen purge, deep vacuum targets, airflow and condensate fixes, clean gas heat service, and ductless first-trip repairs. Every step reads clean for audio. Numbers, readings, and torque values appear in plain speech. Photo proof and labels close the loop for inspectors and warranty reviewers.What you’ll learn and use today:Map bins by zone, set par levels from call history, and run a five-minute end-of-day count.Restore safe power with solid meter habits, correct fuses, contactors, and caps, plus clean terminations.Braze on bright copper with a continuous nitrogen sweep, then pressure test and pull to a verified deep vacuum.Read total external static, seal leaks, fix traps, and keep water in the pipe.Service gas furnaces with measured gas pressure, verified draft, and documented combustion.Remake ductless flares, torque to spec, seal the wall sleeve, and prove the drain.Lockout and tagout, strap ladders, hydrate, and record every job with a simple photo checklist.Built for apprentices, lead techs, and owner-operators who want first-call completion with less stress. Keep this guide in your truck for “Commute Class” refreshers or “Shop Talk” case study days. Keywords: HVAC service how-to, blue-collar upskill, field manual, service truck, first-call fix, lockout tagout, PPE, capacitors, contactors, nitrogen purge, deep vacuum, static pressure, condensate drain, gas furnace, combustion analysis, manometer, mini split, flares, torque wrench, inspector ready. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Size the breaker right the first time and pass inspection with proof. This field manual walks you through load math, ampacity by temperature rating, standard wire to breaker pairs, AFCI and GFCI by room, multiwire safety, and real world derating and voltage drop. Built for working pros and apprentices who want a clean checklist, clear numbers, and a steady voice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
A clear, step by step education how to for trades pros and apprentices. Learn when to solder, when to braze, and when to press copper. Get the exact numbers, tests, and records that pass inspection the first time. Built for plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical work in the field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Stop underbidding for good. This practical how to guide gives you a repeatable system for screening small jobs fast, locking scope in writing, building labor hours with real adjusters, pricing materials with clean markup, recovering overhead, holding a firm minimum, and protecting profit with written change orders. Learn the close out routine that gets you paid today and turns every job into a better estimate tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Pass inspection on the first visit. This practical field manual walks you step by step through residential electrical load calculations, from floor-area base to fixed appliances, dryer and cooking demand, the largest-motor adder, and the final conversion to service amperes at two hundred forty volts. You get a clean panel schedule, balanced legs, and photo documentation that matches the math. Keywords: electrical load calculation, residential panels, service upgrade, panel schedule, Optional Method, Standard Method, largest motor adder, inspector documentation, education, how-to, trades, blue-collar upskill, apprentice electrician training. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.