Budget Stretching Ideas

Schools face a serious budget crunch these days created by expanding enrollment and shrinking resources. There are many small things that you can do to stretch your budget and still provide a reasonable level of training for your students. Refurbishing tools that have become shop worn rather than replacing them is one small possible savings. Tools that normally last for years in the field sometimes only last a few semesters in our lab due to the harsh treatment they sometimes receive as well as the constant use. The seals and depressors in hoses are one example. If you have refrigeration hoses that leak, often the leak is in the seal on the end. The seal in most hoses is a small rubber tube that slips into the end of a brass cup in the end of the hose. The core depressor is either held in place by the seal or screws down into it. Replacement seals and depressors are available for most brands of hoses. If the hoses you have are used for connecting to refrigerant cylinders, vacuum pumps, or recovery machines, there is really no reason to have the core depressor. Removing it will speed up all those operations by removing a restriction. A larger savings can come in the type of brazing rod you keep. While I prefer 15% silver, it is now over $100 a pound and we use several pounds a semester. I hate to have students braze any less because brazing is one of those skills that must be practiced. 0% copper-phos is just over $10 a pound and does the same job. No, not as easily, but I can buy a semester’s worth for less than one pound of the 15% silver. Another savings for many programs is to reduce the paper you hand out. I have always been fairly liberal with the handouts, believing that it is important to disseminate information. I still believe that, but I have modified the way I share information. I started by writing a book that had more of what I wanted in it. But there will always be new information you run across that you want to share. Increasingly, I do this electronically by sharing web addresses. Finaly, let the supply houses and contractors in your area know you need help. They can keep their eye out for opportunities to help you. This past year we have received several donations from contractors and supply houses of “stale” stock or equipment with issues. They receive a tax deduction and we receive equipment. A unit with an issue may be a problem for a contractor, but it is an opportunity for my students . We have received two new packaged heat pumps this past year that had leaks on the pilot tubes of the reversing valves. Students patched the leaks and the valves worked. Now we have two new packaged heat pumps.