There hasn't been a lot to report tbh, the big issue was not having access to a tig welder or the cash to buy one. So I've had to come out of retirement & get a job to finance goodies for the project.
I used to do a lot of fabrication/welding whilst working in a boatyard years ago, mig, tig, arc & oxy acetylene.
I did have access to a mates tig machine, but you just can't beat having your own at home.
So the search/buying began...
The first purchase was an old transformer based "Union Carbide Tigger 150". £100 buy it now in Oxford. Buyer described it as working (arcing), but no argon to test
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
500 miles later, I got it home & set it up, no, defiantly not working. It was fitted with an "add on" High Frequency box which was working but no main amperage power from the transformer
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So with that I saw another machine for sale, a rebranded Union Carbide Tigger 150 machine called a CASTOTIG 150G CASTOLIN+EUTECTIC. That was for sale in Shrewsbury. I thought that I could use it for spares & repair the Union Carbide set.
So again I hit the BiN button & popped to Shrewsbury to pick it up, on arrival a nice enough bloke showed me the machine. All looked well, but he was insisting on me to remove the panels & have a look inside. I said there was no need but he insisted so after we lifted it into the car I did have look inside. The pcb that I was hoping to swap into the Union Carbide machine was missing & replaced with some amateurish soldering effort.
The disappointment was incredible, He must of seen me pissed off as he gave me the £100 back & told me to keep the machine. Another 246 miles of juice wasted
![Thumbdown :thumbdown:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbdown.gif)
Weeks passed & numerous broken promises from people to come & have a look at the welder to see if a repair was possible. So I gave up & looked for another welder.
Then I saw a Lincoln Invertec V160-T for £150 BiN in Grantham. Popped to Grantham, what a drag, the tom-tom took us the most stop start journey of my life. 442 miles later I get it home & at last I have a welder that works
![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)
Amongst all that nonsense I also had to purchase a full Argon bottle £132
![EEK! :eek2](./images/smilies/eek.gif)
So now I can finally weld some stuff up.
I have just finished welding up the inlet manifold up & will update with picture soon
![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)
P.S. If there is anyone with any knowledge of repairing the above mentioned machines or can find the schematics for the Union Carbide I would be very great full.
Thanks in advance
![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)