Morning, Just started using my RTech 181 mig in earnest and noticed when I pull the trigger the ball bearing in the flow meter bounces up and down and rattles in the glass tube, is this normal? Iv'e been round and tightened all the joints and checked with soapy water and can't see any visible leaks anywhere! Appreciate any advice or help please ..read more

Although this is specifically aimed at owners of the IFL MIG 170 I welcome constructive comments from owners of other machines. I was welding over the weekend and came to the conclusion the Burnback Adjustment was not working. No matter whether the potentiometer was set to 0 or 10 or anywhere in between the wire ended up about 6 mm from the end of the contact tip. Before I get the casing off I wondered if any member has experience of the adjustment working, or not, on this machine. Thanks in... Read more ..read more

Hi I'm looking for a MIG welder for car restoration, Chassis & bodywork. In the past I've used my mate's Clarke 130. It's ok but I'm looking to spend a bit more to get better quality. The SWP 170C looks like it'll do the job at £350. Anybody used one or got any other ideas around the £300 mark. The SWP's duty cycle is only 15% at 145A but I won't be using that kind of power really would only need 130 maximum ..read more

Hi all, I've had a go on a welder once or twice in the past, I'm a competant DIY'er/Solder-er/Semi-competant mechanic and engineer in training. I am looking for a welder that will be allow me to do some repair work on my campervan, make a fuel tank and build a simple bed frame. Not sure how thick the metal will be, but I'd guess at most 4mm in some places on the van... (ford transit mk6 engine bay) Anyway, I'm basically on a shoestring budget, thinking a MIG is probably the best place to... Read more ..read more

I’m restoring and modifying a pillar drill. It’s pretty hard to find information about this drill, RSB seem to have made a few lathes and were based in Leeds. The drill has been repaired a few times but I feel it’s worth making into a good machine - it’s got big capacity and it only cost me $30! I’m trying to work out what this toothed (?) wheel does on the end of the quill lever. I’ve found a similar drill on the net that also has it. Mine doesn’t have a fine feed like that one though... Read more ..read more

Okay I’ve got a pillar drill (Elliott Progress 1s) and added various bit to it. Here are my views on the mods. Opinions will vary, this is just my experience. The list is in order: Keyless Chuck 10/10 Service 9/10 NVR switch 9/10 Table vice 8/10 Actuator table lift 8/10 Little magnets 7/10 Table light 6/10 Table clamps 6/10 Fricken laser 5/10 I’ll post up some pictures of each one ..read more

I need to overboard the floors in a 2 bed terrace with 1/4" ply. 20mm ring shanks look like the order of the day. I don't fancy getting jiggy with an Estwing for that quantity. I have a Paslode first fix and a second fix nail gun, but they don't do a nail which fits these. There are some pneumatic ones which fore ring shanks, but nothing that short. Any ideas chaps ..read more

This is my second attempt at flux core, I faired a little better this time around after a chap pointed out what I hadn't done, and I actually started to enjoy it, I will have a 3rd crack at it once I get the correct rollers and figure out why it would just stop mid-weld, or after I get going...not sure if it's an earth issue or roller slip. But when I trim the end wire away for a clean start is fine. It's not something that happens when I'm doing gas MIG, I had a tough time seeing... Read more ..read more

While cleaning the machine. I removed the Threading/ Feed Charts by mistake. I searched for the chart in many places and couldn't find it. maybe because its an old machine. if anyone can help me to find the charts ..read more

So... I am going to set myself up with an airfed mask for isocyanate 2K, previously I've done fairly small amounts at a time with a gerson mask, but I'm about to do most of a (small) car. And I have a beard, which reduces the efficacy of a system that isn't even rated in the UK anyway, and I don't want to die. Many thanks to the stickied thread on this forum for scaring me into taking the plunge. So anyway, Im' looking at a dedicated compressor for the air feed, and likely something like... Read more ..read more