I’ve always wanted a TIG welder, and after looking for years for one at sensible money on eBay I decided to bite the bullet and buy a cheap one. It’s a 160 amp AC/DC one from R-Tech. Slowly getting the hang of welding with it but moving it around was a complete pain in the ass. After catching the bottle as it got knocked over for the hundredth time, I decided it was time to make a stand for it. Nothing spectacular, just a box shape on wheels with a shelf underneath for the foot controls and stuff. I made the mistake of tacking it together on the garage floor which turned out to be not quite level so the top shelf was ever so slightly wonky. I welded the other 3 corners on and bent it back into shape with some spring compressors. A couple of wheels plus some chain from B&Q and it was done. May even paint it one of these days. Now all I have to do is learn how to weld properly with it!

It was about time I did some more work on the never ending project that is the roof. I’d done a load of reading up on metal shaping and decided that I needed to make a slapper. I’d already cut down a piece of leaf spring that I had been using, but it was not the easiest to use as it had no handle. I cut it into pieces, then cut a handle shape into one of them before welding it all back together. I ground it all nice and smooth, then filed it down before smoothing it with the orbital sander. With that done, I did the same to the hammer faces and all the dollies. With them all smooth and shiny looking, I was ready to start working on the roof again. A few more hours work and it was definately better. I think the neighbours had probably had enough by then, so I set about a big tidy up instead. I’d hardwired the compressor in to its own supply, and decided to plumb in some pipework and the spare moisture trap. Nice and neat, and easier to use.