project 2-7 from Hooda-reinforce valve spring compressor

[hooda]

So, I always wanted a real, top quality valve spring compressor, but when the time that I NEEDED one, this was all that I could afford. I have been fighting with this flimsy, twisty POS for 12 or so years, and every time I break it out, I tell myself "I'll just deal with it for now, and when I get time, I'll DO something about it" So I'll finish the job, and back in the box it goes until I need it again, and have no time to do anything to it. So I'll be needing this thing in a couple of days, and figured that now was the time. I cut a few pieces of 1/8" x 2" steel from a reinforcement bar salvaged off my former, 2 ton garage door, cleaned off the leaded paint and 3/4 century of rust, and fired up the 185 micro. A bit of head scratching on how to hole the pieces in place for tack welding, and I was in business. I used a pointed 3/32 Thoriated, 3/32 er70-s2 filler, 6-1/2 lpm on straight argon, and a number 5 cup on the factory supplied torch. I opted to use the pedal, rather than fuss with the switch as I was running short on time. All I can say about the 185 Micro is that the more I use it, the more I like it. This was my first go in DC mode, and the arc starts were perfect, arc was silky smooth, and the pedal was spot on as far as tapering off at the end of a bead. ALL flaws in the beauty of the welds are the operator (ME), not the machine. I would honestly rate myself as an amateur welder but with a machine that functions this well, I see my learning curve as being short. We'll see if the three tabs I welded on are enough to stiffen this tool up. if not, I'm on the fence as to whether to add material along the length of the clamp, or just throw it on ebay, and but a better one. We'll see.