Draper 135AT Turbo ... Advice needed desperately.

[Nashy]

Hi All,
I have bought a second hand Draper 135AT Turbo MIG welder and I can't seem to get it working right.

The Tissue paper is to clean off the Copper Grease as it goes through the wire feed.

The problem I'm having with it is that it won't feed the wire constantly, despite how I adjust the wire tensioner (see 3 below) but the liner looks like it could be 'kinked' in several places. (I forgot to take any photo's of this) ... I'll try to take some & post them up next time I'm over my Dad's house (Where it's kept).
What I was hoping to get the answers to are:
1. Will 'SIP' tips & shrouds fit it?
2. Will a 'SIP' liner (the ones they sell in Halfords) fit onto it?
3. It doesn't seem to be feeding the wire constantly (it's slipping (stopping & starting) with the tensioner at any tightness) BUT someone has put copper grease on the wire and the feed roller, will this cause it to slip?
4. The 'Torch' I have been told, by a friend with lot's of experience in MIG welding, could be on it's way out, but isn't sure.
5. Do you normally have to press harder for the gas to come out than the wire?
6. If I do need a new 'Torch' for it, where can I get one without paying the £100+ that I have seen them advertised for on the internet?
7. If I do replace the 'Torch' on it, can I use any make or does it have to be a 'Draper' one? As I can get 'SIP' liners, tips & shrouds locally in Halfords on Trade, if I can use a 'SIP' Torch.

Sorry for so many questions but I need to get this sorted as I have to (with some help) weld new rear arches into my car so I can sell it (I've already taken a deposit on it & I've got the replacement panels ready & waiting to go on).

Many Thanks, in advance,
Aaron.

 

[the snooper]

take the liner out and measure against any that are avaiable, the copper / grease on the wire will contaminate the weld so that may be a problem when you do get it to feed also the grease will cause dirt to build up in the liner.

my advice would be to replace the liner and the wire and make sure you have the correct size tip.

you shouldnt have to squeeze the trigger any harder for the gas to flow

looks like you can also use gasless wire with it

 

[Nashy]

The 'SIP' Shroud I bought (with 5X 0.6mm tips and a Liner) won't screw on as the thread on the torch I have is really chunky. I'll try to get a photo of it tomorrow.
But I'm wondering if the liner will fit if the shroud doesn't.

 

[Nashy]

I will fit a new reel of 0.6mm wire though as I have one and I'll clean off all the copper grease that is left (I've cleaned most of it off).

 

[Nashy]

Where can I buy a cheap (but reasonably good, useable) torch from as I can't seem to find one for less than £90?

 

[shenion]

Have you tried here: http://www.weldequip.com/hobby-torches.htm ?

 

[Nashy]

This is a photo or the shroud thread size ( the AA tyre pressure gauge is for a comparison) …



I was told that this might be a 'Euro Torch' … does this look Luke it is or is it just the size Draper use?

 

[Nashy]

I tried to fit a new liner the other day and the screws that hold the torch together are rusted up, so I'm going to have to drill them out and fit new ones.
Aaron.

 

[Nashy]

It was supposed to say "does this look like …". Damn 'Auto correct' on these new phones. Lol

 

[Nashy]

I have bought a new Torch complete and I am hoping to get it fitted and working tomorrow.

 

[Nashy]

All fitted and working great.

 

[mike 109444]

Good on you for posting back to let the guys know whats sorted the machine

 

[Nashy]

I can't get a link up using my phone, but the item number of.the one I bought is: 300796424110.
It fitted easily (it's the 1st time I've ever done it and it took me half an hour to do). It comes with everything you need to change it over & even has a steel liner not a plastic one (I was expecting a plastic one, so I was pleasantly surprised).
The best part is that it only cost me £29:99 with FREE P&P.
If anyone wants to get one.

Aaron.

 

[Nashy]

Now all I have to do is learn how to use it properly.
I have even used the old reel of wire, after unwinding it until it sat nicely on the reel (not overlapping itself) & I've cleaned all the copper grease off the rollers e.t.c. As well, and the corroded parts of the wire were cut away before I fed it into the new liner/torch.

I no longer have any issues with it stop - starting the wire feed & its giving a good weld.

Aaron.

 

[Nashy]

Good on you for posting back to let the guys know whats sorted the machine

It always helps if your reading about someone's problems to find what helped them … too many threads get left unfinished (the solution doesn't always get posted up) which can be annoying if you have the same problem as they did. Although not all do get sorted, mind.

No offence meant to anyone, but it happens on most forums.
I can be guilty of this sometimes as well. Lol.

Aaron.

 

[normspanners]

You may not have done it, but As snooper says never put grease or oil on the wire as when it travels into the liner, especially the wire wound ones it hangs in the grooves and grabs bits of grinding dust etc and keeps building up till it jams the wire, you may get the wire out but the grease and dust is impossible to get out.

 

[Nashy]

The guy who did it (I lent him my welder to do some welding on a car belonging to a customer of his) is a qualified mechanic & really should have known better. Lol
But it's a lesson learned for me (not to use anything to lubricate it) so something good came from it, even if it did only need a new liner (I ended up buying a new torch, though - it would have needed one before long anyway & I've now got a good 'base' to learn MIG Welding with) & the wire trimmed down to get it to a 'clean' section again and so it sat properly to allow it to unwind nicely.

Aaron.