What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[Bryn]

Recently, I got myself a Sandstrøm S10UKBF20 Bluetooth Keyboard from Currys for my Amazon Fire 7 tablet (along with a stylus), but unfortunately it's not really compatible with it (as every time I press any key on the keyboard, the tablet screws up a bit by going to sleep two to three times).

Might want to invest in a newer model of the tablet in the near future (and of it running a newer version of FireOS as well)...

[gamalot]

A tube of silicone grease for lubrication. In addition to applying it to the dial, I also applied some to the PCB tracks. I hope there won't be any trouble.

[gamalot]

A tube of silicone grease for lubrication. In addition to applying it to the dial, I also applied some to the PCB tracks. I hope there won't be any trouble.

Just did a test, the highest voltage I could find was only 1000V, 5 minutes passed and nothing seemed to happen, which should make me less anxious.

[artag]

Datron 1071. Don't know if it works yet, I pick it up monday. But who can resist one more digit, and a panaplex ?

[armandine2]

... one more power supply [wafer thin  ] - I think the neg voltage fix might've sold it 

Tenma 72 2660

[jonpaul]

At Vide Grinier (street sale) in Paris Sunday:

 
Two Neon voltage regulator tubes 100V

Two Biaetti Moka pot espresso makers one stainless steel,  NIB, 3 , 4 cup

two RCA 2050 Thyratron tubes as used in SIGSALY WWII

Tubes were EU 3, both Cafe were EU 25.

have a great day!

Jon

[veedub565]

More things followed me home today



A pair of rack mounted HP 6286A PSU's. Pots are a bit crusty but otherwise in great condition, and works just fine.

Rohde & Schwarz URV35 Level Meter, in a nice carry bag. The Duraleak batteries have leaked on this and it's going to need a bit of work to get it going. I've already got some RF probes for it.

Fluke 652 Cable LAN tester, in a carry case with remote. Works fine

W&G SPM-12 selective level meter, bit old and crusty, but seems to measure ok.

Stabilock 4015 radio comms test set. This powers up, but doesn't respond to the fornt panel. One of my friends is having this off me actually to fix up a broken one he's already got.

And, rather randomly, Brecknell 60kg bench scales, these work just fine. Maybe I'll use them in the kitchen or something 


I don't really need any of this stuff, it just keeps finding it's way into the back of the car

[DaneLaw]

The finest high'end modern Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor-based handheld-welder that 50€ can buy from China    (incl. 25%EUVAT & shipping)

This hand-unit weighs 950g and claims a peak of around 2600W, got a color LCD with quite a few adv. settings. 

 

Been in the market for one of these handheld stick welders for some years, also saw Mike's video some years back.
I haven't welded before, but often find myself in situations where a crude stick-welder could be useful for certain repairs and the small footprint with these, are ideal for me..
Obviously not high-end, quite the contrary though still puzzles me, the prices they can sell these for - if you remove shipping & VAT, its like 30 to 35, it cant be a lot left to make the product with.

Though first impressions are actually quite positive (with the price in mind) I need to examine a bit to decipher what all the different settings do.
The CC & CP seems to be based around Alkaline welding rods vs Acid welding rods, and different current-profiles.
Though the "Hot Start" percentages, and "Force", and "Valley" percentages.. Im not certain about..  "VFD" seems to be some human safety feature, where the unit is in a lower voltage state 14.8v vs 66v until certain criteria are met when starting a pool/weld.
It performs a lot of self-checking when starting up, seems to check voltage on low & high sides, & driver, and gives report, same on cal, and also what looks like startup & run/usehours etc.
***

(***Google translated pic, test-startup-reports.. some of it are in Chinese)

[Bud]

So have you welded anything with it yet? 

[DaneLaw]

So have you welded anything with it yet?   

Sorry bud' you ain't gonna get jack, in regards to valid feedback, on how it performs as a good stick-welder -  Im new to welding, would be like asking a newly born, on the air quality in the maternity ward.
Best case, it will take some time before I get the hang of it, - still waiting for the rods. .. Hopefully they will do. (1.8mm) https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006318849067.html?

Here is a brief video from China, maybe that can tell you something.

[armandine2]

...that's not a great one to learn on 

[McBryce]

...that's not a great one to learn on 

The actor was chosen for his looks and not his welding skills.

McBryce.

[DaneLaw]

...that's not a great one to learn on 

I reckon you missed the mark.
Nobody is pursuing a welding exam.
Simply having the ability...
You with me this far? or are you still palm-napping, otherwise tons of video online.. with people trying these out..
It takes some time to find your settings, not to hot, not to cold, and maintaining distance, but in lack of better... they will do the job.

[armandine2]

,,, I been down that path too, we bought heaps of junk in the 70s.
It is part of growing up.
It isn't so easy stick welding - your actor is holding it pretty steady, but consider how much easier it would have been without the whole machine as well - not that a thick cable and an earth clamp is so easy to use.

[DaneLaw]

,,, I been down that path too, we bought heaps of junk in the 70s.
It is part of growing up.
It isn't so easy stick welding - your actor is holding it pretty steady, but consider how much easier it would have been without the whole machine as well - not that a thick cable and an earth clamp is so easy to use.

I get that, your perspective is based on what your encountered half a century ago, back in the 70s.
Fair enough..but things do evolve.

[armandine2]

I had good eyesight then - you will be looking at the pool of molten metal , not far away as shown in the clip.

If it works great - but if you can't pass the exam what use is it?

[wkb]

,,, I been down that path too, we bought heaps of junk in the 70s.
It is part of growing up.
It isn't so easy stick welding - your actor is holding it pretty steady, but consider how much easier it would have been without the whole machine as well - not that a thick cable and an earth clamp is so easy to use.

I get that, your perspective is based on what your encountered half a century ago, back in the 70s.
Fair enough..but things do evolve.

Evolve yes. But not necessarily in the right direction with this thing imho.

[DaneLaw]

,,, I been down that path too, we bought heaps of junk in the 70s.
It is part of growing up.
It isn't so easy stick welding - your actor is holding it pretty steady, but consider how much easier it would have been without the whole machine as well - not that a thick cable and an earth clamp is so easy to use.

I get that, your perspective is based on what your encountered half a century ago, back in the 70s.
Fair enough..but things do evolve.

Evolve yes. But not necessarily in the right direction with this thing imho.

Do you have any first-hand experience with these??
Or is it simply.. "it doesn't look like a normal stick welder with a big wheelie-box, and it's cheaper than western welders and it's from China, ergo, it's the devil".

It ain't magic, and with new cheaper technologies,, we are seeing new smaller products that are way more mobile at reduced prices..
Same with laser-welders coming out of China, they are a fraction of the size & cost of previous variants.
Things do evolve...some like that, some don't... but usually, its preferred to try out a product, to get any insight into its performance... just use common sense, and take your precautions with some due diligence.

Tons of people seem to have purchased these IGBT ARC welders, from their own purse (*Not gifted promotion that tends to taint certain videos with a loaded bias)

This crude model below, that was very pronounced a few years back... seems to be a hit or miss.
Takes some skill to work it, and keep the pooltemp in check but it will do the job, and quite a few who claims to be routined welders (in the comments) give their feedback and seem impressed.



The version.. that I purchased [#13407] seems to be another newer generation, as they are significantly smaller & with less peak wattage, and give access to more settings.. to adjust features & welding profiles, freq, and safety for electricity concerns and generally balance the stickiness.(pooltemp & distance).

This ain't a stick-welder that is intended as an everyday tool for a welding workshop (goes without saying)... - If you need that, then purchase that
- As far as I can tell these handheld welders are intended for mobility, and having welding/tack-ability in a small handheld form factor running on any given mains outlet.. That can be quite useful for various cumbersome welding tasks.

[Postal2]

Midi-synth.

[RAPo]

my USBC-to-TTL/FTDI breakout w/ Flipper Board  arrived today.

[EPAIII]

I bought one of these self healing mats to use as a background when I take photos of small items for web posts and articles.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092896J3V?psc=1&smid=A1GBNF3OEGWEDX&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

The one I am using presently has a big, black square in the middle which confuses things. The new one will be uniformly gray.

[DaneLaw]

A new powerbank..Ugreen Nexode 25.000mAh
Seems to be highly inspired by the Anker 737. [Powercore24k)
but it does have some features that my Anker737 doesn't have.
Like current info for each of the 3 outputs with trend-graph (2x TypeC + 1xUSB)
Max wattage from a single port is 140W (28v/5A) though only 1 of its 2 TypeC is PD3.1. the other is PD3.0 and max 100W, while on the Anker its both its TypeC that are 140W PD3.1. though not at the same time..

The Ugreen lacks the statistics, found on the Anker737, with battery %health, Wh, runtimes etc

The Ugreen is a tad lighter -33g, and quite a bit cheaper than the Anker737 (Powercore 24)
The Anker 737 MSRP is around 200$ here in Denmark (1350 DKK) but can be had a tad cheaper at sales, while the Ugreen ain't sold regionally but purchased from the far east [Aliexpr].for around 70$ with incl. 25% EUVAT & shipping.... I was quite skeptical on the seller as the price was quite low in regards to others, and also unsure on the quality of this Ugreen Nexode 200W, but first impressions are solid..Seems like a quality item, not far after the Anker 737, but with a bigger display and higher screen-resolution.

They both seem to be based on 21700 cells.  .. (Anker737 6x4000mAh Ugreen 5x 5000mAh)
I prefer 21700 cells over stacked LIPO pouches when it comes to high-wattage powerbanks.
The Ugreen Nexode do support the 12V PD-protocol which I use for my Micsig oscilloscope and numerous lazing rigs, which the Anker737 didn't for its older western-sold models, and which I have..

[coppercone2]

I thought those weld guns are a interersting concept but IMO the problem in welding is hand fatigue.



It does make me think of a mixed concept stick/mig welder, where it feeds the rod like a MIG using a motorized extension  lol

that would be nice, to compensate for the fact that your hand piece increased in weight by more then like 50 times?


I support the development, the end goal is
https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/ME3_Hand_Welder

I suspect its a microwave plasma torch with a really impressive internal power source 

[jonpaul]

Just found....at  street sale Paris 5eme,   
 
Schott  CWU-R  USAF flight jacket   vintage 1990s

new : $195!   slightly worn cuffs, otherwise great cond,  negotiation .....(in French)   35>>>25€

https://www.schottnyc.com/products/nylon-flight-satin-cwu-jacket.htm
new these are  : $195!   

have an absolutely fantastic day !

Jon

 

[RAPo]

i've bought a 500Mhz  HP 54616B scope + 53659B option.