'Mend it Mark' YouTube Channel

[David G4EBT]

I emailed Mark to compliment him on his videos, and sent him a link to this thread.

He replied to say:

Quote:

Thanks for doing that! It’s really nice to read the positive comments, I’m very flattered…

I also had a request from another forum member, after he read your thread. He asked if I can show off some of the test gear, which I think I will soon.

My next video is a repair of a 1980’s Digital Delay Module, hopefully I can edit it in time for release on Friday!

Unquote.

So much stuff on YouTube is by dabblers with 'delusions of adequacy' or waffly academics who have the technical skills, but lack the practical skills. It's a breath of fresh are to come across a professionally qualified, experienced and versatile guy such as Mark.

'All the gear and the right idea!'

[Trevor]

I loved watching Mark and fell about laughing when he comment (it took longer than Phillip Scoffield to come) out when removing a module
Good practical work
Trev

[agardiner]

Mark's latest video is now up - a tour of his workshop and the equipment! WOW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBDrqGmTnQ

[buggies]

Oh wow!

[Vintage Engr]

I thought that I had a lot of test gear, but that is mind-blowing.
I wouldn't want his electricity bill!

David.

[peter_scott]

Impressive! And I don't just mean his test gear.

Peter

[Nickthedentist]

Originally Posted by Vintage Engr

I thought that I had a lot of test gear, but that is mind-blowing.

No wonder he keeps smiling so much

[PaulDarzi]

Wow, many thanks for the links and 'Mend it Mark' chappie - as you say, good to watch no fluff at all.

Originally Posted by David G4EBT

I've just discovered the YouTube channel of 'Mend it Mark'.

Very well made videos and a presentational style which is a breath of fresh air.

Here are a few - there are a lot more:

This one is well above my pay grade. (Check out the powerful microscope!):

Diagnosis and repair of a Roberts RD60 DAB Radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqKIKSzD6yw

Restoration of a 1970s stereogram in several parts:

part1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD6X9OAmIxs

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYl6w9Y-smo

Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlqVTSfUZGs

Modifications to the stereogram and Fitting Bluetooth:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaeIQ59rQpE

Niagara Juke Box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byWbdwI13S8

Caravan Switched Mode PSU Repair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndp6P8iVJY4

Hope you find them as interesting and informative as I did.

SWMBO may curse you - for the amount of (happy) time I've spent watching him the last day or so, though!

[Ted Kendall]

I was less impressed to see him butchering a Walkman...

[David G4EBT]

Originally Posted by Ted Kendall

I was less impressed to see him butchering a Walkman...

Neither was Mark! At the end of the video, he says:

Quote!

'Mistakes were made. First mistake was leaving the batteries in causing corrosion.
Second mistake was mine - how I went about fixing it & caused myself a lot of grief - hours were spent'.

Unquote.

I'd say that his first mistake was actually to take on a job on a 27-yr old 'Walkman' that was beyond economic repair due to quite extensive corrosion on the mechanism, which wasn't meant to be dismantled, on an item which - in working order - would struggle to sell in a charity shop for a fiver. (The charity shops in our village no longer accept cassettes, VHS tapes, or CDs).

I was impressed with how much he'd deduced about how the electronics worked.

And I'm especially impressed both with his extensive and broad ranging experience and expertise, and above all his superb camerawork and video editing. About the only person I can think of on Youtube I can bring to mind whose videos are produced to that high standard is Chris Ramsay in Australia.

Chris's channel, (which isn't about electronics, but clockmaking and model engineering), is called Clickspring'. He works almost exclusively in brass, makes many of his own tools, and though not for discussion on here, there will be some forum members who might find his construction of a Skeleton Clock from start to finish of interest. (It includes etching the clockface numerals with ferric chloride). Quite a guy.

Part 1 is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Y146v8HxE

I look forward to many more videos from Mend it Mark as a tranquil refuge from football and snooker on TV.

[slidertogrid]

What a nice chap with a wonderful workshop! He did a good job on the walkman yes, he admits to a mistake with the lever with the corrosion under it, he must have the patience of a saint!
I think I would have given up on that! I will enjoy watching his videos!

[chriswood1900]

Originally Posted by slidertogrid

What a nice chap with a wonderful workshop! He did a good job on the walkman yes, he admits to a mistake with the lever with the corrosion under it, he must have the patience of a saint!
I think I would have given up on that! I will enjoy watching his videos!

I think his videos are great and I have had the same problem on Walkman units with seized levers, at times the grease Sony used seems to turn into glue and is well nigh impossible to get the lever to come free even with solvents and heat, with practice I have got better at it but the first time comes as a surprise.

[Sideband]

I presume he must charge for his services. How much was the bill for that Walkman? In my opinion, just not worth doing. I have one here at work and I can't even get the thing apart.....at least not without causing severe damage to an unreplaceable enclosure part. Even if I do succeed in getting into the thing, I suspect it won't be worth doing unless it's something simple like a belt.

Having said that, I enjoy his video's and it's a real treat to see someone on YouTube that really knows what he is doing. Very impressed with his surface mount workstation.

[Audio1950]

Fascinating and informative videos, but there's one thing I can't get my head round. During the work on the stereogram, he replaces a mono cartridge with a stereo. He makes a shorting link with a connector on each end, then connects that across two of the diagonal pins. Are those the two positives, the two negatives or one of each?

Barry

[matherp]

I suspect it is one of each and he is effectively adding the two signals to create the mono output

[David G4EBT]

Just watched Mark repair a 1990s Technics SU-X502 Amplifier with no output.

I liked his comment 'this one has got a digital input for added trouble'!

Where do you start? Even knowing which screws to take out can be a challenge.

And when you get the lid off, what then?

Class will show - experience, skill, intuition and an optimistic outlook goes a long way.

As Mark put it: ‘Nothing wrong with the components... Just a little touch up here and there. Doesn't take too long’.

Not wrong there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzm3-_Fohkc

I like the low tech 'test terminals' (AKA 'panel pins').

What a guy - one on his own!

[Martin Bush]

I really enjoyed that Technics video. He's got a great style and attitude.

[Radio Wrangler]

I wonder what his background is?

It doesn't change anything, he's still good whatever, but he's got an impressive span of knowledge and an effective attitude.

David

[David G4EBT]

There's quite a bit about Mark and his little company, Perton Electronics in post #13.

He repairs just about anything, (test gear, reel-to-reel tape recorders, vintage radios, radiograms, hi-fi, guitar amps, vintage computers, juke boxes - even a pop-corn machine). He also does electronic design and prototyping. I don't know what Mark's background or qualifications are, but his breadth of knowledge and experience is very impressive.

A class apart from many on YouTube and his videos (43 to date) and camera work are top notch.

I don't think anyone could ever be miserable when in his company.

[Vintage Engr]

I had something similar to this yesterday, only it was a specialist amplifier unit, with six power amps in the one unit.
That likewise had no audio out, & turned out to just be dry joints. It certainly is knowing where to look!
Another great video,-
I do envy Mark's workshop, more the space than the kit. I've too much 'junk' in mine, I must have a clearout...

David.