Here is a general question i have for help identifying an AC leak in R12 and R134a systems.

Occasionaly I have a non working AC system because the refrigerant has leaked out. I need away of finding the leak. I have a couple of AC tools including:
UV leak detector light
vacuum pump built from a refrigerator compressor
manifold gages (good for R12 and R134a)
cans of R134a with UV tracer

I do not have a recovery system nor a refrigerant sniffer. They are too expensive for my budget. I don't plan on venting R12 into the atmosphere.

How do I locate the source of a leak with the tools that i have? Would charging with R134a and forcing the compressor on (short the pressure switch) be the way to go using the UV light? What about R12 systems, could I load R134a in them simply for locating the leak. Of course the R134a would be removed after testing.

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1972 450SL
1982 300D Turbo