I have a Lincoln Precision TIG 185 and after talking with a fabricating buddy last night, I've decided I want to put a water-cooled torch setup on it. I've seen some home-built units that look pretty nice but I'm also open to a turnkey setup. Anyone have any thoughts on coolers?
Water cooled torch for TIG
- Thread starter flatwins
- Start date
first, you will need an adapter for your PT185 to take water cooled torch, Linclon part # K1622-4, that's about $60.
as for torch, 25-foot 20 series torches are the most common, plenty around from Tweeco, Weldcraft, Victor, etc. get the gas lens setup for few extra bucks, literally.
what's your budget on the cooler, I have a Miller, $350 +sh. shipping shouldn't be too bad from IN to NE
as for torch, 25-foot 20 series torches are the most common, plenty around from Tweeco, Weldcraft, Victor, etc. get the gas lens setup for few extra bucks, literally.
what's your budget on the cooler, I have a Miller, $350 +sh. shipping shouldn't be too bad from IN to NE
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If you are not fussy, a pump and a 5 gal. bucket will work just fine.
A friend of mine has one on his 400 amp Miller.
I personally have a factory built Bernard, only because it came with the
welder (a like new Miller Aerowave) as a package, otherwise I would have built one, as they are way over priced.
What a rip off $750.00
Get the torch, hoses, pump and adapter first, and try the bucket method.
You can always build up a unit with a radiator later if you want.
BTW most coolers use the Procon beverage pump, similar to this.
-John
A friend of mine has one on his 400 amp Miller.
I personally have a factory built Bernard, only because it came with the
welder (a like new Miller Aerowave) as a package, otherwise I would have built one, as they are way over priced.
What a rip off $750.00
Get the torch, hoses, pump and adapter first, and try the bucket method.
You can always build up a unit with a radiator later if you want.
BTW most coolers use the Procon beverage pump, similar to this.
-John
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Steve from Socal
Well-known member
I can set you up with a CK20 torch with 25' leads brand new for 80.00
Steve
Steve
NASTYZEN
Well-known member
I stopped messing around with water chillers years ago. Noisy,seems there's always something screwing up with them.Wasted hundreds on new lines and torches till I scrapped all of it and simply hooked myself up to my tap water. Never had a problem since.
ranger302
Well-known member
Not to be that guy but, do you need a water cooled torch? I have the same macine and weld alot with it and yet to overheat the air cooled torch. 185 amps is too small for needing a watercooled torch. I think 350 amp and up is where you will need that much cooling. Just my .02
it depends on what you do.
some people don't like to wear gloves to begin with.
air cooled torch can get pretty hot quickly even going 100 amps, if it's running all the time.
if you are doing AC, you'd better have water cooled.
also, there are things other than the heat.
#1. water cooled torch is way smaller then air cooled, air cooled torch some times is just too bulky for the work.
#2. air cooled torch has 1 large hose, it twists a lot, hard to manipulate. water cooled torch has 3 smaller hoses, they cancel each other's twist, easier to control.
fergus
Well-known member
Dude...that's pretty smart. Low tech/low dollar wins again.
You bring up a good point. I could live without one (already have been) but I bought the welder to use and if running a water-cooled torch on it makes it easier and more enjoyable to use, I don't mind putting some extra $ into it. The welder itself wasn't cheap so might as well make it better.
In my shop the two TIG machines that never left the shop were on the city water line, the other 4 machines had coolers on them. The little thermal Dynamics lunchbox portable was air cooled but it was only good for about 100 amps. I agree about the water pumps being noisy it's a real unpleasant high pitched whine.
rsanter
Well-known member
I have a friend that has been just running water from the tap through the hose and out into the yard for years. kind of water wastefull but if you are not going to use it a bunch then it will be fine
if you dont want to waste the water then another friend is using a 5 gal bucket with a small pump.
both ways are cheap and easy
bob
if you dont want to waste the water then another friend is using a 5 gal bucket with a small pump.
both ways are cheap and easy
bob
senlow
Well-known member
Yes, there are valid reasons to use a water cooled torch on a small TIG.
A pump and a bucket of water will probably work fine for you. Try it that way, and you can add a chiller later if it becomes necessary.
CamarosRus
Well-known member
Is it OK to say that I'm looking for deal on used BERNARD type cooler in Wash state...........
Thanks,
Thanks,
NASTYZEN
Well-known member
Iv'e been hooked up to tap water for 17 years,no corrosion prob's yet. The water comes from my 180 ft. deep well.
When I was renting a shop down the street, the well there was a surface one. After 2 years the water line clogged due too scum buildup.
Iv'e been hooked up to tap water for 17 years,no corrosion prob's yet. The water comes from my 180 ft. deep well.
When I was renting a shop down the street, the well there was a surface one. After 2 years the water line clogged due too scum buildup.
I forgot about that sparkling clean water you Canooks have.
Bare Bones Racing
Member
I have a Miller 330 amp in my garage. My wall box for clothes washer is also in my garage. I put a tee in the line close up to the ceiling and ran a supply line across the wall. Ran the return (puke) line next to it and down to the wall box drain. I used 1/4" polyethylene tube. Important on that note...it doesnt harden up near as fast as vinyl tube.
BBR
BBR
BigMike782
Well-known member
Probably no worse the me saying I have a Lincoln SquareWave 175 with a WP9 torch and pulser for sale in south west lower Michigan
.Probably no worse the me saying I have a Lincoln SquareWave 175 with a WP9 torch and pulser for sale in south west lower Michigan
PM sent.
Mike
NASTYZEN
Well-known member
"%&*(%?/$!! my torch power line just cut at the base of my torch!! It's a good quality rubber hose,I'm going to try and repair the "/$%$??$
I'll post up some shots later.
I'll post up some shots later.
NASTYZEN
Well-known member
Re: Fixing Water cooled torch for TIG
So the other day I'm welding Alu. when the torch cut's out. I go over everything in the lines I even get conductivity thu the pos. line?
Hmm.take the cover off the side of the machine didle fart around,nothing.
Rush job so I fire up my other tig machine,well the torch is so old it welds metal fine but contaminates the weld. Grrrrr.
Swap the torch off the first welder( because at this point I still think it's the machine)got it all hooked up,turn it on ,press the pedal. Nothing!
It was the positive line that cut from bending at the torch handle end and it was intermittent.
Because it was rush I ran out and bought a new 250A plastic torch to finish the job. How can they make these for $200.00 bucks? Ok, it does look real cheap.
The replacement rubber positive line for the good torch is $150.00
So having a little time after all this I took out my exacto and performed surgery and this is what I found.
Fail !
Looks like it arced.
Cut the fitting to get the copper cable off with my ultra thin cut off wheel.
Oddly specific max RPM??
crimped back in and a little solder, making sure to leave the water hole open.
This line has two indentical fittings on the ends, so I put the good end on the torch and the repair on the other end.
Tada! Free repair.
So the other day I'm welding Alu. when the torch cut's out. I go over everything in the lines I even get conductivity thu the pos. line?
Hmm.take the cover off the side of the machine didle fart around,nothing.
Rush job so I fire up my other tig machine,well the torch is so old it welds metal fine but contaminates the weld. Grrrrr.
Swap the torch off the first welder( because at this point I still think it's the machine)got it all hooked up,turn it on ,press the pedal. Nothing!
It was the positive line that cut from bending at the torch handle end and it was intermittent.
Because it was rush I ran out and bought a new 250A plastic torch to finish the job. How can they make these for $200.00 bucks? Ok, it does look real cheap.
The replacement rubber positive line for the good torch is $150.00
So having a little time after all this I took out my exacto and performed surgery and this is what I found.
Fail !
Looks like it arced.
Cut the fitting to get the copper cable off with my ultra thin cut off wheel.
Oddly specific max RPM??
crimped back in and a little solder, making sure to leave the water hole open.
This line has two indentical fittings on the ends, so I put the good end on the torch and the repair on the other end.
Tada! Free repair.
oldgoaly
Well-known member
We just went to a bigger welder, and I started to collect parts and pieces, came across a coolmate 4 for 350$ w/ shipping, they had been bringing around 400 + shipping on the auction site. The only difference was this was wired for 220vac. So when it arrive we tore it apart to clean it and install new hoses. The motor in this one was dual voltage 110/220 and has ports for oil!!!!, internal hoses are 3/8" used air hose. Flushed the tank, cleaned the coil, change the motor back to 110 (it plugs into the 250 syncrowave) put in distilled water and a plain poly-glycol anti-freeze. Oh forgot to mention there is a strainer on the ProCon put that needs cleaning. Runs like a brand new used one.... My boy does most of the welding he loves it! tt
Pump pressure is 65 psi, we piped a Tee in the output, you need good pressure for the new smaller head 300 amp torches, the older larger torch head flow water much easier like a fish pump.
Pump pressure is 65 psi, we piped a Tee in the output, you need good pressure for the new smaller head 300 amp torches, the older larger torch head flow water much easier like a fish pump.
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SWT Racing
Well-known member
One thing to watch out for is that sometimes you can have some high frequency problems when using standard coolant or tap water due to its slight conductivity. It is especially prevalent when welding Aluminum.