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With my big ol Helga up and running, what's finally just on the edge of my radar screen is a water cooled tig torch. Build...buy....fabbercobble....or a combination of those is where I'm at. Want to hear some opinions on what you guys are doing, which one you're using, which ones to stay away from and opinions on a home built version.
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Torch WP-20 I've got weldtec right now very happy with them. I have used the WP-20 torch since the early 80's only melted 1 of them from pushing to many amps for too long, lost a few more from forgetting to turn on the water. Actually just lost the cables from no water, what a mess. For the cooler I built a 5 gallon SS tank and used a swamp cooler pump. Been thru 3 pumps in 20 years. Works great for DC weld but needs a radiator for AC aluminum welding gets the water hot enough to make coffee in about 1/2 hour. That cooler is on my syncrowave. We have a weldtec cooler on another machine has always worked well. I've really liked the many Miller coolers I've used over the years.
If you make your own I recommend using a heater core from a car or truck for the radiator and a cooling fan off an old computer and get a procon pump to move the water.
Here is a pic of the torch I have not with Gas lens setup. -
I the first shop I had I tapped into the cold water line in the sink to a ball valve I put on the back of the welder tied it into the torch and ran the return line back to the drain in the sink. Used 200 mph tape to secure it to the sink. Just have to remember to turn the water on before starting to weld.Comment
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RyanOriginally posted by ryanjones2150 View Post
I have built a few over the years...... pretty easy project for somebody as handy as you.............
here is a thread with pump and pressure data
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The more you know, The better you know, How little you know
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
Buy the best tools you can afford.. Learn to use them to the best of your ability.. and take care of them...
My Blue Stuff:
Dynasty 350DX Tigrunner
Dynasty 200DX
Millermatic 350P w/25ft Alumapro & 30A
Millermatic 200
TONS of Non-Blue Equip, plus CNC Mill, Lathes & a Plasmacam w/ PowerMax-1000
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Easy to build even with as many variations as there are. BUT, if you need to make money with it, a wiser choice is to simply purchase one for a few hundred dollars. The money that you can bring in with aluminum TIG welding can easily off-set the cost of the cooler quickly. I have two HTP Arctic chill coolers, Dual-Voltage. Work great, especially with quick-disconnects. The flow alarm is great for when you accidentally step on the hose or if it gets pinched around an obstacle.
HTP Invertig221 D.V. Water-cooled
HTP Pro Pulse 300 MIG
HTP Pro Pulse 200 MIG x2
HTP Pro Pulse 220 MTS
HTP Inverarc 200 TLP water cooled
HTP Microcut 875SCComment
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Whether you buy or build a cooler............ make sure it has a "PROCON" vane pump...
they are the industry standard........last nearly forever.......plentiful & reasonable on the used market.......
if you do ever need parts.... they are readily available......
Last edited by H80N; 02-02-2017, 04:59 PM..
*******************************************
The more you know, The better you know, How little you know
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
Buy the best tools you can afford.. Learn to use them to the best of your ability.. and take care of them...
My Blue Stuff:
Dynasty 350DX Tigrunner
Dynasty 200DX
Millermatic 350P w/25ft Alumapro & 30A
Millermatic 200
TONS of Non-Blue Equip, plus CNC Mill, Lathes & a Plasmacam w/ PowerMax-1000Comment
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Excellent info gents. I have at my disposal any number of heater cores, so that's easy. The fan issue is also solved by whatever I have on my shelf. <br />
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Oscar....I was planning to eventually get that HTP one for my invertig since it just plugs right in. <br />
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I like that glass gas lense, Gramps. I had one once...HAD being the key word....friend of mine came over to "show" me how to tig aluminum after I first got the machine and immediately dropped my torch on the floor. That was that. <br />
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I'll take a look at that link Heiti, get some specs in order, pump, tank size, etc. I'd like to see how some guys configure their home built ones so I can plagerize the living daylights out of it.Comment
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short pump specs...........Originally posted by ryanjones2150 View Post..... 2 liters per minute @ 40-60 PSI
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*******************************************
The more you know, The better you know, How little you know
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
Buy the best tools you can afford.. Learn to use them to the best of your ability.. and take care of them...
My Blue Stuff:
Dynasty 350DX Tigrunner
Dynasty 200DX
Millermatic 350P w/25ft Alumapro & 30A
Millermatic 200
TONS of Non-Blue Equip, plus CNC Mill, Lathes & a Plasmacam w/ PowerMax-1000Comment
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I have a couple of transmission coolers laying around, might have to make something fancy schmancy.Comment
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those are the hot ticket..............Originally posted by ryanjones2150 View Post
you're always welcome to give me a call.........
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*******************************************
The more you know, The better you know, How little you know
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
Buy the best tools you can afford.. Learn to use them to the best of your ability.. and take care of them...
My Blue Stuff:
Dynasty 350DX Tigrunner
Dynasty 200DX
Millermatic 350P w/25ft Alumapro & 30A
Millermatic 200
TONS of Non-Blue Equip, plus CNC Mill, Lathes & a Plasmacam w/ PowerMax-1000Comment
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Awesome, will do!<br />
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Those stainless procon pumps ain't cheap on fleabay! I'm sure there's a various price range for em though.Comment
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the brass beverage service carbonator pumps turn up pretty regular at auctions.... lots of restaurants and bars going T U all the time...Originally posted by ryanjones2150 View Post
That BIZ is riskier than EOD.........................
Last edited by H80N; 02-02-2017, 06:54 PM..
*******************************************
The more you know, The better you know, How little you know
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
Buy the best tools you can afford.. Learn to use them to the best of your ability.. and take care of them...
My Blue Stuff:
Dynasty 350DX Tigrunner
Dynasty 200DX
Millermatic 350P w/25ft Alumapro & 30A
Millermatic 200
TONS of Non-Blue Equip, plus CNC Mill, Lathes & a Plasmacam w/ PowerMax-1000Comment
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ryanjones2150,
I added a flow indicator to my cooler to be sure water was flowing.
There are paddle wheel types and this design with balls which bounce around.
http://www.sightflowindicator.com/si...ndicators.html.
McMaster-Carr sells them but you can find them on ebay as well as the procon pumps.
H80N is right on the money with recommending a procon pump.
Good luck.Miller Dynasty 350, Dynasty 210 DX, Hypertherm 1000, Thermal Arc GTSW400, Airco Heliwelder II, oxy-fuel setup, metal cutting bandsaw, air compressor, drill press, large first aid kit, etc.
Call me the "Clouseau" of welding !Comment
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Helga has an ample backside with fan....... you could use a car radiator... it could be both reservior and cooler in one......
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*******************************************
The more you know, The better you know, How little you know
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
Buy the best tools you can afford.. Learn to use them to the best of your ability.. and take care of them...
My Blue Stuff:
Dynasty 350DX Tigrunner
Dynasty 200DX
Millermatic 350P w/25ft Alumapro & 30A
Millermatic 200
TONS of Non-Blue Equip, plus CNC Mill, Lathes & a Plasmacam w/ PowerMax-1000Comment
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That's actually a dadgum good idea. Helga also has a 115v outlet under her skirt. Come up with a little control panel, a flow indicator as was suggested (excellent suggestion by the way) and I'd be off! I certainly have a radiator or three laying about. You don't reckon it would restrict the air flow from Helga too much do you?Comment
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