TIG and water cooling

[beanz2]

To those who know or own TIG welders, do all of them require a water cooler? What if I do not use a water cooler, do I just have to wait longer btween welds to let the torch cool down?

I'm thinking of getting a Miller Syncrowave 180 http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/syncrowave_180_sd/ . Does it require a separate cooler?

Sorry for the TIG newbie ?'s, just graduating from MIGs...

Dave

 

[Poser]

I have a DC only tig unit, and I have not found the point at which a water cooled torch was needed. I am not doing production, or continious type work though either. A friend has the same welder you are talking about, and I too have been thinking about getting that unit for the added flexability of other metals, but again, I do not see where I would be needing a water cooled torch set up.


Good luck!


-Steve

 

[beanz2]

Thanks, Steve. So the non water-cooled torch is good enough for general automotive use? Nice to hear. The cooler unit sure adds a lot of $$ and then I would need a different torch too. Or go for the 250 DX?

Dave

 

[hj60]

In school, our TIG units (all late-80s vintage Miller AC/DC units) were uncooled.
And they were used all day a few days a week.
I second poser's opinion that water-cooled is more for the production environment.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Dave-what do you plan to do with your old equiptment?

 

[cruiserhead]

If you plan on welding aluminum,you might want to upgrade to a water cooled torch.I have the Lincoln 185 tig and if it didn`t have an auto shut off when the temp got too high I probably would have blown out the torch.I`ve learned to be more patient and let it cool.Just my experience.

 

[beanz2]

If you plan on welding aluminum,you might want to upgrade to a water cooled torch.I have the Lincoln 185 tig and if it didn`t have an auto shut off when the temp got too high I probably would have blown out the torch.I`ve learned to be more patient and let it cool.Just my experience.

So aluminum welding is hotter and harder on the torch? I don't expect much Al work, but I'd like the flexibility.

Dave

 

[Junk]

I use the T/A Prowave 185 and it's aircooled. There are tons of sites around where you can learn to build your own water-cooled if you'd like, but I've never had the need. Again, I'm not doing production work either.

Go over to the Hobart website and read through their forums. The 180sd is a nice unit, but I think you should read some of the comparisons then take 'em for a twirl.

 

[Steve C]

So aluminum welding is hotter and harder on the torch? I don't expect much Al work, but I'd like the flexibility.

Dave

In alum tig welding you use AC to allow the current to reverse and clean the surface of the aluminum. When the current reverses lots more energy is directed to heating the torch.

Additionally, plenty of (light) production TIG welding is done with air cooled torches.

 

[honk]

So aluminum welding is hotter and harder on the torch? I don't expect much Al work, but I'd like the flexibility.

Dave

What Steve C said and in general yes, aluminum soaks up heat compared to steel so you need more amps to wet out and more amps heats up torches.
As said above, for non-continuous welding you don't need to have water cooling systems.

 

[hammerhead]

I have both liquid cooled and gas cooled torches. I use the liquid cooled for welding Aluminum running AC with high frequency. I run the standard or gas cooled torch for welding steel running DC.

As stated by others the liquid cooled unit is not mandatory for DC welding on ferrous metals or for limited or short term use on Non-ferrous metals.