Thread: My Cooler Finally!!

Been saving for a cooler for a couple of years since buying my AC/DC TIG and finally got it this week with a new light weight water cooled torch as well. When I built my little TIG trolley I made a lower shelf to take it so it just sat straight in there nicely.
Was just too easy to hook up as I just bought the matching one for my machine, filled with clean water, all plugged in and running in minutes. Runs fairly quiet too. Chopped up some scraps of 5mm ally plate and started some longish runs at around 160 amps. Well for those who have a cooler you would appreciate the difference, but I couldn't believe how much more comfortable it was having a torch that felt cool the whole time. I am sure my welding was much better too, not worrying about my hand warming up and having to pause.
So a nice addition to the tool shed and very happy with the upgrade.


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Very nice mate, how much of a difference is there ergonomics/weight wise is there between a watercooled torch and non water cooled, is the main hose just as felxable. i wana get another torch for mine, something that wont drag me down for when doin those tricky situations, but im also contemplating getting a water cooler set up!!

I have a couple of gas cooled torches, the original wp26 and a ck200. I would say the the water cooled torch I have is a little stiffer in the cable/hoses than the gas cooled but not much in it and I credit most of that stiffness to the rubber outer sleeve. I might replace that with a soft leather down the track. No doubt too that there are better little ergonomic torches out there, but that will be another day when I can save a few more pennies.

ok cool thanks, couple of torches is a good idea, not hard to change over for when that "special purpose" arrises.

you might be suprised at how stiff those outer sleeves can be, grab a lenght of that denim style protective covering thats what i done with this CIG torch http://www.woodworkforums.com/f160/w...ml#post1549599 but sadly the gas hose wich has the inbuilt power lead gave up and has a split in the hose. so its time for another torch, where did u get the CK stuff from??

The CK torch is very nice, I ordered it with a 25' cable and soft leather sleeve. For a 200 amp gas cooled setup it is probably as good as it gets. I bought it on line from a US seller, I think was Arc Zone, can't say the communication was great, just trying to get a handle on what the torch came with but I ended up getting what I wanted with a few emails back and forth. A couple of terminal fittings were needed to interface with the Everlast EX250. The Dinse connector I got from Arc Zone and the Gas connector from Everlast Australia who are very helpful I must say.
I will use the CK on any lighter work for sure and the water cooled for any continual or heavier welding.

That sure is a nice, neat unit.

My water cooler is truly agricultural, by comparison (home made setup consisting of a household pressure pump and a plastic container to hold the water).

It just has to do the job. I should have made may own if I wasn,t so slack lately. The thought of plug and play was just too appealing

I been looking on ebay at torches, what size equvilant is a 18 series torch, is 18 a 26 version but just water cooled!

I don't know what the letter and numbers mean. I would say though that the torch I have seems smaller and lighter than my gas cooled wp26.
I will probably look into buying a smaller torch down the track to help get into those tighter spots.

Nice one John. Fit's nicely into that little trolley you've made up.
The main reason I'd consider a water cooler is not so much for the hot torch aspect, but more so I could get a smaller/lighter torch to save wrist strain. I find after a day of tigging that it really is a big factor. Never tried a water cooled torch though.
Cheers
- Mick

Originally Posted by WelderMick

Nice one John. Fit's nicely into that little trolley you've made up.
The main reason I'd consider a water cooler is not so much for the hot torch aspect, but more so I could get a smaller/lighter torch to save wrist strain. I find after a day of tigging that it really is a big factor. Never tried a water cooled torch though.
Cheers
- Mick

Yes Mick, that is a good point, they all feel light enough for a hour or so and although for me at this stage it's just odd jobs and hobby stuff I am keen to source a decent compact torch for the ergonomics and so long as it can run at around 150 amps at 50% it should do most of what I want.
Trying to get the right advice and info on what to buy seems to be the difficult part. I would also like an easy to operate current control on the torch too although not sure whether it's practical or not.

Originally Posted by johncar

I would also like an easy to operate current control on the torch too although not sure whether it's practical or not.

Yeah, really hard to see a good selection of torches "in the flesh". I seem to remember that Jody showed a cool torch control on one of his weldingtipsandtricks videos (one where he was wandering around a welding expo a few years ago - from memory). I was a serrated thumb wheel that actually looked like it would be relatively usable.

Yes that is the style of thing I would like to get a hold of. They are out there, but the local welding supplies doesn't seem to have much to look at, just the basic stuff I already have.
Will probably have to buy on line and take a chance eventually. Would be nice too to get something to just plug into my machine but will probably have to fiddle about with fittings to convert over.

Actually, this is what I remember seeing. Go here: Amperage Controls from CK Worldwide Quality TIG Welding Torches & Accessories
The little caterpillar track is the amperage control. I figured it would be handy because you could control it with various grips at different angles.
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Originally Posted by WelderMick

Actually, this is what I remember seeing. Go here: Amperage Controls from CK Worldwide Quality TIG Welding Torches & Accessories
The little caterpillar track is the amperage control. I figured it would be handy because you could control it with various grips at different angles.
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Thanks for the link Mick, looks like the go and should be decent quality, if anyone has used one it would be nice to hear some feedback thanks.