COOLANT: Use only a distilled water and pure ethylene glycol (anti-freeze) mixture; do not exceed 30% ethylene glycol. Do not use coolants with oil-based substances.
While the mark up on welding specific coolants is hilarious they ain't the same as automotive stuff. While it's not exactly common some of the additives in some of the types of automotive coolants can (and have) blocked the tiny passages in welding torches. The other marketing stuff about welding coolants is usually conductivity as they're premixed/ready to use(?) while automotive stuff is usually concentrate and if mixed with tap water instead deionised conductivity will be a chunk higher which isn't a great idea as the power cable runs in the stuff.
http://www.binzel-abicor.com/upload...ta_sheets/English/D0006242_MSDS_BTC_15_EN.pdf A dash of ethylene glycol, some isopropyl and the rest is probably deionised water. FWIW the specs for my Lincoln coolarc 20 ask for 30% pure ethylene glycol in deionised water, i just chucked a little IAT (old fashioned car antifreeze) in with some deionised water.
20% ethylene glycol in water freezes around -8°C (30% at about -14°C) which is more than good enough for most workshops in winter and to stop stuff growing
That's a myth i'm afraid and one that Evans waterless treacle kinda rely on to sell their snake oil. Water is waaaaaaaaaay better than glycols, it's specific heat capacity is virtually double that of ethylene glycol and it's thermal conductivity is also a chunk higher. Obviously water has shortcomings from a freezing, fungus/bacteria and corrosion POV but adding glycols reduces the heat transfer properties which is part of the reason why my daily driver takes 9 litres of coolant whereas an F1 car (plain water + corrosion inhibitor pressurised upto 3.75 bar to raise the boiling point to ~ 141°C) could get away with 4 litres http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/inside-an-f1-engine/
This was the cooler I built and the one mark is referring to.
which is quoted directly from the owners manual for my daily driverIf a proportion of 55% (antifreeze protection down to -45°C) is exceeded heat dissipation deteriorates. For this reason do not use a higher proportion of anticorrosion/antifreeze agent
So can you tell us exactly % you mix your coolant at Richard.Exactly. It's not just for aiding against freezing. It's a coolant also. I do use a drop in mine also for that reason.
I use the proper stuff.So can you tell us exactly % you mix your coolant at Richard.
I am about to finally use mine.......its been a while.
oh well...I use the proper stuff.
Lots of companies supply it.
Its not expensive mate. Your cooler only holds 3.5 ltrs so a 10 L drum will literally last you many years.oh well...
The covers on that one are Tweco.The stainless steel Tweco looks very similar to the one I have, you did a good job in replicating it and also adding a few additions.
Just had a look at prices of those pumps you suggested, not all that cheap to buy new, I guess looking at second hand options would be best.