alternate torch recomendations

[Disco_Mark]

I have acquired a Miller syncrowave 300 and am now attempting to teach myself to tig...

The torch fitted to the machine is a watercooled one, and is stamped WP18 on the side - This seems rather unwieldy to start with, so I wondered if anyone could recommend a smaller torch for working with say upto 3mm material?

I am wondering if it is worth swapping torches over at all, or whether to just persevere with the large one? I have seen tips on wrapping the lead round your arm, or over your shoulder to help negate the torch weight, but I wonder if the large torch will be suitable for some of the finer work that I may end up doing?

Any wisdom on choice of torch would be muchos appreciated.

Thanks
Mark

 

[gaz_moose]

try looking on the starparts website
im sure there is a guide on what material thickness/amps each torch can cope with.

 

[scott0031]

Hi Mark,


If your lucky enough to have a water cooler i would look at the WP9 and WP20 style. They use smaller style consumables compared to the WP18 you have. As far as i know these are about the smallest torches still available.

For you i would really recommend the WP20 as you have a plant capable of putting out 300 amps. The WP20 gives you 250Amps DC, 175 Amps AC, and can run a 1/8 tungsten (3.2mm) Which should be overkill for you for now. You can go for the WP9 but it does have limited rating approx 125Amps DC, 80 Amps AC, really only suitable for sheet type work. From memory the WP9 might only be available in air cooled im not sure. I don't recommend this, but you can go over the stated amps for a water cooled torch and get away with it without frying it, So you do get a bit more scope.

For the main part unless you get into heavier type work more often than not you only need to bump up the amps to get heat in the job then you are often back within the working parameters of the torch.


Best thing as i have mentioned before, find a local supplier and go look at the torches try them out for feel and even do dry runs on a work top. You don't have to buy from them if your not happy with their prices, at least you will know what to look for on the net. Make sure its something your happy with. Its easy to buy blind from the net and end up having to buy twice.


Kind regards,


Scott (ward eng)