Crimping New Gas Tail on TIG Combined Hose

[eSCHEn]

I've got an 8m combined gas and power TIG lead that currently has a 3/8" end on. I'd like to put a 1/4" one on as that's what my unit needs and reducers are frankly mince.

It looks like a specialised crimping tool is needed to do the job. Other than a local welding place does anyone have any good ideas on where to get one done?

This sort of crimp: http://image.hotrod.com/f/25839056+...tom_vintage_air_ac_install+crimping_tools.jpg

Cheers

 

[Richard.]

Are you sure the gas fitting on your machine is a torch live? If it is you need to also join the 1/4 threaded gas fitting to the copper cable inside. It's not a straight forward swap. I'd save messing about with that and use a reducer. I have a few kicking about if you want one sending up. 1st thing though make sure your gas connection on the unit is a tig torch live.

 

[eSCHEn]

Yeah it has torch live on the gas and a separate dinse for when in MMA mode.

If it were just gas then I'd monkey ear a new end in but as it's power as well...

 

[Richard.]

I see. So you can use dins and threaded type tig torches on it. The thing you'll find is the power cable is probably soldered to that 3/8 fitting so if you change it for a 1/4 you'll have to re solder the 1/4 on it and do a decent job of it as it's going to carry up to 160amps of welding current. If it was mine I'd just fit a decent reducer 3/8-1/4 and leak test it. No leaks all good.

 

[Richard.]

Does this new torch have a pair of switch wires?

 

[eSCHEn]

Yeah pair of switch wires.

The reducer is total pain as there's precious little space to get in. If you nip the 3/8 section together it invariable misaligns the faces when tightened. That stops you getting in easily to tighten to the front of the welder. If you do it the other way around and tighten the 1/4 bits then that unwinds when you take the 3/8 off

Maybe I'm thinking about this wrong. Perhaps changing the actual dinse + gas fitting on the welder might be more sensible.

 

[Richard.]

Fit a 3/8 to dins on it. I've got one of those you can have also. That way you use the dins socket for live and the pipe goes to gas. Simple.

 

[Richard.]

One of these is what you need.

 

[eSCHEn]

Something like this pal?

http://rapidwelding.com/dynamic/DisplayItem.aspx?c=D3595-1-4&zl=2

Edit: snap!

 

[Richard.]

Yep. Stick £7 in my pp acc and I'll post you mine 1st class as I don't use it. If you want. Up to you.

 

[eSCHEn]

No problems Richard, sounds fair to me mate.

I have one spare pair of UG gloves here if you want to do a straight swap instead? I won two pairs in an auction

Whichever's best for you pal

 

[Richard.]

Deal! I've dug it out and fit a 1/4 thread fitting on it so it's good to go. If your happy I'll chuck it in post Tomoz. How do you find those gloves by the way.

 

[eSCHEn]

Sounds great mate. I'll pop these in post prob Thurs as stuck in meeting all day tomorrow.

Found them looking for a single pair on eBay. Weren't very well listed so got no interest and I picked up two pairs for a good price.

Very comfortable and a joy to use for the low amp work. Muchos thanks for the recommendation

 

[Richard.]

Sounds great mate. I'll pop these in post prob Thurs as stuck in meeting all day tomorrow.

Found them looking for a single pair on eBay. Weren't very well listed so got no interest and I picked up two pairs for a good price.

Very comfortable and a joy to use for the low amp work. Muchos thanks for the recommendation

They are good for all amperage work. The trick is to keep your fingers out the arc

 

[eSCHEn]

I used them for a whole evening tonight and didn't scorch them once. Only dipped once as well, right at the end when I was slacking off

 

[Richard.]

The size 10's just fit my paws perfectly and they just seem lovely and flexible. Quite often if I had thin wire to feed in through my fingers I'd have to use a bare left hand. The millers are good for thicker gage but those ugs are fine for this with 1mm wire no prob.