Even more stubby

[Richard.]

Dunno if they've been about a while but I only found out about them a month ago and had to order some to see what they are like. Obviously as we know CK among others do stubby kits to bring the wp17/26 down in size and take wp9/20 cups. Great invention IMO but what if you own a wp9 and you want to bring that down in size. Well you can. I didn't know about this until recently but a few front end parts from CK allow you to fit wp24 cups on the wp20 torch reducing its overall length by another good chunk. Engenious I say. I've had them a few weeks now and wanted to get them tried and tested before giving opinion and they work really well. Dead easy to fit and unlike the wp17 stubby kit you don't need to change the white insulator.
Pics show it's not a million miles away from wp24 size. Obviously it's not going to get into where a 24 can squeeze into but it's gonna make your 250 amp wp20 that much more useful.

 

[Richard.]

The difference between these and a standard wp9 set is 8mm less on the length of the torch head with like for like set up and 6mm smaller diameter on the base of the cup.
Quite significant if you ask me.

 

[Maker]

The difference between these and a standard wp9 set is 8mm less on the length of the torch head with like for like set up and 6mm smaller diameter on the base of the cup.
Quite significant if you ask me.

Do you ever actually find a normal WP9 setup to be too big?

 

[Richard.]

Do you ever actually find a normal WP9 setup to be too big?

Lots of times.
Try squeezing it into a tube/box or between two closely positioned tubes. For most open stuff a wp20 standard set up is perfect but I have come across some tight situations where my wp24 needs to come out. If you don't have a wp24 these may be just the ticket.

 

[Piero]

I know you aways use a water coold torch Richard .

As these small parts can suffer heat soak just much in the same way as the welded metal can.

A thing I notice when going from box standard tig torch to gas lens .

The body of the torch will always be getting closer to the work.

Not only do I notice it as my hand gets hotter from the work but the torch is picking up more radiant heat from the work as well.

Water cooled would be an advantage with these setups

 

[Richard.]

I know you aways use a water coold torch Richard .

As these small parts can suffer heat soak just much in the same way as the welded metal can.

A thing I notice when going from box standard tig torch to gas lens .

The body of the torch will always be getting closer to the work.

Not only do I notice it as my hand gets hotter from the work but the torch is picking up more radiant heat from the work as well.

Water cooled would be an advantage with these setups

I always use a cooler where ever possible yes. If I'm doing work outside of the w/s then I gas cool with a 150a wp17.
If not watercooled these parts would only be subject to 120 amps which is the maximum a wp9 would realistically deal with. In which case I've no doubt they would cope with well. I doubt the torch would suffer any damage by decreasing the head length. I've been using stubby kits on a wp17 for a long time and that has never reduced the torch life for me. I think they are a nice idea. I wouldn't use them as a solution for all my welding as my wp20 is plenty short enough but when it won't quite get in between an obstruction it could be just the ticket.
My wp24 has very tiny, fragile copper parts yet these cope with upto 180amps so I've no worrys about the stubby kit at all.