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doubleboost
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Tinbasherdan
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Rapid welding
Personally i wouldn't bother buying a kit, my Lincoln v205t was supplied with regular ceramics from #4 through #10, gas lens ceramics from #4 - #7 and collets/collet bodies to match... 15 years later virtually all of them are the origionals and have never been used as 99% of everything i weld i use a #7 gas lens. About the only time i change it is for something that's rarely if ever included in those kits, a #12 on a large gas lens or (even more rarely) something like a 796f77 extra long ceramic. Personally i prefer weldcraft or generic ceramics over CK which are thicker/bulkier and avoid cheapnese collets and gas lens bodies, the collets are typically softer than the tellurium-copper used by weldcraft etc while the gas lenses often have less gauze screens in them and don't tend to last as long
Probably already aware but 17 & 26 (+ #18 watercooled) torches take the same size consumables. Shouldn't be an issue if buying a kit but if you just buy what you need don't forget the extra insulator that's used with gas lenses on 17/18/26 torches, part # 54N01 IIRC
Probably already aware but 17 & 26 (+ #18 watercooled) torches take the same size consumables. Shouldn't be an issue if buying a kit but if you just buy what you need don't forget the extra insulator that's used with gas lenses on 17/18/26 torches, part # 54N01 IIRC
Richard.
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I use 2 sizes 7/8 most commonly. Ck and weldcraft lenses are all I buy Because as hr said which is very noticeable with collets twisting and threads stripping the cheap parts are a lot softer. I actually quite like the slightly thicker wall on the ck and equivalent cups as although they add a couple mm width they just take a tap or a knock and the thin ones crack easier especially on air cooled torch when it's red hot. I've just bought some very nice stubby ck lenses off Langy to take wp9/20 cups for my Water cooled 17. Very nice quality items that really reduce torch head size to more compact.
Good point, i suppose the thicker wall cups should be tougher/last longer with air cooled torches. Never been an issue for me with watercooled kit, can't remember the last time i broke one.
The Weldcraft/Miller website isn't great for torch stuff these days Scott as they changed to a much fussier layout and renamed all the torches a while back. Plenty of places have exploded drawings with all of the part # for example http://weldingdirect.com/srtigtoli.html If you're shopping online nearly everyone uses the phrase weldcraft style for generic/cheapnese/Parweld etc spares. Ignore torch prefixes like WP or SR etc, the only bit that matters for collets and the like is the number
The Weldcraft/Miller website isn't great for torch stuff these days Scott as they changed to a much fussier layout and renamed all the torches a while back. Plenty of places have exploded drawings with all of the part # for example http://weldingdirect.com/srtigtoli.html If you're shopping online nearly everyone uses the phrase weldcraft style for generic/cheapnese/Parweld etc spares. Ignore torch prefixes like WP or SR etc, the only bit that matters for collets and the like is the number
With regards to consumables price doesn't tell much... just priced a 45v43 (1.6 gas lens for a #9/20 torch) on the bay and on R-techs site and both are more expensive than a Binzel (£3inc VAT @ weldtech.co.uk), Parweld(?) from Weldequip or Weldcraft from my LWS
Torches... sooner or later someone will be swooning over CK superflex. They are nice torches, they're not the only ones about with super flexible overbraided silicon rubber hoses but CK are about the only company to shout about them. Very flexible silicon rubber rubber hoses make torches more expensive and nicer to use but the trade off is they're relatively fragile. There's not any brands i'd avoid as such, it's more a case of checking the specs as while a #17 torch is normally advertised as 150A that usually refers to DCEN only. AC ratings are often, but not always, a chunk lower and at a 60% duty cycle for aircooled torches rather than 100%. That's one of the reasons (along with flexible hoses and marketing) that a CK17 torch is more spendy than a generic #17 but, to most people, better value while a genuine Weldcraft WP17 with it's 115A AC @ 60% dutycycle is poor value compared to either
I've not used aircooled kit for AC welding in a long time but my lasting memory is that any aircooled torch gets 'kin hot 'kin quickly. While a CK17 may be rated at 150A, 100% duty cycle in AC i doubt it'll be any cooler to hold when pushed to it's limit?
Torches... sooner or later someone will be swooning over CK superflex. They are nice torches, they're not the only ones about with super flexible overbraided silicon rubber hoses but CK are about the only company to shout about them. Very flexible silicon rubber rubber hoses make torches more expensive and nicer to use but the trade off is they're relatively fragile. There's not any brands i'd avoid as such, it's more a case of checking the specs as while a #17 torch is normally advertised as 150A that usually refers to DCEN only. AC ratings are often, but not always, a chunk lower and at a 60% duty cycle for aircooled torches rather than 100%. That's one of the reasons (along with flexible hoses and marketing) that a CK17 torch is more spendy than a generic #17 but, to most people, better value while a genuine Weldcraft WP17 with it's 115A AC @ 60% dutycycle is poor value compared to either
I've not used aircooled kit for AC welding in a long time but my lasting memory is that any aircooled torch gets 'kin hot 'kin quickly. While a CK17 may be rated at 150A, 100% duty cycle in AC i doubt it'll be any cooler to hold when pushed to it's limit?
HughF
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Personally I avoid the regular 17/26 long style gas lenses apart from in 3.2 size for massive ally jobs. I use a stubby gas lens kit (I picked mine up in the U.S.) which takes the same ceramics as a 9/20 gas lens. Much nicer.
Jody has a video about the stubby gas lens kits.
Jody has a video about the stubby gas lens kits.
Richard.
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I'm a fan of weldcraft torches. Not really sure why. I bought one years ago, I loved it, I've stuck with them since.
I've not long since upgraded my Tig equipment and using the OE watercooled torch at the moment. It's not too bad and certainly a high quality item but like most oe torches they can be a little sizey round the handle and not as flexible as the good branded torch specialists. Weldtech are another good torch but I believe very pricy.
I've not long since upgraded my Tig equipment and using the OE watercooled torch at the moment. It's not too bad and certainly a high quality item but like most oe torches they can be a little sizey round the handle and not as flexible as the good branded torch specialists. Weldtech are another good torch but I believe very pricy.
Richard.
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I don't use air cooled torches. They are just waaaaaaay nicer with the addition of water cooling even if a couple extra pipes down the sheath is the only trade off.
On an ACDC of any size for me it's a must. Gas cooled torches get hot on dc and are really put through it on ac even at Lowish currents. It doesn't have to be expensive either. OE water coolers are stupidly overpriced for the few basic items that go into them, yes my new one does contain some circuitry to make it turn on/off with the machine but it's not essential nor does it justify the £1000 price tag that some of them are. There is a member on here who also has an Rtech that I built a cooler for. He now runs the full 200 amps through a small wp20 with out over heating. Consumables last 5x longer.
You can build one with a good quality rotory vane pump for under £150 all in. You can use other pumps ie shower pumps , camping pumps etc but pressure is key. Anything less than 40psi for a 4mtr torch might not be enough.
If you do want to build one and need some tips let me know as I've made a few.
On an ACDC of any size for me it's a must. Gas cooled torches get hot on dc and are really put through it on ac even at Lowish currents. It doesn't have to be expensive either. OE water coolers are stupidly overpriced for the few basic items that go into them, yes my new one does contain some circuitry to make it turn on/off with the machine but it's not essential nor does it justify the £1000 price tag that some of them are. There is a member on here who also has an Rtech that I built a cooler for. He now runs the full 200 amps through a small wp20 with out over heating. Consumables last 5x longer.
You can build one with a good quality rotory vane pump for under £150 all in. You can use other pumps ie shower pumps , camping pumps etc but pressure is key. Anything less than 40psi for a 4mtr torch might not be enough.
If you do want to build one and need some tips let me know as I've made a few.
