Gas Lense

[ukracer]

Has anyone used these before as Langy does not supply Gas Lenses anymore.

 

[hotrodder]

I've used pyrex cups before and personally don't see the point unless it's a micro torch used in places where you can barely see what's going on... they're usually more spendy, sonner or later get discoloured and are more fragile

Never used the set up in that pic but i'd wager there's a very good reason why a conventional #12 cup won't fit on a standard gas lens and needs a physically larger gas lens body. Gas lens bodies are traditionally larger in dia than the orifice of the cups they're used with for example (a #7 and a #12 with their respective gas lens bodies for a #9 or #20 torch)

That pyrex set up is a lot less bulky than a 'proper' large gas lens set up. Whether the shielding quality from it is much better than you'd get from a regular #7 or if it can get close to the coverage* of a large lens and a #12 cup i don't know but i doubt the later a lot. FWIW about the only time i use the #12 set up is welding Ti and very occasionally on other materials if i need lots of stick out to reach the weld. Pretty much 99% of everything else i just use a regular weldcraft #7 cup and gas lens (i don't really care if the cups are cheapnese, not a fan of CK cups as they're thicker/bulkier but decent gas lens bodies have more / better screens in them than cheapnese versions and typically last a lot longer)

* at a given flow rate and stick out...

 

[Richard.]

I have 1 that sleeves over my standard 20 gas lenses and I've only ever used it once welding plates up inside box section. For that job it was a god send as the only way I could see where to place my fill was through the cup. Otherwise I've never bothered with it since. As said above they have far more disadvantages to actual benefits. They are very brittle, very expensive compared to ceramic and if you do manage to keep it longer than a few weeks they do get covered in dros and scratches etc deeming them useless for there intended purpose you bought them for. I have bought a few in the past based on reviews but from my own experience I will now only keep one for those types of jobs which come up once in a blue moon.
A no7 cup standard gas lens 1.6/2.4 set up is my 90% go to.
I do use wedge collets though thousands of times better than the soft split ones. In the long run cheaper too. I've yet to have a wedge collet fail on me. They are simply not a consumable imo.

 

[Richard.]

Wow I've just noticed the price of that cup in your pic ukR.
That's extortionate.
Mine is a no 8 and cost about 10 quid with 2 O rings from furick.
I found that price to be a bit rich but I'd never spend 25 quid on one. Remember 1 slip of the torch or forget to turn the gas on and your 25 quid has gone up in smoke.

 

[optima21]

or the DIY (economy) version

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/small-pyrex-cup-for-wp9-torch.64462/#post-827557

 

[gordon stephenson]

I have used the pyrex tubes from those electronic cigarettes, called sub tank nano and viton high temp "o" rings. really good tight fit on a wp9.

 

[ukracer]

Wow I've just noticed the price of that cup in your pic ukR.
That's extortionate.
Mine is a no 8 and cost about 10 quid with 2 O rings from furick.
I found that price to be a bit rich but I'd never spend 25 quid on one. Remember 1 slip of the torch or forget to turn the gas on and your 25 quid has gone up in smoke.

Ah....I had not read it fully. I thought that was the complete gas lens that just happened to come with a see through shield.

I decided that as you had a gas lens fitted on yours it must be worth using.

I purchased one at a great price from Langy for my non water cooled torch but I enquired if he still got them but he was messed about too much and stopped supplying them.

So all I really want is a gas lense to fit my new Torch.

 

[Richard.]

Ah....I had not read it fully. I thought that was the complete gas lens that just happened to come with a see through shield.

I decided that as you had a gas lens fitted on yours it must be worth using.

I purchased one at a great price from Langy for my non water cooled torch but I enquired if he still got them but he was messed about too much and stopped supplying them.

So all I really want is a gas lense to fit my new Torch.

All my lenses and collets are CK.
I buy them from rapid welding when I'm having a shop. No point buying from them if your only getting a couple bits because the postage out weighs it but if like me you chuck 10-15 items in the basket then its worth it.
It doesn't need to be a clear cup to be a lens. I'll link you to the ones I buy. Don't buy cheap eBay copies they are s#%te IMO.

 

[Richard.]

These are my preferred parts.
Very high quality and cope better than most under high AC current.
It's series 2 parts you need.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...&sq=14&usg=AFQjCNFR6C_pG5EYkEClAqByLq-FvoNasw

 

[Chris Stevens]

Has anyone used these before as Langy does not supply Gas Lenses anymore.View attachment 91420

Very brittle, expensive, easily broken, and the o rings tend to fail if you are running AC at higher amperages. No real purpose at all unless its for a specific job. Cheap Chinese gas lenses seem to work well enough, and for most purposes will probably be fine............... do use CK angle cut collets though.

 

[Jim Davey]

They aren't reccomended for ally. The tungsten overheats the mesh if used for extended periods.

 

[Richard.]

They aren't reccomended for ally. The tungsten overheats the mesh if used for extended periods.

Which ones aren't Jim?

 

[Jim Davey]

Most of the Pyrex/lenses combinations, oh you can use them, but you have to be careful with the amperage as the tungsten heats up a lot more than on the DC work and the mesh can melt if you aren't careful.

 

[Richard.]

Didn't know that. It's not a thing I've ever experienced.
I would guess the Pricer better lenses cope better as that's all I ever use unless welding something that's likely to spit and ruin a lens like Galv. I've split afew lenses and had them cake up a bit after a long while but never had AC current take its toll on them as of yet. I would assume water cooling helps loads regarding this too.

 

[Jim Davey]

Probably right, the guys having the issues are mainly on air cooled torches.

 

[Richard.]

I'll watch out for that mind as I have a handful of very pricey stubby lenses for my gas cooled torch. I'd be pretty peeved if I start cooking the guts in them.
I was using them on a DC travel job last week that wasn't practical to get the cooler out for. I forget just how hot things get. 100-120 amps and it was getting very hot and taking ages to cool down.
That speedway is stone cold in less than 30 seconds and the cup can be grabbed by bear skin in less than a minute. It's the best torch out there bar none. I'll not own another type now.

 

[ukracer]

I'll watch out for that mind as I have a handful of very pricey stubby lenses for my gas cooled torch. I'd be pretty peeved if I start cooking the guts in them.
I was using them on a DC travel job last week that wasn't practical to get the cooler out for. I forget just how hot things get. 100-120 amps and it was getting very hot and taking ages to cool down.
That speedway is stone cold in less than 30 seconds and the cup can be grabbed by bear skin in less than a minute. It's the best torch out there bar none. I'll not own another type now.

oy mines nice...lol

 

[Brad93]

Get onto west country welding they will sort you out with whatever you need. I personally use one of these for stainless exhausts and Titanium repairs.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FURICK-CU...hash=item4d33ee8579:m:m8pwFMFTHLq2GttRDS3qpCQ

I use the FUPA #12 pyrex. I use CK Worldwide Gas Lenses from Rapid Welding.

I also use the wedge collets that Richard is talking about.

 

[Richard.]

oy mines nice...lol

Very nice. I wouldn't of bought it if it wasn't.
I'm just a sucker for speedway.

 

[ukracer]

Very nice. I wouldn't of bought it if it wasn't.
I'm just a sucker for speedway.

I picked these up yesterday...I am hoping they fit....lol