R tech tig torch

[big ron]

I've just bought an R tech 170, which is great, however the torch is huge, being a 26. Im mostly welding thin sheet so not using more than 40 amps. Can you recommend a small torch that will fit this machine.
Loved the review on welding tips and tricks on torches. The new stubby torches look ideal but only have a single cable. Can these be adapted to fit ?

 

[Tom Orrow L]

The torches themselves aren't stubby, just the front end consumables. They'll fit any WP17, WP18 & WP26 torch. Just type in stubby tig torch kit on ebay and you'll find them.

If you want a torch thats going to fit your machine exactly you're probably best speaking to R-tech themselves to get one sorted, i'm sure they'll be happy to help.

 

[Brad93]

All you need is a dinse adapter any you can fit any torch ftom parweld, ck, weldcraft etc. I use a ck9 on my rtech

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I have a binzel wp20 on my thermal arc, cracking little torch, and you'd get away happily with an air cooled wp9

Changed to correct way round!!!!

 

[Jim Davey]

I have a binzel wp9 on my thermal arc, cracking little torch, and you'd get away happily with an air cooled wp20

Er, it's a WP9 or a 17 he'll need, a WP20 requires water cooling.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Sorry , replying on the fly and got it back to front, good catch mr davey l!! Now edited and I hang my head in shame

 

[big ron]

The one at the end of his video was a CK I think and the whole torch was stubby. Basically just a rubber sleeve over the cables. The head just unscrewed so you could interchange quickly.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Once you get a dinse adapter as in the photo with a decent torch, going back to the supplied r tec torch will seam like welding with your torch taped on the end of a broom handle.

 

[Richard.]

When you change the head you change the torch pretty much. All this wp9,17,26 etc is based around the head size.
If your machine is good for 170 amps but your sitting around the 40 mark I'd have 2 torches rigged up. A wp9 for the bulk of my work below the 100 amp mark and a wp17 for those occasions where you want a bit more. Cut the plug and anything you may need off the 26 and sling it out.
The other option is to go wp20 and add a cooler. 1 torch covers the lot but it gets expensive and if your always at low current you may not find it that beneficial.

 

[Richard.]

Once you get a dinse adapter as in the photo with a decent torch, going back to the supplied r tec torch will seam like welding with your torch taped on the end of a broom handle.
View attachment 82587

I'd be protecting those silicon cables with a sheath if I was you Chris. I did that once till I rested them on something that had just been welded.

 

[WorkshopChris]

I'd be protecting those silicon cables with a sheath if I was you Chris. I did that once till I rested them on something that had just been welded.

All to easy last year i was offer a 2 week old water cooled torch set with damaged cables, they had it coiled up on the machine, were gas cutting next to it. Following day Turned the tig machine on apparently it looked like a garden sprinkler.
I have a short 1.5M soft leather cover with Velcro on it gets moved between torches at the moment, till funds improve.

 

[AndersK]

If your machine is good for 170 amps but your sitting around the 40 mark I'd have 2 torches rigged up. A wp9 for the bulk of my work below the 100 amp mark and a wp17 for those occasions where you want a bit more

Thats what I have (except its a 26 and not 17, and a 20). I will add a 24 to that. Always seem to be welding in places were a 9/20 feels large...

 

[Richard.]

I've never felt the need to go that small but i can see many instances where they would prove useful.

 

[doubleboost]

The torch supplied is rated to take the full rated welding current
I use a wp9 up to 100 amps
They are much smaller & lighter
A wp20 with a water cooler would be the ultimate solution

 

[Jim Davey]

The thing is, the 17 is closer to the rated output of the machine than a 26 (150 amp as opposed to 230-250 amp) so on a 170 machine the 17 makes sense BUT, as the machine potentially has the power to melt a 17 if you show it no mercy, that's what you get. As a rule of thumb the torch they sell with the machine has to be able to cope with the maximum duty of the welder it goes with otherwise they'll start getting phone calls saying my torch failed after an hour of non stop welding, what are you going to do about it? There's nothing to stop you putting a smaller, less cumbersome torch on the machine, just be aware of the limitations a smaller torch brings, and aim to stay within the recommended amperage/weld time for whatever torch you buy and it will look after you with years of good service.

 

[big ron]

Just got my CK9 through the post this morning. I'm like a kid in a candy shop. Amazing piece of kit, so light weight and the cable is so flexible. The 26 will be hung up until I need to do some heavier work.

 

[Richard.]

Good choice.
I have a ck20 and they seem pretty nice things mine also is relatively new so only time will tell.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

The torch supplied is rated to take the full rated welding current
I use a wp9 up to 100 amps
They are much smaller & lighter
A wp20 with a water cooler would be the ultimate solution

@doubleboost : I've watched your YouTube review of the R-Tech 180 mig like mine, what TIG torch did you use with it? Something I might look to learn too [after the much-needed practise with mig ].

I appreciate I'd need to get argon for doing that, but apart from being another skill tackled it'd mean I could weld inside if push came to shove and the weather doesn't co-operate.

 

[doubleboost]

@doubleboost : I've watched your YouTube review of the R-Tech 180 mig like mine, what TIG torch did you use with it? Something I might look to learn too [after the much-needed practise with mig ].

I appreciate I'd need to get argon for doing that, but apart from being another skill tackled it'd mean I could weld inside if push came to shove and the weather doesn't co-operate.

I used a WP 9 torch
Ideally you need one with a gas valve

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I used a WP 9 torch
Ideally you need one with a gas valve

Appreciate the quick response, John. That's what I'll go for when the time comes.