Tell me about TIG water coolers

[awemawson]

I've acquired MBConfuse'e BOC Transtig 350 AC/DC squarewave TIG, and assuming I can mend it will need a water cooler.

What are you using to cool your TIG torch water supply. I supose it only needs a small pump, tank, radiator and fan but do any of you have cunning set ups you'd care to share with me?

 

[Shox Dr]

I built a cooler using a heater core from a car, and a central heating pump. There's a thread on the build a while back. I found the pump needed a head of water for it to work, and the very small diameter tube used, restricts the flow drastically. Not long after a bought a kemppi with cooler so had on need, and haven't looked at it since.

If I was to build another, I'd use a beer pump, far better for moving fluid under pressure

 

[shenion]

Some use HVAC coolant pumps. Have seen others use waste water pumps.

Radiator / fan is optional. Some just use a large tank (usually tall/tin for more surface area)

Have seen people run a line to a tap then a drain out the back door.

I opted for an air-cooled torch as it is simpler but not as good for tight places.

 

[Shox Dr]

Linky to build

 

[Ed.]

Also built my own out of bits and pieces, radiators out of and old aircon, A high pressure pump and pressure guage off ebay, and aluminium tank for storage and a fan out of an old fridge to get airflow through the fins. Works well.

 

[graffian]

I have a transtig with standard water cooler, I have never looked at the noisy pump as it feels like I am going to break something getting it out of the tank, but it sounds like a roller pump.
So a fuel pump might not be a bad choice, and they are pretty much free from scrap yards[well pocket sized], I have no idea how fuel pumps like having water through them. I have used a holley pump for a parts washer and as a suds pump for 25 years and it's still going strong, but it's a vane pump.
The tank on mine looks like a fuel cell stuck on the back of the welder, next to the cylinder. The tank is moulded plastic and there is no radiator. The torch wires are very stiff on cold days, but after a few minutes welding they are pretty floppy. even on hot days and hours of welding they don't overheat though, so the tank with no rad obviously is OK for what I do.
Of course I would advise you chuck the torch and stick to air cooled, next time your near gatwick you can drop the torch off;-)
My only problem with water cooled torch was when I cut through the cables, doen it twice and they have been wrapped in amalgamating tape for years, it seals them up OK.

 

[Paul G]

I Have a small (3.75 L) stainless tank with a fish tank submersible pump inside it,
a cheapo 150mm fan and a car heater matrix connected together with 6mm nylon.
These are mounted in a steel box with perforated ends.

This set up has run my big 300 amp torch on my Dynasty welding ally at 180 amps.

Normally I run a much smaller WP20, seldom running any more than 150 amps on AC.


I think that by using a fan & rad you can use a smaller tank, thus keeping the weight down
and the unit more portable. Perhaps not so much an issue on a large machines.

Cheers,
Paul G

 

[Shox Dr]

So a fuel pump might not be a bad choice, and they are pretty much free from scrap yards[well pocket sized], I have no idea how fuel pumps like having water through them.

A lot of Fuel pumps rely on the fuel as a lubricant. A mate used to go through loads on his F2 Sidecar Outfit, until I built him a fuel sump, with a gate on it.

So I'm not sure either how well the would cope with water

 

[langy]

Linky to build

I used Daves link for inspiration, the only thing i changed was the pump for an aqurium submersable and i added a PC radiator and 5" fan, Works pefectly.

 

[Shox Dr]

I used Daves link for inspiration, the only thing i changed was the pump for an aqurium submersable and i added a PC radiator and 5" fan, Works pefectly.

Gi' owa tha's makin mi blush. Besides looking (or should that be admiring) your work you have on need of inspiration.



*
This was a public information message from the Mutual Back slappers Association

 

[langy]

Gi' owa tha's makin mi blush. Besides looking (or should that be admiring) your work you have on need of inspiration.



*
This was a public information message from the Mutual Back slappers Association

Everyone needs inspiration sometime Dave

 

[Wedg1e]

I bought two new water-cooled TIG torches from the Bay of Evil a few years ago (I had a BOC water cooler that came off an x-ray set scrapped by a client).
When I connected one up for a test I got water out of the cup and gas bubbling through the cooler! Some dork had soldered the brass fittings onto the wrong tubes. The second one turned out to be the same. Normal blowtorch wouldn't touch the solder, it must have been done with oxy-propane like aircon pipework. I threw the torches in a drawer, where they lie to this day, and the cooler I flogged on Ebay for the best part of £100 when I was skint!

 

[Shox Dr]

Everyone needs inspiration sometime Dave

I get it now. Does it go something like; That's s***e, I can do better than that

 

[langy]

I get it now. Does it go something like; That's s***e, I can do better than that

It certainly is sometimes !!!

 

[awemawson]

As the OP , OK I'm lazy - I've now bought one on ebay, yet to arrive so no real idea what I've got, but by the time I added up the cost of pump, radiator, tank, housing, and my time pratting about I though that there was more to life then scrimping every corner and bought this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280828561758?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Anyone recognise it and can tell me what I've bought?