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I finally got my welder up and running. It's an Airco with arc/MIG built in and can be used for TIG also. I don't really have a need for TIG welding but would like to play with it a little and see what I can learn. I've been looking at some different TIG torches and noticed that some are water cooled and some are air cooled. Can anyone give me info on which is best and what kind of pump setup do you need for water cooled torches? I would not be using it above 200 amps if that makes any difference.
The water cooled torches are for heavy duty welding and aluminum welding. You can use a tank and a small pump for the water. Or you can go the cheap way and use a line from your water spicot? and just crack the valve for the cooling water. You can hard wire the pump into the welding machine so that when you throw the switch to cut the welding machine on, the pump comes on also. If you don't hard wire the pump to the machine, you need to remember to cut the water on or you will burn the torch up. my advice is to get the air cooled torch untill you learn more, but that's just my 2 cents you milage may vary.
Yes air cooled torch's can be used for Aluminum it just gets hot a little quicker. If it starts getting hot just quit for a little while. I am supervisor over the pipefitters at a local chemical plant an the best torch that I have found is WeldCraft WP-17FV it is a 150 amp torch with a flex neck and a thumb valve. We have welded all day long with these torch's and they hold up well, and they are the pick of all the fitters. weldingdepot.com has them for $68.57
have you ever used the clarke brand welders that weldingdepot.com sells? They seem like a great price for the 120v welders, but what about quality? Anyone?
No I haven't used a Clark welder most of my use I, petty well stick to the brand names, some of my welding equipment is 30 to 40 year old and still going. I don't think alot of the new machines will even be around that long, but you have a better change of one holding up longer, and getting parts longer on a brand name