advice sought on replacement TIG Torch brand choice

[Keegan]

This forum is very enlightening and I appreciate all the on-line Q&A.

Here's my situation:

I want to TIG weld aluminum 1/6" to 1/8" sheet and sometimes 3/8" bar stock.
I also want to weld light gage 4130 material.

I also have a LINCOLN PowerMIG 255 with a Spoolgun.


I have an aged but servicable HF-250 Heliarc powersource with a MILLER Coolmate and Weldcraft W-20-25 watercooled torch. The torch hoses have become stiff from age and interfere with easy control of the torch.


Here's my question: What would you choose?

I am looking for a new torch set-up and am considering another WELDCRAFT product or a SPEEDWAY torch with zippered soft leather cable cover.

I'm also wondering whether a flexible torch might be the way to.

Eventually I will probably replace the HF-250 with a DYNASTY 200DX and move my new torch and my Coolmate over to the new power source.

thanks for your help
keegan

[Sundown]

This forum is very enlightening and I appreciate all the on-line Q&A.

Here's my situation:

I want to TIG weld aluminum 1/6" to 1/8" sheet and sometimes 3/8" bar stock.
I also want to weld light gage 4130 material.

I also have a LINCOLN PowerMIG 255 with a Spoolgun.


I have an aged but servicable HF-250 Heliarc powersource with a MILLER Coolmate and Weldcraft W-20-25 watercooled torch. The torch hoses have become stiff from age and interfere with easy control of the torch.


Here's my question: What would you choose?

I am looking for a new torch set-up and am considering another WELDCRAFT product or a SPEEDWAY torch with zippered soft leather cable cover.

I'm also wondering whether a flexible torch might be the way to.

Eventually I will probably replace the HF-250 with a DYNASTY 200DX and move my new torch and my Coolmate over to the new power source.

thanks for your help
keegan

I am using CK for my Dynasty 200DX, for water cooled I recommend the CK20F-25, superflex hose, fused safeloc dinse connector, and they have two types of covers to chose from. Check here for prices www.tigstore.com, I have purchased 4 torchs from these guys and there service is very good. Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.

[CarmenElectrode]

The WP 20 is a good torch... you may also consider replacing your stiff hoses with the Hi Flex rubber ones from Weldcraft, MUCH easier to handle:

25' Power: 45V04R
25' Gas: 45V10R
25' Water: 45V08R

[Powerstrokinit]

I would just replace the hoses and get back to welding. Sounds like you have a good setup that if it works well, might as well stick with it.

Tobin

[Keegan]

The WP 20 is a good torch... you may also consider replacing your stiff hoses with the Hi Flex rubber ones from Weldcraft, MUCH easier to handle:

25' Power: 45V04R
25' Gas: 45V10R
25' Water: 45V08R

I'm getting the sense that just replacing hoses is the way to go. Being served up with the correct part numbers is a nice and helpful touch - thanks.

regards
Keegan

[Keegan]

I am using CK for my Dynasty 200DX, for water cooled I recommend the CK20F-25, superflex hose, fused safeloc dinse connector, and they have two types of covers to chose from. Check here for prices www.tigstore.com, I have purchased 4 torchs from these guys and there service is very good. Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.

thanks for bringing up CK - I had no exposure to that brand before and looked it up on the link you provided.

How does CK distinguish themselves from other brands?

What is and what is the benefit of a "fused safeloc dinse connector" ?

One other thing I'm not sure about is the type of hose connection each brand uses at the torch and what the practical difference is.

Another question: do gas lenses require different collets or are collets of the same diameter interchangeable whether you use a gas lense or not?

regards from Keegan

[Cracker(Jack)]

Weldcraft, WP20 would be my choice. Not flexible but the head rotates and it is small and easy to handle.

[Sundown]

thanks for bringing up CK - I had no exposure to that brand before and looked it up on the link you provided.

How does CK distinguish themselves from other brands?

What is and what is the benefit of a "fused safeloc dinse connector" ?

One other thing I'm not sure about is the type of hose connection each brand uses at the torch and what the practical difference is.

Another question: do gas lenses require different collets or are collets of the same diameter interchangeable whether you use a gas lense or not?

regards from Keegan

I am not by any means an expert on this stuff but I can tell you what I do know. Ck sells very high quality torchs and acc. as do Welcraft and probably a few other brands I don't know about.

A safeloc dinse connector is a high quality, molded plastic connector that comes apart and holds the connections safe, it can be had with a fuse so that if you use a water cooled torch and forget to turn the water on (or the flow is reduced for some reason), the fuse will burn thru and protect the torch from getting fried.

I have seen two types of connections at the torch end, on one type you slip the hose over the copper end and secure it with a wrap of thin wire. The second one I know about uses a threaded sleeve that is turned to go over the connection and lock it in, CK uses this type.

A 20 series torch uses series 3 consumables, you can use the same standard split collet with either the standard cup or the gas lense. CK also makes a wedge type collett, with the split collett you can tighten it too hard and distort the split part of the collett and that can cause problems holding the tungsten. The wedge type has no split and is solid throughout its length with a slash cut at the tip, when pressure is applied to the other end it pushs aginst the wedge and locks the tungsten in place. The outside diameter is the same, only the inside diameter is varied to the size of the tungsten it needs to hold.

[Bob Sigmon]

The CK torches also have the largest volume of coolant through the head of the torch. (They have cutaway pictures on their site somewhere) I'm sure that this ends up giving you better life of the torch, but the great thing is how cool the torch stays in use!!!

[Keegan]

OK, I'm coming up on the learning curve regarding torches. I gather that WELDCRAFT connects the hoses with a thin wire crimp.

I'm going to get a new set of flexible hoses and stay with my existing torch head.

And now - back to practicing...

thanks to all
Keegan

[Keegan]

The CK torches also have the largest volume of coolant through the head of the torch. (They have cutaway pictures on their site somewhere) I'm sure that this ends up giving you better life of the torch, but the great thing is how cool the torch stays in use!!!

Yes, thanks for pointing out CK's cooing capacity> I did see that cut away but wasn't so sure about the validity of all these claims. I'll keep an eye on my torch temperature experience going forward.

Interesting how much of this practical and essential information is NOT found in books. Ron Covell's TIG Basics DVD is a great help. I saw similar comments in another thread.

off to the shop I go . . .
Keegan

[Sundown]

Just to clairfy, I believe that weldcraft uses the same type line connecter that CK uses, it's the clones that use the wire wrap to secure the hoses.

[ultim8wldr]

if your looking for a new torch, Id recommend a CKWORLDWIDE torch
however miller makes the diamondback

[CarmenElectrode]

I don't think Miller is making the Diamondback anymore...

[ftgokie]

I picked up a Weldcraft 9V the other day at a pawn shop for 25.00 with a victor regulator....i feel like i got a good deal. The hose for the gas is cut in 2 though, but that shouldnt be a problem.. Im gonna be learning the right way to tig weld this week at vo-tech....so look out