Umm, can I turn off the water now? A torch cooling question.

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Now I've got a Bernard cooler and a CK 20 series flexing water cooled torch and that's all good because I can run my TA186 up to its max 200 amps.  The setup runs good and there's no leaks but while playing with it yesterday it occurred to me that I might not always need the cooling. I might have only a little to weld, or I might (will - often) not need to run with all the heat the machine can make.So - is it OK to turn the cooler pump off and use the same torch while welding, or do I have to switch it all back to my #9 air cooled torch?MM210TA186TA95sLincoln AC/DC Tombstonegood old Smith torch setup 24v Readywelder mig w/spoolgunSB H 10 latheBridgeport mill6x12 K.O.Lee surface grinderK.O.Lee tool/cutter grinder
Reply:Do NOT run a water-cooled torch unless the water is flowing."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:You need some sort of cooling. If you don't want to use the water cooler, make sure you use an air cooled torch.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:OK. Thanks to both of you.I thought that every torch needs some kind of cooling but when I took apart my aircooled small one it wasn't really clear to me how air would circulate around the head. I have a diagram showing the water passage(s) in the new #20, figured out that the coolant will just run back to the tank when the pump's off but then wondered if the empty passages might serve as air cooling if I wasn't running at high heat.It was wishful thinking but I'm not so lazy that I want to risk a torch meltdown.MM210TA186TA95sLincoln AC/DC Tombstonegood old Smith torch setup 24v Readywelder mig w/spoolgunSB H 10 latheBridgeport mill6x12 K.O.Lee surface grinderK.O.Lee tool/cutter grinder
Reply:"air cooled" is really a misnomer. it's the shielding gas flow that is doing the cooling as it flows. hence "gas cooled".
Reply:Originally Posted by hillOK. Thanks to both of you.I thought that every torch needs some kind of cooling but when I took apart my aircooled small one it wasn't really clear to me how air would circulate around the head. I have a diagram showing the water passage(s) in the new #20, figured out that the coolant will just run back to the tank when the pump's off but then wondered if the empty passages might serve as air cooling if I wasn't running at high heat.It was wishful thinking but I'm not so lazy that I want to risk a torch meltdown.
Reply:Dave,Thank you too!As must have been obvious I didn't know how the cooling, either kind, works and knew nothing about the point of cooling the power lead rather than only the head of the torches. I was taking from an ad for CK water cooled torches which claimed their superiority being in the larger passages surrounding the head portion. There were comparative images showing the different passages of competitor torches (without including their maker name). From that I just assumed that cooling was all about the head.You've cleared that up for me and I'm glad I asked because of it.MM210TA186TA95sLincoln AC/DC Tombstonegood old Smith torch setup 24v Readywelder mig w/spoolgunSB H 10 latheBridgeport mill6x12 K.O.Lee surface grinderK.O.Lee tool/cutter grinder
Reply:Originally Posted by hillDave,Thank you too!As must have been obvious I didn't know how the cooling, either kind, works and knew nothing about the point of cooling the power lead rather than only the head of the torches. I was taking from an ad for CK water cooled torches which claimed their superiority being in the larger passages surrounding the head portion. There were comparative images showing the different passages of competitor torches (without including their maker name). From that I just assumed that cooling was all about the head.You've cleared that up for me and I'm glad I asked because of it.