Tig cable cracking

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All,A year ago I bought a used lincoln Precision TIG.  The seller mentioned the cable needed to be replaced right away.  He told me the gas was badly leaking out of the cracks.  I didn't try it, so can't personally verify. I replaced the cable with one made by Anchor.  It's been a year since I replaced the cable.  I rarely use the welder.  I noticed some spatter while welding.  I took a look at the one year old cable.  I'm attaching the photo below of the cable.  Does this look like it could be leaking gas?Should the cable only last a year?Is there a better cable to buy? Attached Images
Reply:That looks like a heat burn to me , if u look at the edge of the picture both sides it doesnt appear to have the cracks , use some water turn the gas on and see if it leaks perhaps . I have tig torches that are a couple years old , no problems with them. Perhaps its just the picture and the strain in that particular spot,  is the rest of the cable like this as well ? id be more apt to believe its a localized spot that was sat down on something hot.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:see what i mean Attached ImagesI forgot how to change this.
Reply:You are right, it only happens in localized spots.  The part pictured is just below the torch handle.  I slid off the torch handle to get a better photo.  The part on the right is usually covered by the plastic handle.  Maybe I should consider a cover for the cable?  The other place it is cracking is at the welder. If it is cracked,  is it safe to put water on the welding cable?
Reply:Stop wasting time and gas and just replace it..Testing for leaks will prove one thing...Its toast.Keep it out of the heat zone..That goes a long way....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Electrical Shrink Tubing is available at least three feet long.... Would that be a good fix ?Weldandpower Lincoln 225 AC,DC with Briggs 16hp gas engine.WW2 era Miller TIG.
Reply:I bet the silicone repair tape would work well too.http://www.rescuetape.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by heychrisI bet the silicone repair tape would work well too.http://www.rescuetape.com/
Reply:A new hose is 20$I forgot how to change this.
Reply:I wish it was $20.   Since I used an air cooled torch, I use the 57Y01R power cable.  This cable starts at $55.  It seems like I should probably go with the braided/rubber line for longevity.
Reply:Ya know this could be completley unrelated but the people reproducing the datsun weatherstripping have having major issues like this and the rubber is coming from........ you guessed it china! Dunno if ancor is using the same supplyer or not?
Reply:Originally Posted by heychrisYou are right, it only happens in localized spots. The other place it is cracking is at the welder.
Reply:Welding depot 29.99 im sure u could get it alot cheaper at LWShttp://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/we...ot/57Y01x.htmlI forgot how to change this.
Reply:If you are using a 1 piece cable then the heat is probably coming from inside the hose from the power cable that runs through it. They are cooled by the gas flow through the hose and suseptible to over heating if you are pushing it a little too far. The real fix might be upgrading to a larger torch and cable to handle the heat better.
Reply:Good price..  Thanks for the tip.
Reply:Has anyone ever used Electrical Shrink Tape for anything ?It is amazingly strong.....and a good insulator also.... And cheap compared to a new cable... installation would be super easy..... Available at certain types of  local computer stores.http://www.altex.com/AdvancedSearch....ey=shrink+tubeAnd as a general principle.... it seems like if a legit fix is available that trashing that cable is wasteful..... I thought we had a bunch of frugal recycling people here ... like me... or cheap....whichever word  you want to use...Weldandpower Lincoln 225 AC,DC with Briggs 16hp gas engine.WW2 era Miller TIG.
Reply:"cheap"    lol        that word dont go to good with welding   .     but if ur on a tight budget   u may have to  try something>Innovations are what i leave behind for History
Reply:I was being funny... the electrical shrink tubing is very strong stuff....AND electrically insulating.....  there is no need to trash that cable if something will fix it easily.... at less cost than replacement...Last edited by GBM; 07-25-2011 at 03:29 PM.Weldandpower Lincoln 225 AC,DC with Briggs 16hp gas engine.WW2 era Miller TIG.
Reply:they   do make  heat  shrink  with a   glue or epoxy  inside it  , so when  u heat it up  ,   it melts    seals  and holds    extremely   well  ........      i do alot of electrical  work   , and they make automotive connectors   like that  as well .>Innovations are what i leave behind for History
Reply:Although I am not sure the glue or epoxy would be needed in addition to its amazing shrinking strength... and I do not know if the long pieces of Tube are available with glue or epoxy... if one wanted more than just the shrink.... there is some stuff called ' liquid electrical tape'  which I have used in bad places on cars for years... on the example of cracks shown by the OP... that could be squeeged into those cracks and then the Shrink Tube placed over it and heated to draw it down...   My 85 Ford pickup had connector  problems according to the TSB's which came out after on fixing them... they called for that connector with the grease inside...and a couple of other  ' sealing ' methods thrown in too... wish they had just made it right in the first place... they had been making automobiles a long time before they made that truck....Weldandpower Lincoln 225 AC,DC with Briggs 16hp gas engine.WW2 era Miller TIG.
Reply:I agree, it's difficult to throw out (redeem for copper scrap) such a big hunk of high grade copper wire.  Since my cable is early in it's cracking, I decided to take advantage of some stuff laying around the shop.  I wrapped it in self fusing silicone repair tape.  I've used repair tape with great success in the past.   By the way, I don't think silicone tape is good for high PSI water pipes, but for argon, it should be good.  I also had a couple 2ft hunks of 1/2" heat shrink.  So I covered the repair tape with heat shrink.  It doesn't seem to be leaking, but I'm not sure what the best way is to test.
Reply:It's also probably as old as the hills...Just because it came with a new machine don't mean anything..Dry rotting at such an early age..Ahhhh the shame......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by heychrisI  So I covered the repair tape with heat shrink.  It doesn't seem to be leaking, but I'm not sure what the best way is to test.