radiator or evaporator for cooler ?

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Thinking of cooler materials for 200-250 amp tig.Is there a concensus if it is better to use a radiator where the flow branches out at the header tanks or to use an evaporator where the cross section is a single tube, the same the whole length ?????Also about how big should it be ?    would the size of a auto heater core be aboutright ?Or maybe a motorcycle radiator ?    ( I'm thinking a heater core might be more compactto fit into a reasonable sized enclosure )Tim
Reply:I built one using a heater core out of a car, worked really well. They are called "Serpentine" where the liquid flows around one pipe
Reply:A car or motorcycle/atv radiator with integral tanks could be used by itself without a separate tank.   An evaporator or transmission oil cooler would want a separate holding tank for the water, otherwise the only water in the system is what's in all the lines.  Either way, a fan is needed to blow air over the radiator or evaporater.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Thanks for the replys.  I did search fcn - got lots of chat but not much info i could use.I didnt think of an ATV radiator.  Someone did mention that they used a pump going at 35psi.  That might blow a radiator.  (??)        I think evaporators would operate at 50-75 lbs maybe?also thinking rads would have more fin area so might cool more than similar sized evap.I wonder if i could put the pump just upstream of the welder lines then let the output peeback into the tank or radiator unpressureised and back to the pump input.   It seems likethat would prevent pressure in the radiator  - - - as long as the flow capacity of the radiator wasa lot bigger than the pump's.  I think someone said they were pumping at 38 psi and 1.5 -2 gallons / min.   I remember carradiators REALLY POUR when you take loose the lower hose- like maybe 1 gallon in 5 secconds ?We have 2 great surplus stores here in Orlando so I should be able to find lots of fans and pumps.Will start scrounging !T
Reply:My cooler pump appears to pump out through the torch and return to the tank.  I haven't disassembled the unit, but I assume it's sucking water from the tank through the radiator core before it goes out to the torch.  It is a ProCon soda fountain type pump in a Dynaflux cooler.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by jethro..  I think someone said they were pumping at 38 psi and 1.5 -2 gallons / min.   I remember car radiators REALLY POUR when you take loose the lower hose- like maybe 1 gallon in 5 secconds ?
Reply:Yes, I was considering the low pressure capacitys of a rad.  The tanks are just crimped on the top and bottom usualy.  I may go with an evaporator out of a cole machine.  They are about the same size as a heater core but are serpentine (!) and should handle some any pressure a pump might make.I will look up  "procon"  pumps.  I was thinking of a gear type fuel pump maybe.....T
Reply:I built a small cooler to fit on my Tig cart and used a heater core from a 1979 Chev C10 ($29 bucks at Advance Auto), because it was about 7" square and had copper cores.  You don't need to worry about pressure in the core at all if you have it cool the water returning from the torch as it will be handling a small flow of water that will run through the core before running through an open outlet back into the holding tank.  I positioned the inlet and outlet pipes at the top to keep the core full of water.I bought a carbonator pump off ebay, took the 1/3 hp motor apart, put the armature into my lathe and drilled a 5/16" hole in the end opposite the pump drive.  Stuck a 3" long bolt into the hole after cutting the hex head off, and mig'd the bolt on the armature.  That left me a threaded bolt sticking out the back to attach a 5" steel fan to draw air through the heater core to cool the returning water.  It would have been much simpler to buy a cooler, but the  commercial ones didn't quite fit on the stainless cart I was using.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma