Miller 250dx tig machine question

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Quick question if anyone can answer.....Can you buy this machine without the cooler and still weld with it, maybe just not as hot?  Its listed on millers website as a base unit without cooler?  Is that just because some people already have the coolers?  Reason i am asking is if its possible to do this and still weld with the 250, i would like to get this instead of the smaller machine and buy the cooler when i have more money.  The kit all together is just to much for me at this time but i would like to get as much machine as i can.  Thanks
Reply:Yep.  Just buy an air cooled torch.  These range from 50 amps to about 200 amps.  There are some higher amp air cooled torches, but they are still pretty new.  I mainly use an air cooled torch that is a 150 amp model 17 torch from arczone.  It works really good for the stuff I do and it is simple.If a water-cooled torch comes with the package, you can build the cooler for about $50 out of a water pump some hoses and a bucket and lid.  Most folks I know that tig over 150 amps have built their own cooler using aquarium or pond fountian pumps or similar.  I built a really neat one that uses the heater core out of a chevy pickup and a freezer fan for added cooling, but I ended up using it on a friends water-cooled computer project.  I still have some pictures of it somewhere...if I can find them, I'll post them to give you a better idea.  Some folks have also used old water fountians with refrigerated coolers built in to make coolers for a variety of things.  That might work for tig also.  Just get the specs on the cooler that comes with the 250dx (flow, capacity of coolant, etc.) and start finding a container (5 gallon buckets are fine usually), an electric water pump with the necessary flow and pressure, the radiator is not required if you have sufficient volume of coolant.  You can even add an indoor/outdoor digital thermometer to monitor heat buildup.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:In that case let me ask you this.......Is the machine itself cooled with water or just the torch?  I have modded a few computer cases with radiators/fans and plumbing for my brother and it was  fairly easy.  What else would be differant in the basic 250dx then the complete kit?  Says the pulser is optional as well?  I cant tell on millers site if its included in the basic just box kit.  Anyone know?  Thanks
Reply:I just bought a 250DX not long ago and I got the Tig Runner as well as the built in cooler.  I then purchased the Pulser board as well.  It doesn't come standard with the 250DX packages.  I don't think I'll ever use a sequencer so I didn't buy that board, just the pulser.HTH,Craig
Reply:I am pretty sure the only thing watercooled is the torch, and the flow rate is not that much, so a fairly inexpensive pump will work.  I think the welder you are talking about just has a cooler that "fits" or "integrates" really well with the overall setup.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.