Tig Torch Sugestions

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Today I broke my # 17 Miller Diamondback tig torch. I wasnt super fond of it anyway but still a bummer. What do all of you reccomend as a replacement? Its going on a Synchrowave SD 180.Thanks,RGRG_______________________Hobart 187Northern Tool Plasma 375Harris 85 O/A Rig (Ireland)
Reply:CK Flex Loc...best damn torch I've ever had!
Reply:What do you plan to do? You can get one of  CK's "9 series" torches. It's small compact and the torches from CK have a higher duty cycle and amp rating than similar Weldcraft torches. The CK -130 is rated at 100% duty cycle at 130 amps.http://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma..._907_1375_1023It takes different parts then your 17 series torch however. It uses the same parts as the "20 series" water cooled torches wich might also be an option if you needed high amps regularly..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I'm with DSW. The 9 and 20 series torches are the best. Once you use one you won't go back unless you need to. A few years back almost everyone in our shop went from 17s to 9s because they liked the smaller torch. I'm pretty sure that Weldcraft's WP9 is 125A @ 100% duty cycle so the CK isn't that much better. The CK torches are pretty slick though. -Rob
Reply:As far as I know all the Weldcraft torches are rated at 60% duty cycle and the DC rating is usually higher than their AC rating. WP 9 is 125 amps @ 60% DC, 100 amps @ 60% AC. The CK's are  130 amps @ 100% in both AC and DC.http://www.weldcraft.com/products/wp-series/wp-9/.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I use a WP-20 at home and work.  Good little torch.  When the time comes to replace my home torch, I'm going with a flex-loc
Reply:If you have a cooler, I'd go with a WP-20 or (even better) the CK version which is called the WeldTec WT-20.
Reply:9f or 20f. CK is quality stuff, but their 20 has a long as hell handle and if you don't cut and shorten the water lines and handle a shorter non-CK one is probably better. I use a shortened CK 20f at work and it's excellent.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:I used to have a Miller Diamondback torch. it was a 26 series. Unfortunately, it was stolen a few years back. I have a weldcraft 17 that I have been using since then. I have tried a lot of different torches (parweld, ck, oki,) I haven't found any torch that I liked as much as that diamindback. The weldcraft was the closest though. I check email every couple weeks hoping I can snag another one, but I have never found one there though.
Reply:I don't care too much about the brand. I use a $9 chinese ebay wp-20f at home and love it. I think the size 17 torches are pure crap.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Had been using Weldcraft stuff for years until my wife bought a Miller Diamond Back 20 series torch for my birthday awhile back......Then got a couple Crafter series torches, a 20 and an 18......bought the Dynasty 350 and it came with a 20 series torch which worked fine but I wanted to try that Speedway 320 torch and thats what Im running now......Other than the different feel which took some getting used to it works nice and takes all the horse power I can use on AC.......Really liked the angle head torches but unless you have a need for them its a waste of money...Hard to beat Weldcraft stuff......  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWAs far as I know all the Weldcraft torches are rated at 60% duty cycle and the DC rating is usually higher than their AC rating. WP 9 is 125 amps @ 60% DC, 100 amps @ 60% AC. The CK's are  130 amps @ 100% in both AC and DC.http://www.weldcraft.com/products/wp-series/wp-9/
Reply:ck wise ... which series do you refer? I can find series 2, 3 and 8 only. Just the turbine torch is series 9.Anybody use the ck flex torches (not flex loc). They seem very practical, imho walking the cup is out of questions with these torches, but the rest? Any disadvantages?Lorch Saprom S3, Lorch V24, Hypertherm 65
Reply:May I add another question to that?If you just have a gas cooled torch like the CK9 would it be best to run a 1 piece hose (like the ck superflex that has gas in the middle), or would it be better to run a 2 piece hose?
Reply:I am using a Esab #17, and a Weldcraft #9 on my Thermal. Both have Weldcraft two piece cable on them. You can fight them a bit, but not too bad. Anything is better then the Thermal club. I also have one of the $11.00 torches on order.  It will replace the 17 Esab, (25 ft cable on that one) The #9 and the 17 have the exact same cable ga. so no duty-cycle difference there. A inverter on AC setup with the correct wave balance, the torches run cool. Not worried about duty-cycle one bit.(200 amp machine with it's duty-cycle)  The 17 uses CK short parts, and make the front end the same as a #20 or #9 series torch. Standard cup of a water cooled #20 also get to use much heavier CK collet instead of the 20/9 series. Non- gas lens though..  It does make it cheaper to setup, without buying the adapter to run a super-flex one piece style..  Swaps out quick too..with a inert quick change.. Attached ImagesLast edited by Brand X; 03-22-2013 at 01:42 AM.Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:Originally Posted by Pete.S.May I add another question to that?If you just have a gas cooled torch like the CK9 would it be best to run a 1 piece hose (like the ck superflex that has gas in the middle), or would it be better to run a 2 piece hose?