Tig Torch selection

admin

I'm looking to pick up a tig welder soon and have some questions about what torch to get. I'm leaning towards a dynasty 200dx and am wondering if the standard weldcraft torches are any good. I'm don't do this for a living and only have welding experience through a course at the local community college so some of the following questions might seem silly to you vets.Connection to the unit, is there a standard connection type. I assume the torches come more or less permanently attached to the cabling. So a 25' torch is more or less forever a 25' torch, no extending by replacing the cable. What if you burn through the cable or some such silliness. A major concern of mine is flexibility and manueverability of the torch itself. I spend too much time at the keyboard and have some carpal tunnel. It made it  hard for me to wrestle the large stiff cables at the college around. I was constantly searching for a more comfortable position to get some of the weight off the cable and to get it to flex the right way. I've seen some units out there that claim super or ultra flex cabling or other such things, are they really, is it worth it. I've also seen a few torches that have a 360 rotatable connector just below the torch so it will rotate whichever way you want. Seems like the cats meow to me, worth having? So who makes a torch that would be appropriate? The standard stuff that miller offers seems to be all weldcraft, They own weldcraft? Either way I'm not that impressed by the weldcraft stuff thus far.I don't need a ton of capacity, a nice manueverable 150amp torch would be fine, sure a similarly manueverable 200 would be better but I can live with a standard torch for heavier work (I think). Would there be any gains to flexibility and manueverability if I went with water cooled, I understand the cable can be smaller then because its actively cooled. How does the whole cabling system work with regard to connectors on the w/c unit and the torches. Is there an industry standard or a mishmash or who-and-the-what-where. After you've recommended me a torch or manufacturer recommend where I can buy it, online would be nice as well.Thanks
Reply:Is this a watercooled machine? I dont know squat about all the new rigs out there.. But weldcraft makes very good torches no question about it..And every welding supply store will have everything you would ever need for it so parts are no problem..I say yes..go for it!...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:Yep, Great torch, Have both the crafter 310 and a wp20 watercooled.  very nice.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:I have three weldcraft 17V's and I have never had a minutes trouble.  Like Zap said, I can find parts for mine most anywhere when I need them.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Go for the standard Linde, Weldcraft, ESAB, or CK: HW-20, 70 deg. head, water-cooled. All major brands have interchangeable, readily available parts. Be sure to purchase a hose sheath to protect the lines and it will last forever doing small jobs.If you don't have a water cooler go with the hw-17 for under 150 amps or the hw-26 for under 220 amps.
Reply:Big fan of the flex head weldcraft stuff myself.  Use it for everything from detail work to schedule 80 pipe.  What I like is that the flex head is fairly stiff and retains its position with a little pressure.  Some other torches I've tried, including those that use the ball and socket type swivel, were so sensitive to getting bumped out of position, I'd swear they'd move if a chipmunk farted nearby.  I too have carpal tunnel, and the biggest difference for me was going from water cooled torches for everything back to air cooled.  No extra cabling/bulk to lug around, and it makes a huge difference.  Another option would be to fab up a little cable holder.  Basically a shepards hook type deal.  I use it to support the cable ends to keep it from dragging along the table, and to take the bulk of the cable weight off when coming around the top of a pipe or any project for that matter.  It makes a HUGE difference in overall feel.
Reply:ill second the crafter 310. i have one and love it. i also have an ailrcooled flexhead 17. my feeling is when you go to one of those big, bulky, awkward aircooled torches you can benefit from the flexible head.. but i only use the aircooled when im running portable. at home, liquid all the way baby...........todd