Gas Lens question

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Hey all, is this how a gas lens is supposed to sit on my #17 torch? Are the insulators supposed to be doubled up like this? Is there ever a reason not to use a gas lens other than size being a factor? Also from what Ive read I could increase the stickout with a gas lens, is there a rule of thumb, like no more than this amount of stickout per cup/ratio or whatever? Thanks. Attached Images
Reply:Yea some setups have 2 insulators and some have just 1.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:General rule of thumb that we use is stickout not more than the ID of the cup. A gas lens will allow more stickout if and only if you are careful. You could stickout as much as 1.5 times the ID to 2 times the ID in corners that restrain the gas. Quality of gas lens and collet as well as torch in general makes a difference as well.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleYea some setups have 2 insulators and some have just 1.
Reply:Originally Posted by ThreadkillerGreat, thank you.Ive read about the rule with regular collet bodies, but I wasnt sure about the gas lens. The brand is a miller so I would assume the quality to be pretty good. I am new to TIG so I appreciate the advice. Thanks guys. Any input for if there is a bad time to use a gas lens aside from cup size restraints? Should I just run one all the time? There seems to be many pros and not many cons as far as I could tell.
Reply:My torch setup looks just like yours. If you did have the insulator under the cup, the cup would bottom out on your gas lens and there would be a gap inbetween the bottom of the cup and the other insulator. U will see it start welding dirty if you get that stick out to far out there if your cup is to small or to low of gas. I normally run 1/4 or less. Did you grind that tungsten to a point? It's looks really blunt. That torch looks brand newLast edited by motolife313; 02-27-2015 at 12:29 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonI run a gas lens just about all of the time.  If I am welding dirty or zinc plated steel I will run the standard so the buggers don't fly up and stick to my screens. I also run standard collet bodies when I use extended cups as I find the turbulence has diminished greatly with the longer travel. I run my gas flow to the minimum with a gas lens whereas the standard will foul the weld more easily. That being said our formula for gas flow in CFH is 1 x nozzle size minimum to 2 x nozzle size maximum. I tend to run halfway inbetween to the full maximum for standard collet bodies, and the other way around for gas lenses.
Reply:The CK kit for 17/18/26 torches has a simpler 1-pc insulator that I really liked when using those size torches. Until I discovered the stubby gas lens kit. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC