Gas lenses

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I've ordered a new tig torch to go with my new welder. I want a, or several gas lenses. The torch is a Weldcraft WP 280 recommended by Miller. Calling Cyberweld I came away more confused than I had been. If I want to have gas lenses for .20,.40,1/16,3/32, and 1/8, what do I need to order? Are collets needed or can I use the collets that come with it? What size cups are needed? It appears the 280 is a new size, the guy at Cyberweld called it a 20 series.What would be the preferred tungsten for an inverter?
Reply:From what I've found, WP280 uses the same consumables as the 9 and 20 torches.I don't have the same setup, but I did order a gas lense kit recently for my torch. I went with usaweld and bought there kit.Something like this would put you with pretty much everything you need except for the collets. http://www.ebay.in/itm/TIG-welding-g...-/200327823689The collets weren't included with the gas lense kit I bought for my WP17 torch. Not sure if it is the same, but I was able to use regular collets that came with the torch itself. Maybe someone else could shed some light on that.
Reply:whoops...didn't mean to post an international ebay link...dunno how it even got there...found this as well...http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-Lens-Cup...item2ec9fb4060and this....http://www.ebay.com/itm/TIG-weld-wel...item2ea44ad9a8
Reply:Originally Posted by Willie BI've ordered a new tig torch to go with my new welder. I want a, or several gas lenses. The torch is a Weldcraft WP 280 recommended by Miller. Calling Cyberweld I came away more confused than I had been. If I want to have gas lenses for .20,.40,1/16,3/32, and 1/8, what do I need to order? Are collets needed or can I use the collets that come with it? What size cups are needed? It appears the 280 is a new size, the guy at Cyberweld called it a 20 series.What would be the preferred tungsten for an inverter?
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleYou want collets to match the tungsten just like you match the gas lens or collet body to the tungsten. So 3/32 tungsten needs a 3/32 collet and 3/32 collet body. Like said above, buy a kit that comes with everything.For the 9/20 torch there is only 1 length collet. Different versions of collets such as standard, wedge and reverse. But they are all the same length. Whereas if you got a 17/18/26 torch there are different length collets depending on your setup. There is standard length and shorter for stubby kits and longer for oversized kits.Cups will all depend on what you are doing. #8 cup is the largest can go on a standard gas lens. For me I go with a #7 or #8, never really go smaller for what I do. Ck used to call theirs 9, 17, 18, 20, 26 etc etc, but started to change the names. So the 9 is now the 125. The 17 is 150 and the 26 is 200. I don't know if they changed the name of the 20, but if they do it will probably be 250 as that's the rated amperage at 100% duty cycle.What tungsten? Well that depends. Any except for pure which is dark green. (Careful some new custom mix is green and ok on inverters), but 2% lanthanted (blue) is what i mainly use for aluminum and I like it. If you are doing steel only a ceriated is a popular choice as well as a thoriated. Personal preference.
Reply:+1 on the blue or gold lanth 1/16, 3/32 and 1/8 for 30-300A ac/dc, inverter or transformer.You only really need the one gas lens. I've used the same 1/8" gas lens for the last 8 months. As long as you use the right size collet and don't over tighten the backcap you'll be OK.SqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A
Reply:http://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma...oducts_id=5027same kit I purchasedMillermatic 211Miller Syncrowave 350lx with cooler and tigrunner Thermal Dynamics cutmaster 811955 National Cylinder Gas O/A setup with original patina
Reply:The gas lens is the collet body. You need a gas lens and collet for each size tungsten you want to use. Don't get chinese gas lenses either, they're horrible.If you use a larger bore gas lens like suggested above it might not clamp on short tungstens as well, and it might not hold them very straight.I don't really know why you would ever want to use .020, .040, or even 1/16 tungstens, a very long and sharp tapered 3/32 will work down to basically no amps. And you don't really need 1/8 until you get to like 250 amps.Last edited by MikeGyver; 03-25-2014 at 10:18 PM.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com