Diy tig cooler-would this work?

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Melting my hand off with this #9 torch. Would I be able to use the pump and resevoir from my bandsaw to feed a water cooled torch? I have a transmission cooler chilling here I can put inline the line too... Never used I'm going to do more research this week but I'm in the shop right now waiting for this torch to cool down to get back at it. Thanks guysMatt
Reply:First you'll need a water cooled torch, then a pump that can provide enough pressure 35-50 psi (more accurate figures can be obtained searching for coolers specs)The coolant pump can deliver the volume but i seriously doubt it can deliver the psi.  many threads here and on other welding sites on the matter.good luck
Reply:Thanks. I'm aware of the torch requirement. I was not aware there was a pressure requirement. I'm not really sure how to check the pressure before I buy a torch and try it out. Thought?
Reply:There isn't a pressure 'requirement', there is a flow requirement.You need a certain flow rate of water to cool a torch at a given welding current rate.The pressure is what's pushing the flow through the tiny hose. If you don't have enough pressure, you won't get enough flow.You need around 30-60psi to push a reasonable amount of water through the torch. Don't go over 60psi though, or your hoses may bulge and eventually rupture.To check the pump you'd need to put a small brass needle valve on the outlet and slowly close it off while watching a pressure gauge you've put in front of the valve. See if you can get it up to 50psi or so, then measure the water output 1 minute; it will need to be >20oz or so. If pump won't make 30 or 40 psi then it is incapable for producing enough pressure and can't be used.I used a 12 volt shurflow style diaphragm pump for the cooler I built. It's been working great for years. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...Cooler-for-TIGLast edited by MikeGyver; 03-23-2014 at 03:10 PM.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Making your own cooler is a very nice project if you have time, a great and rewarding challenge too. Money wise mmmmm not sure...  buy a cool mate for 3-500$ and 5 years from now it will still worth 2-300$...what about the home made one? Ok i know, making your own tool has the pride and experience reward attached to it it's priceless for many of these guys...(sometime i'm one of yours lol)
Reply:I think the brand name coolers are worth the money if you are gonna do production work. I think they are overpriced if you are gonna tig at home for fun. Besides, don't forget you can do a waste to drain cooler too. Just hook up the faucet to the tig and then to the garden or gutter or whatever. Most people don't tig enough to dent their water bill. But if you are tigging enought to have a burned hand, yeah, cool it down!Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain