Tig Coolers, what you got?

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What are you all using? Please include the brand, model and price. If you built it yourself, all the better, that's the route I'll likely be taking. Please include details about components such as size, manufacturer and where to buy the pump.I'm going to start out using a garden hose run through a house water filter and exit to the ground. Are any of you currently using this method or have used it in the past? I'd like to know if I'm missing anything, like if the water needs to be regulated to a certain flow or run it at full throttle from the faucett?Thanks,Wayne
Reply:I use street water every day..Never a problem unless you leave the exhaust tubing outside overnite in freezing weather..The output flow is not all that much..You pee faster......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:Originally Posted by zapsterI use street water every day..Never a problem unless you leave the exhaust tubing outside overnite in freezing weather..The output flow is not all that much..You pee faster......zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by pulserPee would work ok, but corrosion may eventually be a problem, and each 6" weld would require another beer.
Reply:Thanks zap. Help me out with the hook up. does the water go directly into the line that goes up to the torch or does it need to go through the welder connection?I'm not understanding where used water goes. In my torch, there are three "lines". One is for power, one for gas and one for water? Does the water vaporize and come out the end of the torch?I'm also having an issue finding a fitting to work for the water output. The input and output water ports are left hand thread and apparently not in any size available in a hardware store. What size is that and where can I get that fitting.  Do you have a picture of your water connection? That would be worth a thousand words. Literally!Thanks,Wayne
Reply:Originally Posted by pulserPee would work ok, but corrosion may eventually be a problem, and each 6" weld would require another beer.
Reply:and i have one i made and im getting ready to make a better one Attached ImagesChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Originally Posted by jaded13640Thanks zap. Help me out with the hook up. does the water go directly into the line that goes up to the torch or does it need to go through the welder connection?I'm not understanding where used water goes. In my torch, there are three "lines". One is for power, one for gas and one for water? Does the water vaporize and come out the end of the torch?I'm also having an issue finding a fitting to work for the water output. The input and output water ports are left hand thread and apparently not in any size available in a hardware store. What size is that and where can I get that fitting.  Do you have a picture of your water connection? That would be worth a thousand words. Literally!Thanks,Wayne
Reply:One other thing..I use a clear tube on the water out side so when I hit the pedal I can see the water flow..Just in case of a brain fart and I don't turn the water on.. No water = this..http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...light=meltdownYou don't want that.. ...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:Mine is homemade and cost less than $100. Been running strong since Feb.http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=9123Sure, I can fix it... I got a welder!!!
Reply:Chopper, could you draw me up a parts list of your machine?Zap, that helps tremendously! My buddy suggested that the water may go through the power cable but that sounded dangerous to me so I dissmissed it.Does anyone know where I can get the left hand threaded fittings that go into the welder? I only need one with a barb large enough to fit into a cut off piece of a garden hose.I'm about ready to take the welder appart and try to change the fittings to something other that the bastard size that's on it.Let me know and thanks a lot!Wayne
Reply:yup after workChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:It's looking like I have most of what I'll need to build my own torch cooler. I'm considering trying to do this without a radiator. If I build it with enough volume of coolant, would a radiator be necessary? If so how much coolant would be necessary. I have a steel drum that holds about 16 gallons. I would think that about 10 gallons would be enough that, on most jobs anyway, the water would never get all that hot.What do you guys think?
Reply:Unless you're getting into some serious welding a radiator isn't needed. Those long red Lincoln coolers like were shown here a while back are just a recirculating tank, I've seen them used successfully on high amp robots that run 24/7. Also, don't use automotive coolant in a tig set-up, either blend your own or buy the over-priced stuff from Miller.Just make sure, like Zap pointed out, that you have a way to insure the pump is circulating the fluid. Those plastic lines stink as they melt...lolAnything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:Don't use automotive coolant huh? Bummer. Blend my own? Have you done this? Do you know what ingredients? I'm afraid to call and price the stuff from miller LOLThanks for the advise re: the radiator. Makes sense, especially given how much coolant volumn I plan to build into it.Thanks,Wayne
Reply:
Reply:Originally Posted by jaded13640Don't use automotive coolant huh? Bummer. Blend my own? Have you done this? Do you know what ingredients? I'm afraid to call and price the stuff from miller LOLThanks for the advise re: the radiator. Makes sense, especially given how much coolant volumn I plan to build into it.Thanks,Wayne
Reply:the motorcycle shop down the road from me got a tig welder in.thay aske me to take a look and tellem what was need to get it working.during the chat we talked about cooling units and the owners dad a long time welder has been useing a bucket of water with a founation pump for ever to cool his tig torch .its just a thoughtChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Excecellent idea about the pop bottle ice cubes Old dad. Old dad, do you share your first name on this forum?Chopper, A bucket of plain water? I'm having a confusion issue...nothing new...just different. Why does the house water go through the welder's water solenoid but a circulation cooling system does not?Some one correct me if I'm wrong, First...coolant from a cooling system goes directly into the torch's water inlet hose, comes out the power cable, out the lug and directly back into the cooling systems resevoir without ever entering the welder's water connection?Water from a garden hose goes into the welder's water in connection, out the out connection, up through the torch's water hose, out through the power cable, out the lug and down the drain our on the ground? It seems odd that a system specifically built to cool a tig welder's torch wouldn't be connected to the tig's coolant inlet.Please help me clear this up.Thanks,Wayne
Reply:The fittings you are talking about should be available from a Welding Distributor. From memory as I do not have a catalog available. The larger fitting I have seen used on tig torches is an AW10 from Western Enterprise fitting. (Male LH C-size CGA 035), The smaller is usually a 5/8-16 LH thread. I do not have a Western Enterprise catalog available to get a number.  to connect a hose would require two parts. A nut and a gland.
Reply:I can't find a fitting to connect the hose to the inlet of the welder at local hardware stores because it's a 5/8-18 left hand thread. Where did you guys get your fittings?If I can't get one soon I'm going to have to remove the solonoid, remove the inlet elbow and replace it with a right hand threaded one that isn't a bastard size.Wayne
Reply:on the old machines like my dialarc the water solenoid is so you can run street water the solenoid keeps the water from running all the timeChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:this my helphttp://www.thefabricator.com/ArcWeld...le.cfm?ID=1275ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Chuck, thanks for the link.Wayne
Reply:Mitch Robbins: It's nothing to be ashamed of - I had the same problem. Phil Berquist: Didn't you feel stupid; I mean, didn't you feel... inadequate? Mitch Robbins: Yeah, for a while, but then I overcame it. Can I explain it to you again? I mean now promise me you won't get upset. Phil Berquist: O.K.; it's not gonna to do any good. Mitch Robbins: O.K., if you want to watch one show but record another show at the same time, the television set does not have to be on channel 3. Phil Berquist: Yeah it does. Mitch Robbins: No it doesn't. Phil Berquist: It does. Mitch Robbins: No, if you're watching what you're recording, then it has to be on 3. Phil Berquist: What... the TV or... or the machine? Mitch Robbins: The TV. Phil Berquist: You're saying I can record something I'm not even watching? Mitch Robbins: Yes, that's the point. You don't even need a TV to record. Phil Berquist: How would I see it? Mitch Robbins: Well to see it you need a TV. Ed Furillo: Shut up! Just shut up! He doesn't get it! He'll never get it! It's been 4 hours! The cows can tape something by now! Forget about it please! Phil Berquist: How do you do the clock? Ed Furillo: You're dead. You are dead.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sorry, I just thought something seemed humorously, familiar! But you should have been watching me try to get a good root pass with 6010 today, same thing!City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDannyI'm starting to loose track what I've said and where. There's another thread where this topic is being discused. For any of you that haven't seen the other one, I'll give a quick upday here. I found the fittings needed to hook up the garden hose. I tired it yesterday and nearly melted my torch. The water wasn't flowing. Today I tried to blow compressed air through the inlet hose and nothing would pass. I got discusted and went back to disassembling the Hemi I'm working on. I made good sucess on the Hemi but never went back to the welder.Someone at some point linked me to a torch site where they had a break-down of the parts. I need to try and find that again to see if the individual hoses can be replaced. If I can't work the obstruction out I'll have to replace the hose or the complete torch if necessary. I'm using a #20 torch. Would a 19 be better?Anyway, I struck my first arc with a tig yesterday. I should have taken pictures of it but I thought it was too hidious LOL. It would have been a souce of embarassment for years to come. My intent wasn't to achieve a good weld or anything, just test the function of everything. So far, everything works but the cooling. I'll try to get back to that tomorrow.  I just recently had major back surgery and ever since I've had very little stamnia. I'm wore out in no time. So we'll see if I can get anything done tomorrow or not. Thanks for all the help so far guys. It's made a big difference in the entire experience from purchasing the machine to making the first test pass yesterday.Thanks again,Wayne
Reply:That is why a filter is recommended when using street water... One small flake of crap or hard water and no flow!Me!
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBoy
Reply:jaded13640:  here is a link to the cooler i built.  feel free to ask me any question that the thread doesn't answer.   CLICK HERE !!!-Graham-Mechanical EngineerAutosport Mechanic/Fabricator
Reply:As others mention, when using tap water, you need a water solenoid on your welder to keep from running the water all of the time. With a Procon pump, which is positive displacement, there is a real danger of deadheading the pump due when power is let off of the pedal (or hand control).I used to run a water solenoid with my antique circulator tank and pump and never had a problem because the pump was not a positive displacement one. It was a vane type.  I wouldn't use a water solenoid with a Procon pump, however for the reasons mentioned. If you can run tap water with a solenoid from a nearby sink, that's the simplest and best of all. The Procon pumps are rather noisy but they work quite well.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:Millermatic 211 with 150 spool gunDynasty 350 Hypertherm powermax 30XP
Reply:Maybe your solenoid is not opening, causing your lack of coolant flow.I have the Tigg'r water cooler, which uses a small plastic tank (maybe 2 gal.), a 110v fountain pump, a small radiator and an electric fan, inside a stainless steel box.   It is small, works good, and cost $435 new at www.arc-zone.com.   It was a good buy, considering most other coolers are $500 and up.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I hooked up the garden hose and praticed a little but it's kind of a pain in the azz to run back and forth to turn the water on and guess at how much to turn the valve to keep the flow down. But I did sucessfully cool the torch with the hose. It got me through.Now I'm ready to build a cooling system. I have all the fittings I need, a bucket, lid, some hose. Now for the pump. I was looking on the harbor freight website and found a small submersable pump. It pumps 66 gallons per hour runs on 120 volts and has an output nipple 5/16" OD. And it listed for $9.99! So I called them up to make sure they have one in stock. They have several AND GET THIS it's on sale for $4.99!http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45303Now since harbor freight pumps are usually big pieces of chit, maybe I should by two. At that price it's only the cost of one if not on sale and then I'd have a back up for when this one frys. And it probably will. If I get 6 months out of each pump, I'd say that's a pretty fair deal.Any thoughs on this pump? Does it seem suitable? By chance has anyone use one of this for a coolant system pump?Now for the coolant. I'm really broke this week so I'm just going to use purified water for now. When I called the local Airgas dealer, he told me the coolant was 50 bucks a gallon! I don't like that idea. I'd use windshield washer fluid but there's one drawback. It's mostly methanol and it will be pumped through a high voltage component. I'd sure hate to have a leak! I'm told not to use automotive antifreeze. I understand there is "stuff" it it that makes it kind of incompatable with a welding coolant system.What should I use that's cheaper than the high dollar stuff from the welding supply?I'll no doubt end up going that route. When I can afford it I'll get a gallon. Then another later. I only plan on my system holding between 2 1/2 and 3 gallons. If for some reason it isn't cooling good enough, I have a transmission cooler with the correct size nipples that would work awesome.Can I dilute the welding store bought coolant with something cheaper? I really hate the idea of spending 100 to 150 bucks on coolant. It just really rubs me the wrong way that it would be so damn expensive.  But I do live in a cold climate and need to keep the coolant from freezing. For the next month or so I don't have to worry about it but come late November/early December, it'll freeze.Any ideas, thoughs, suggestions and wild azz guesses are welcome.Thank you,Wayne Thomas
Reply:I think I have a better deal. I went back to the HF site and found a pump that puts out a little more and is only a buck more in price. It puts out 144 GPH and has a lift capacity of 47" where the other one only put out 66 GPH and only has a lift capacity of 16"http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45305What do ya think?Wayne
Reply:You might want to have your LWS check the price of the coolant again. I just bought an extra gallon of the Miller collant in June and the ticket says I paid $21 + tax. Airgas item number on the ticket is MIL 043810Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:Originally Posted by jaded13640I think I have a better deal. I went back to the HF site and found a pump that puts out a little more and is only a buck more in price. It puts out 144 GPH and has a lift capacity of 47" where the other one only put out 66 GPH and only has a lift capacity of 16"http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45305What do ya think?Wayne
Reply:Thanks for the advise guys. I'll look into the procon pump when I can afford it. This 6 dollar pump should get me by for now while I'm practicing.And I'll check again on the coolant.Wayne
Reply:The other day I finished collecting all the parts and pieces for my home made cooler. I had a lot of what I need around the garage, 1/2" hose, clamps, bucket and lid. I had to buy one clamp, the pump and some fittings. All total I spent under 12 bucks. If I had to purchase every item on my list it would have costed right around 28 dollars plus tax. I'll start a post detailing what I bought and were I got everything. That price does not include coolant. I don't know the price. Some stores list it for quite a bit more than others. So I'll shop around. I've talked to several people that have used automotive antifreeze for several years without incedent. I think I'll probably end up going that route.Anyway, I assembled everything today and tested it. My only concern is the amount of flow I get back through the return line. It's just a small stream. I haven't yet measured the amount vs. time yet. I'll try to do that tomorrow and post my results. So far, the project appears to be a total sucess. If the amount of coolant flow is deemed inadaquete, I'll have to step up to the larger pump which costed around 10 bucks at Harbor Freight.Thanks for all your help and direction.Wayne
Reply:Originally Posted by jaded13640The other day I finished collecting all the parts and pieces for my home made cooler. I had a lot of what I need around the garage, 1/2" hose, clamps, bucket and lid. I had to buy one clamp, the pump and some fittings. All total I spent under 12 bucks. If I had to purchase every item on my list it would have costed right around 28 dollars plus tax. I'll start a post detailing what I bought and were I got everything. That price does not include coolant. I don't know the price. Some stores list it for quite a bit more than others. So I'll shop around. I've talked to several people that have used automotive antifreeze for several years without incedent. I think I'll probably end up going that route.Anyway, I assembled everything today and tested it. My only concern is the amount of flow I get back through the return line. It's just a small stream. I haven't yet measured the amount vs. time yet. I'll try to do that tomorrow and post my results. So far, the project appears to be a total sucess. If the amount of coolant flow is deemed inadaquete, I'll have to step up to the larger pump which costed around 10 bucks at Harbor Freight.Thanks for all your help and direction.Wayne
Reply:Thanks for the feedback,Wayne