It's all cool mate. . . Weld cooler quick-connect modification, and coil repair

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I was setting up a portable TIG cooler for  "TIG like Stick." You know, outdoors, away from the power source and in the wind. Anyway, to allow for portability and quick set-up, I installed two short whip hoses on the cooler, along with mating quick-coupler and nipple.Now,  instead of connecting the Coolmate with its original threaded fittings, the cooler can be quick-coupled in seconds, to any machine equipped with matching couplers, without tools, and without coolant loss. When not in use, the hoses are coupled together to keep things sealed and clean:Attachment 37960The reason I dropped the whips down from  behind the original panel is because I didn't think that the original thin bulkhead panel, and its two small mounting screws, could take very much wrestling with couplers, or lifting by a dandy new "handle."  No big deal, just a little plumbing. I would have preferred using matching parts and a few less fittings, but these were on hand, and got the job done. To clean it up a little, I may swap the fittings out later. Okay, I'll admit it, probably much later. During the test run the fan started blowing a spray of coolant off of the cooling coil. There was a leak somewhere.Must have connected something wrong....  Nope, the plumbing all looks good...Attachment 37963...the  copper cooling coil has a leak in it!Oh well. Pull the coil  to pinpoint the injury. Looks like the coil was split by water freezing in it.Looks like we can solder it, but it definitely needs a good cleaning first.Attachment 37962Whatever it was that the power-washer once did to this dog, it has not been forgotten. Bent the fins out of the way for a better look.Looks like a spot of solder should fix it.A quick heat, some Oldiron2® soldering flux, and a touch of solder:Thanks again to Oldiron2 for sharing his soldering flux recipe. Attachment 37961Bent the fins back and set it up for a pressure test.Pressure tested the coil, reassembled it, and hooked the cooler to a power source.Alfred ran pedal-to-the-metal while I checked out the cooler job.Attachment 37964No leaks, good flow, and a nice dry breeze blowing off of the coil. Last edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:42 PM.
Reply:Good idea with the quick-disconnects.   Looks like the dog likes it too.  MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op