Newbie - TIG Torch Q?

admin

Hey everyone,Don't blast me too hard.  I'm just assembling my first TIG torch and I can't figure out how the ceramic cup goes on.  I have the Tungsten in the torch going through a long brass tube the goes into a collet that has a knurled center section.  I can tighten this down and it holds the rod firmly in place. Now when I try to slip the ceramic cup over the collet it won't slide past the knurled section. Am I supposed to beat it over the collet or what.  Being that it is ceramic I don't think it is going to give in.  What am I missing? I expected a tight fit so that the ceramic cup would be held in place but not this tight.ThanksMichael
Reply:Sorry for the waste of space on the server.  The cup screws onto the collet and for some reason I was convinced it just slid over it.  I couldn't see any threads inside the cup but they are obviously there.Time to go light up some steel.Michael
Reply:Just below the knurled center section, towards the end there should be some threads and the cup should have some threads inside. If you have this setup you should just be able to just screw the cup onto the collet holder. If there are no threads then you need a part that should slide over the collet holder and then the cup slides over that.If you are still having problems, then it sounds like that you are missing a part to the torch.And yes, I would highly recommend that you DO NOT do any hammering on that torch, in any way.The only TIG setup that I have used is the type that has threads. The brand name is Weldcraft.Hope this helps.