tig torch consumables?

admin

Im sure this is kind of a silly question but, how often do you change your tig torch consumables? I have a weld craft torch wp17 I've been using for awhile now and I'm still using the original consumables. I was just wondering if there something i should look for? I use my torch a few times a week on little projects, so its not really heavy usage. thanks steve
Reply:Collets and collet bodies will warp if too much heat is used. Alumina cups will break if dropped. Beyond that the only consumeable you "need" to replace is your tungsten. Thecollet/body needs swapped when you change tungsten size.
Reply:Your collets can become shorter, and the seat inside the collet body can start pushing through. Combined your cap can screw in farther and cut off the flow of gas thru your gas port. Check this by inserting your collet body, then collet, tungsten and cap. Tighten cap slightly, remove your collet body, then collet and tungsten and look inside to see if the gas port is not choked off by the cap. New ones may be in order. Spares certainly can't hurt.Other times cheap soft copper collets will bulge and seal off the gas port, thus resulting in bad gas coverage. Screens can become blocked on gas lens type collet bodies. Bad o-rings leak gas, bad threads at cap or torch body will wear or the o-rings, so change them if needed. Chipped, melted, or cracked ceramic cups can disrupt even gas coverage. Save them for the junk work, or last resorts.Do yourself a favor and buy quality replacements, like the "high performance" brands. For instance WeldTec offers the tellurium copper high temp high strength collets which last 50 times longer than cheap soft copper collets.Last edited by shovelon; 06-14-2014 at 12:37 PM.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Remember parts just need to be snug, not gorilla tight. The day kids crank the pizz out of the parts. Makes them tough to get out and eventually makes it almost impossible to get things to tighten up properly when they F up the torch body. Keep in mind things expand when they get hot, and something that fits snug, only gets tighter when hot most times..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:That's great info guys, once again you've answered my question thoroughly. I will look into tellurium copper consumables at weld tec . Thank you again Steve