VERY Basic Tig Questions, two each.

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So, how important is the angle of a sharpened tungsten? Somewhere I read or saw an instruction that the ground surface should be 2 1/2 times the diameter of the electrode. I can estimate that OK if it's an 1/8" tungsten but I'm gonna' need to really up the power of my reading glasses if I hope to see the same thing on a 1/16" point. .040" or smaller -forget it.I scored a pretty good deal on a Bernard cooler yesterday. It's not here yet but it's got me thinking about watercooled torches.  I don't want to use one of the leather or nylon storebought protecting sheaths because they're so heavy and awkward (at least that's my reaction to the factory torch setup that came with my new Thermal Arc 186 welder). So I'm wondering if there's a place that sells the great red colored super flexy hose that I got with my  nine size aircooled torch  in several inside diameters?Couldn't I get the two water hoses and the torch lead through some kind of hose that was about 1/2" ID? And if so wouldn't that be a nice way to set up a water cooled torch?Is there something else that folks do about this?MM210TA186TA95sLincoln AC/DC Tombstonegood old Smith torch setup 24v Readywelder mig w/spoolgunSB H 10 latheBridgeport mill6x12 K.O.Lee surface grinderK.O.Lee tool/cutter grinder
Reply:I had posted these a while backAbout the hoses, it's not the leather or nylon that is heavy, it's the thick rubber on an air-cooled torch setup.  HTP America sells superflex hose setups (air and water cooled) for darn near everything, and even with the leather covered 25ft setups, it weighs next to nothing.Last edited by Oscar; 12-27-2013 at 08:14 PM. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Wow! Great chart for tungsten tips Oscar - Thanks a whole bunch. I'm brand new at tig welding, obviously, and though I've read a lot I don't think I'd seen anything that described the shape of the tip effecting weld width or penetration. I probably must have missed it even though it might have been right in front of me. This changes some of my thinking.MM210TA186TA95sLincoln AC/DC Tombstonegood old Smith torch setup 24v Readywelder mig w/spoolgunSB H 10 latheBridgeport mill6x12 K.O.Lee surface grinderK.O.Lee tool/cutter grinder
Reply:In the third picture Oscar posted the bottom two grinds are how I like my tungsten ground. I don't worry too much about the angle but try to keep them uniform. As long as you are getting good arc starts and the puddle wets in like you want then the grind is fine. Can't help you with the torch cable cover, I don't use one. Just have to be careful about what it wraps around.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:I get mine as sharp as possible and just go to kill......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:A leather sheath over a watercooled 20 series torch with superflex cables is very flexible.  A world of difference over that thing the TA186 comes with.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Hey, Hill.Welcome to the forum and a great question, with an even greater answer. I've been TIGging for nearly a year and learned a lot from Oscar's chart. I don't know how threads get rated, but this one deserves to have a star or something for everyone to read.Thanks Oscar!I have a nylon cover on my torch leads and I would recommend you get one to go with your new flexible leads. You will really love the water cooler when you get it going.Add your location to your profile and maybe you are close to another member.(noticed your tag line - - from an old Airborne Ranger '73-'74)Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255A leather sheath over a watercooled 20 series torch with superflex cables is very flexible.  A world of difference over that thing the TA186 comes with.
Reply:Nah,  I went from a 17 to a 20 and couldn't believe the difference in maneuverability.  If you know someone that has one, try it out.  I have a ck230 with the superflex lines and a leather sheath.  The 17 with a single piece cable feels like a broomstick attached to a garden hose next to it.  It's prolly not as light as a 9 with superflex, but it can go 300 amps all day.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:I have a rubber gas through lead on my TIG.  Much better than the original one that came with the welder.  But then again I'm using a 17 torch - air cooled - and don't use it very much yet.  I'm still learning.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by wb4rtHey, Hill.Welcome to the forum and a great question, with an even greater answer. I've been TIGging for nearly a year and learned a lot from Oscar's chart. I don't know how threads get rated, but this one deserves to have a star or something for everyone to read.Thanks Oscar!I have a nylon cover on my torch leads and I would recommend you get one to go with your new flexible leads. You will really love the water cooler when you get it going.Add your location to your profile and maybe you are close to another member.(noticed your tag line - - from an old Airborne Ranger '73-'74)
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Nah,  I went from a 17 to a 20 and couldn't believe the difference in maneuverability.  If you know someone that has one, try it out.  I have a ck230 with the superflex lines and a leather sheath.  The 17 with a single piece cable feels like a broomstick attached to a garden hose next to it.  It's prolly not as light as a 9 with superflex, but it can go 300 amps all day.
Reply:Originally Posted by hillThis is also all good to hear as that's the same torch setup I've been looking at buying. I wouldn't expect any water cooled arrangement to be as flexy nice and light as the #9 I have with the red braided line, but if it's close to that easy to handle, stays pretty cool, and can handle the whole tig output of my welder I'll be liking it. You guys have taken away my concern about three lines instead of one and I very much appeciate it.I'm ESPECIALLY looking forward to getting a WC torch going today because last night I cranked the welder to 100 amp DC with the little #9 and screwed it all up somehow. Burnt my tungsten down to the collet and the handle got so hot that I near dropped the torch even though I was wearing  a pretty good glove. It happened so fast I'm not even sure if I grounded the electrode or what happened, but I'm gonna' try real hard not to do THAT again whatever it was.
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Nah,  I went from a 17 to a 20 and couldn't believe the difference in maneuverability.  If you know someone that has one, try it out.  I have a ck230 with the superflex lines and a leather sheath.  The 17 with a single piece cable feels like a broomstick attached to a garden hose next to it.  It's prolly not as light as a 9 with superflex, but it can go 300 amps all day.
Reply:You will like the 20 series torch.  I got mine from HTP, good prices and everything I needed.  They also use CK torches.  Here is a pic of my water cooled TA186, the only thing I used the factory torch for was to build the cart and the only reason for that was because I didn't feel like setting up the cooler before everything was mounted.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oscaryou probably forgot to turn on the argon bottle