DIY Welding cooler. Mk3.

[Tiggy_dorset]

I have heard of people using beer cooler pumps, are they suitable for this kind of application? I have been thinking of a water cooler project for quite some time.

 

[Richard.]

I have heard of people using beer cooler pumps, are they suitable for this kind of application? I have been thinking of a water cooler project for quite some time.

Easy enough to do if you spec it right and buy the bits. I'm choosing to make everything I can now so a bit more involved.

 

[Richard.]

Pump needs to be 40-60psi of pressure. LPM can be 2-8 it's not really that critical. Over 60 psi and you simply just T off from the outlet one end to the torch feed the other back to the tank with a valve then open/close the valve to set the pressure down the torch.

 

[Richard.]

The pump I've chose goes up to 90psi so I may have to do the above if the pressure isn't adjustable. Not sure yet as I've not used one.

 

[Richard.]

The heat exchange is on the return before it is fed into the tank.

 

[Richard.]

Pumps rated to 50 deg C. It will get no where near that. If done properly the water should remain cold. Tank holds around 2 Ltr so the volume alone will aid a lot with it's temp but the exchange will help further.

 

[Gareth J]

Do hobbyists not plug it into the mains and just go for total loss? At 2-3lpm an hours' welding would cost less than 50p. Zero pumping costs or fan costs. Can understand doing this regularly would start to clock up costs or does the torch need special coolant or something?

 

[Richard.]

I wouldn't worry too much about cost regarding this suggestion but why waste water. I don't want to come up all high and mighty but that's certainly never an option for me to carelessly chuck good clean water down the drain when recirculating it is a suitable option.

 

[Gareth J]

I wouldn't worry too much about cost regarding this suggestion but why waste water. I don't want to come up all high and mighty but that's certainly never an option for me to carelessly chuck good clean water down the drain when recirculating it is a suitable option.

that's fair enough. Anyway, a project for the sake of doing it is reason enough! I was just wondering if there was a reason tap water shouldn't be used. I'm probably a bit more relaxed about water use than I ought to be as use well water with a soak away sewer so there is little impact bar a bit of pumping electric.

 

[Richard.]

Well regards to tap water been suitable yes it's ok but anti corrosion additive such as coolant or the proper welding coolant is meant to be the correct stuff to use. I've always used a splash of car rad summer coolant in mine and it has always been pretty good. The Alu tank I'm in progress of making is satin anodised and welded from the outside only so that's pretty well protected.

 

[Richard.]

Another hour another bit further forward.

 

[Badger1bear]

Richard has turned out to be one of my best students darren

 

[Badger1bear]

Now......if that was in Lorch Red, that would sell in no time

 

[roofman]

Richard i know its late in the day regarding the build progress but did you consider a small intercooler off a turbo car with reduces on the necks for the water to pass through...very large surface area for max heat to air transfare.

 

[Richard.]

Leak test.
Any drips by morning and I'm going back to school.

 

[Richard.]

Richard i know its late in the day regarding the build progress but did you consider a small intercooler off a turbo car with reduces on the necks for the water to pass through...very large surface area for max heat to air transfare.

I did consider an inter cooler for one of my builds a while back but the computer rad and fan seems to work amazing. In this case though there is no cheating allowed I'm literally aiming to make everything I can. Including the heat exchanger. 1/4 bore copper pipe with 7 loops nearly a meter in total length with a powerful fan blowing directly over it should be a sufficient chiller but if not then I'll change it. But I'd like to keep it as "home made" as possible.

 

[addjunkie]

You considered one of these,

http://www.dualpumps.co.uk/products/D3732H1311ARL__Flojet_Duplex_II_Bypass_Pump_230V

For the spill back valve think id use some kind of needle valve designed to control flow/pressure.

 

[Richard.]

Now......if that was in Lorch Red, that would sell in no time

I'm thinking deep everlast green.

 

[MattH]

Lol, just noticed what it's all sat on. Did it help as expected?

 

[roofman]

I did consider an inter cooler for one of my builds a while back but the computer rad and fan seems to work amazing. In this case though there is no cheating allowed I'm literally aiming to make everything I can. Including the heat exchanger. 1/4 bore copper pipe with 7 loops nearly a meter in total length with a powerful fan blowing directly over it should be a sufficient chiller but if not then I'll change it. But I'd like to keep it as "home made" as possible.

Yes of course i must do more reading of posts...you did say as much as you can make yourself.