is a cooler needed for welding 3mm aluminium?

[phasesonix]

is a cooler only needed for thicker more powerful welding?

 

[craigthewelder]

I would think you would be fine welding that with a air cooled torch.

 

[shenion]

As long as the torch is rated for the current, ther should be no problem. The WP-17's are 150A, the WP-26 is 200. Most TIG use these torches or clones.

Then again, many of the cheap clone torches don't meet the specs.

I did 1/8" (3.175mm) with no problem on my WP-17. I also have a WP-26, but have not needed it yet.

 

[Sam]

Here is a simple set-up you can make yourself using a central heating pump.

If your torch is a water cooled torch it is recommended that water is used at all times.

 

[Tigman]

Sam that must be some serious welding ! I had my tig torch glowing before now on a casting, suprised me as to how hot it was !

 

[Sam]

Hance the water cooler cant afford to replace a torch every six months.

 

[pedrobedro]

I had a ceramic fall apart after it cooled down on my air cooled WP17 torch, the tapered end just dropped off. That looks like our central heating pump there Sam I might just T into the central heating for a tryout

 

[shenion]

I have had the tapered part come off. Happens when it is screwed all the way on to the colette. I make sure tha back cap is removed, colette first all the way in, then shroud, then back cap.

If the shroud gets crewed all the way in, it will split like you described.

 

[busa]

Nice compact water cooler Sam, I'm thinking of something similar for my set. By the way, the pic of the outfit on Ballaugh Bridge in your album, I've seen it somewhere before, 1990 or 1991 ?

 

[Sam]

1991 Thursday night final practice we got the best newcomers trophy that year.

 

[busa]

1991 Thursday night final practice we got the best newcomers trophy that year.

I think I would have been marshalling at Braddan Bridge that night so would have seen you going through, cracking photo. I have a serious interest in the sidecars, the only true racing machines left on the mountain course in my opinion.

 

[brendan h]

just out of interest does that water cooler you made have a coolant lines ect to cool the water off. or is it because of the capacity your not going to weld long enough to heat all that water?

 

[Sam]

The capacity is suffice for what I do but you could pass the water through a car radiator on the return and use it as a heat exchanger.