New Torch and W/Cooling for Under £100?

[Gizmo.Y]

Afternoon Gents.

My WP17 has just died on my Eastwood Tig 200.

Im looking to upgrade the torch and possibly do Watercoolered (DIY)

I have a £100 to spend. Absolute Maximum!

If the recommendation is not a WP17, i need to factor in a Stubby Gas Lens in there as well.

If watercooling is out the question. a Decent Torch will have to suffice for a few months until i can afford to upgrade once again.

I weld 3mm aluminium 2-3 hours a day and Stainless 2-3 Hours a day

I know its a tall order, but you guys have a better idea of what i should be going for.

 

[Brad93]

Have you got a water cooler already? If so I've got a parweld here for sale like brand new.

 

[Richard.]

This was £100.
Silicon overbraided super flex hoses too.

 

[eSCHEn]

This was £100.
Silicon overbraided super flex hoses too.

Is that a four or eight metre one mate?

 

[Richard.]

4 buddy. It's a real gem and as far as price is concerned it cost bug##r all for fully flex hoses.

 

[Jim Davey]

The hoses are latex, and often don't last as long as the superflex silicone hoses but they are super slim, light and uber flexible.

 

[eSCHEn]

4 buddy. It's a real gem and as far as price is concerned it cost bug##r all for fully flex hoses.

Damn right. That's not bad at all. That Miller cooler's looking very lonely; must get it a torch!

Sorry for the hijack Giz

 

[Richard.]

Ah yeah. I forgot you took that Miller. That's a cracking cooler. Look what I sourced the other day
Jim spotted it on eBay and I made him an offer off £30 each for them

 

[Gizmo.Y]

I literally have £100 to replace it. I was looking at a WP17 head replacement for about £15 delivered. But i have £100 that i could spare to replace/ upgrade.

 

[Richard.]

I literally have £100 to replace it. I was looking at a WP17 head replacement for about £15 delivered. But i have £100 that i could spare to replace/ upgrade.

But if you don't have a cooler you can not replace it with water cooled

 

[Gizmo.Y]

I was just reading this thread.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...e-with-wp20-torch-and-diy-cooler.65542/page-3

Seems pretty cheap to build. I was looking for the thread above earlier before i made this post.

I only need the head looking at it. Do i just go for a WP17 head for now to keep me going and save/ build a cooler setup on the side over the coming months?

 

[Gizmo.Y]

would you recommend a WP26 over a WP17? They use the same consumables. but handle more power...

 

[Paul.]

Although most of my work is done with a flexy wp17, I have a wp26 aircooled for when I really want to push the welder hard and it works just fine, I have welded some pretty chunky castings with it at 200 amps, (which is the limit of my machine) without destroying it, they do get warm in your hand but that's welding for you.

Edit: its one of these,
https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/wel...andard-tig-torchwith-4-0m-cable/p/KEN8853240K

 

[Richard.]

A wp26 will cope with more current but god they are cumbersome things.
I've just shown you a wc torch for under £100 which seems of nice quality. I thought the lines were silicon as they are as flexible as my speedway but Jim says latex. Still it was half the price of a speedway and not a size I use often at all wp24 so I'm sure it will last me a long time.

 

[Richard.]

I was just reading this thread.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...e-with-wp20-torch-and-diy-cooler.65542/page-3

Seems pretty cheap to build. I was looking for the thread above earlier before i made this post.

I only need the head looking at it. Do i just go for a WP17 head for now to keep me going and save/ build a cooler setup on the side over the coming months?

They are only cheap to make if you can source a cheap pump that's up to the job.
Optima used a 12v pump. If you can power that through a transformer of some sort your laughing as those caravan pumps are dirt cheap and perfect pressure/flow rate for Tig torches.

 

[Jim Davey]

Ah yeah. I forgot you took that Miller. That's a cracking cooler. Look what I sourced the other day
Jim spotted it on eBay and I made him an offer off £30 each for them

Youll have to stop giving Chris a hard time for saying you can pick them up for £25 now Richard

 

[eSCHEn]

Ah yeah. I forgot you took that Miller. That's a cracking cooler. Look what I sourced the other day
Jim spotted it on eBay and I made him an offer off £30 each for them

Watch that mask doesn't fall down Mr Turpin

Nice one

 

[Richard.]

Youll have to stop giving Chris a hard time for saying you can pick them up for £25 now Richard

I did say "I stand corrected"
I hold my hands up to that one.

 

[Jim Davey]

Actually, don't stop lol

 

[Richard.]

Watch that mask doesn't fall down Mr Turpin

Nice one

I even took the other head only on there that hugh linked to. Offered the guy £4 for it.
Stripped it down today as I assumed it would be knackered. Not the case. All 4 graphite vanes look sound and the graphite outer ring looks to have minimal wear.
Truth will tell when they get a few gallons of water sent round them
I've got a good few spare procon vanes kicking about and have rebuilt plenty so risk is non existent for me on these. In the box of potential cash making things they go.