YATC - yet another tig cooler

[HughF]

@HughF
1lpm is ok mate. Torch manufacturers specifically state 1-2lpm
If your getting a solid 1lpm and your happy the pump is reliable and will maintain that then I’d say you’ll get on just fine with it.

Ah, ok... interesting. I thought 2-3 was the required flow. I'll persevere with this one and run some tests. Could be that the parweld torch head is really restrictive and that is reducing flow.

 

[Hopefuldave]

Ah, ok... interesting. I thought 2-3 was the required flow. I'll persevere with this one and run some tests. Could be that the parweld torch head is really restrictive and that is reducing flow.

I got lots of brown sludge out of my torch when I back-flushed it, have suspicions that it may have been fed tap water, so at some point I'm going to try descaling it with diluted phosphoric acid - My cooler is based around a cheap Chinese (and very noisy) 12v dc pump and puts a litre and a half per minute through 25 foot hoses and a WP18, but needs 60-70 psi to do it! I also suspect the flow sensor in the return may be a bit too restrictive so I must get the circular tuit and open the connections a bit...

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[Munkul]

When the pump failed on my water cooler, I had an Eheim 1048 lying around spare from a PC cooling set, so whacked it in. 600lpm, 1.5m head, very very weedy, I know,

but it's done years of work on my 250amp set, including some pretty heavy alloy work around 200 amps for long periods. The torch (binzel wp18) NEVER gets hot. I mean, I always pull tungstens out with bare hands about 3 seconds after finishing a weld.
I know it's a big torch, and that probably goes a long way to making it work.... but still!

 

[HughF]

That's all interesting to know - I'll give this pump a go and see how hot the torch gets.

 

[Munkul]

I might be building a cooler myself soon depending on a few factors, it's certainly got me thinking. I'll want a WP9 torch, which from what you guys are saying, needs a beefy pump.

Tempted to try something like this, with a spare PSU:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk-tech-labs-18w-ddc-pump-12v-ddc-3.2-500lph-wc-17z-tl.html

Or probably more sensible, even if not as good quality:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CENTRAL-HE...ocphy=9046728&hvtargid=pla-423224578497&psc=1

In fact the more i think about it, the more I reckon the central heating pump is the way to go - the grundfos pumps are absolutely silent.

As far as rads are concerned, I think you get more for your money with a car radiator than a pc rad, these Febi units are cheap and will have excellent heat transfer:

https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/febi-...6OshCcrViAoblDka3AtX2JL9NVQqotXMaAi1uEALw_wcB

 

[Richard.]

That's all interesting to know - I'll give this pump a go and see how hot the torch gets.

Concentrate your efforts to getting the heat off the water and out the box as quickly as possible and you will be surprised at what you can get away with regarding flow rates and tank volume.
1lpm you’ve got nothing to worry about.

 

[Xup]

The 18w DDC pumps like the Lang d5 are no good, pressure to low to get the needed coolant through the head, I've tried them both.

This no good for you Hugh ?.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Procon-b...443541&hash=item2ac79c228c:g:pzoAAOSwtnFcdrF0

You can just set the pressure you need easily to get the flow rate needed.
I set mine to 50PSI gives me 1.5l min through the torch.

 

[Richard.]

This no good for you Hugh ?.

Simply the best set up for the job bar none.
Those series 1 pump heads are perfect for the job. I like the fact they put the filter in the series 1 pumps too. You can easily remove it and clean it in seconds
Great pumps.

 

[addjunkie]

I might be building a cooler myself soon depending on a few factors, it's certainly got me thinking. I'll want a WP9 torch, which from what you guys are saying, needs a beefy pump.

Tempted to try something like this, with a spare PSU:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk-tech-labs-18w-ddc-pump-12v-ddc-3.2-500lph-wc-17z-tl.html

Or probably more sensible, even if not as good quality:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CENTRAL-HE...ocphy=9046728&hvtargid=pla-423224578497&psc=1

In fact the more i think about it, the more I reckon the central heating pump is the way to go - the grundfos pumps are absolutely silent.

As far as rads are concerned, I think you get more for your money with a car radiator than a pc rad, these Febi units are cheap and will have excellent heat transfer:

https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/febi-...6OshCcrViAoblDka3AtX2JL9NVQqotXMaAi1uEALw_wcB

Suspect with a central heating pump stepping down from 22mm to 6mm dia then smaller at the torch, suspect you will struggle to get the flow.

 

[HughF]

The 18w DDC pumps like the Lang d5 are no good, pressure to low to get the needed coolant through the head, I've tried them both.

This no good for you Hugh ?.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Procon-b...443541&hash=item2ac79c228c:g:pzoAAOSwtnFcdrF0

You can just set the pressure you need easily to get the flow rate needed.
I set mine to 50PSI gives me 1.5l min through the torch.

The procon would indeed do a fine job, but I fancied something with a slimmer motor as I want to make a cooler thats close to OEM size for the fronius, so I can sit it underneath.

 

[HughF]

The Chinese booster pump delivers slightly better flow through a better torch, in this case a weldtec i-head wp20, running on generic Chinese super flex hoses. A little under a minute to pump a litre through, and that is with the hoses tightly coiled.

I have decided to make the chassis of the cooler the tank and make an open bottomed frame from 5x1-3/4 aluminium box section with the switch and rectus fittings on a front panel. I'll do a drawing later to show what I mean.

 

[HughF]

A couple of eBay parts arrived today. A nice 2l round aluminium air cylinder (£5 delivered, bit of a bargain) that will form the reservoir, and a standard cheapanese alloy filler neck.

I decided that suitable box section to make the frame the reservoir would have been too expensive and too heavy walled, so settled on making the main chassis from aluminium channel with the tank made from the above air cylinder.

 

[Xup]

Here is a small 12v one I made out of PC bits/alloy expansion tank, and cheap HK HP pump......but so much noise from the pump.
Sitting on top of my Tweco.

 

[HughF]

^^ Nice coolers - the tweco 900 was the standard offering on the Hitachi GP2 welding machines sold here in the UK.

 

[Richard.]

One of my absolute all time favourite coolers the old TC900. Such an industrial tool with the potential to be brilliant after a couple of little tweaks.
I rebuilt a scrapper some years back and modded it up then sold it on here I think.

 

[Richard.]

This was my last build earlier this year.
It’s now sitting under pipe dreamers tig welder

 

[addjunkie]

I have a tweco bought from guess who, that I need to machine a new Pressure control valve as the seats badly cut and a home made one, both quite noisey though, but not too bad.

 

[123hotchef]

View attachment 183469 View attachment 183470

I have a tweco bought from guess who, that I need to machine a new Pressure control valve as the seats badly cut and a home made one, both quite noisey though, but not too bad.

thats nice!

 

[123hotchef]

Here is a small 12v one I made out of PC bits/alloy expansion tank, and cheap HK HP pump......but so much noise from the pump.
Sitting on top of my Tweco.

@Xup what is the gauge for flow rate?

 

[Richard.]

that I need to machine a new Pressure control valve as the seats badly cut and a home made one,

What bit do you need. I May have spares.