Tig Welding Intercoolers

[madman]

TORKER tips on intercooler tig welding? I would appreciate any help with my new (well used) miller mini tig 150 amp machine thanx Mike

[torker]

Mike..does that have a water pumper torch on it?

[macona]

Your welding intercoolers? As on a diesel engine?

Arnt most of those aluminum?

Or are you looking for a water cooler for a tig machine.

[torker]

Umm...I was thinking...that machine doesn't really have enough power to warrant a water cooler???
I run air torches and run 3/32 electrodes up to 175 amps continuous on Alu.
That's really pushing it tho...you gotta watch that you don't shake the ball off.
Russ

[madman]

Sorry i dont need to do that anymore IM MARRIED LOL for 20 plus Years. I dont shake em much and when I do SHE HIDES> Anyhow i have a 150 econo tig? Maybe i should of bought bifgger but Money?? Im already suffering a swe have snow and i dont have a running sled haven sold my 2 440 ss yammahas tio but a tig welder and lincold 25 plasma cutter Light weight stuff butZ?? maybe late r when moneys pouring in ??? Yeah right anyhow Ball falling off what do you mean russ >tahnx Mike

[jcarter]

I have a Lincoln Square Wave 175 that came with an air cooled torch. I got tired of burning my hand during longer welds particularly on AC. I bought a water cooled torch and a carbonator pump and motor off Ebay and I am in the process off building a tig cooler.It really depends on how much welding you plan on doing and what current settings you will typically be using. The air cooled torch may do everything you need it to do.

[macona]

Cant see spending much on an old econotig. Use one of the air cooled torches and you should be fine.

jcarter, make sure you put a pressure gauge on the output of the pump and back out the pressure relief thats under the acorn nut by the inlet of the pump. Carbonators are set around 100-110 PSI which is about double what you want for a tig torch. You want to see 40 to 60 on a tig cooler.

[torker]

I have a Lincoln Square Wave 175 that came with an air cooled torch. I got tired of burning my hand during longer welds particularly on AC. I bought a water cooled torch and a carbonator pump and motor off Ebay and I am in the process off building a tig cooler.It really depends on how much welding you plan on doing and what current settings you will typically be using. The air cooled torch may do everything you need it to do.
The duty cycle on them Econotigs is pretty weak...he won't be getting the torch very hot.
Mike...once you get tigging alu with a too small electrode...you'll see what I mean about the ball falling off :D
Those aren't great on alu but you'll do a lot of carbon with them.
BTW...I had a Procut25 for about 5 years. I sold it after I bought my Hypertherm. I'm still kickin my butt. I should have kept it. Run it on 220V and it'll suprise you. I cut tons of stuff with mine...literally....old cars, trucks, a huge SS washer extractor out of a motel...not to mention all the regular shop stuff it cut.

[gnm109]

I built a homemade cooler about 10 years ago. I built a 15 gallon SS tank (12 X 12 X 24") but I only run about half full of coolant. Just last year I replaced the motor and pump with new items and changed to a Procon and matching motor. It's on a Miller Syncrowave 200. It never so much as gets warm. There's no radiator, either. With 7 gallons of water you don't need one.

[Phil McCrackin]

A friend of mine hooked his water cooler up to his houses water supply and ran the output to the sump in his basement. It was cheap to do, and he never has to worry about the pump cutting out, changing coolant,..... and it keeps it very cool. He has been using it like that for years with no problems

I don't know where you are located, but water here in Michigan is CHEAP. I filled my entire swimming pool (35,000 gallons) for $86.00. So by running a tig torch, it would probably take years to use that much water, so $86 over the course of 3-5 years is very reasonable IMO.

The drawback is, that it is not portable, but I don't know if that's an issue with you.

[madman]

I meant the intercoolers on the bottom of snowmobiles (under the tracks) Like repairing them fior money> torke gave me this idea, he is too NBlame sorry Russ, I been busy with new shop and some crap jobs im currently working on,. <MIKE

[jcarter]

Those are called heat exchangers. I've welded several of them. Flush them well with clean water- the antifreeze will cause weld problems. After flushing with water I run acetone through them and let them dry. I have had best luck with 5356 filler.

[JRouche]

Darn, I thought you were talking about the torch coolers. I built one also. SS tank, 10x10x24" A grundig mag pump and a car heater core with fan. Only thing I dont like is the weight of the hose now. I have to drape it over my shoulder to be able to control the torch. Yeah, yeah, weak wristed LOL Whats funny is I havent opened the tank up in 13 years since I built it, kinda afraid too :) Its full of miller coolant. It is sealed ok, but if it was getting funky I would be able to smell it, nuthin so far. Gonna have to take a peek on the next bottle change just outta curiosity. JR Oh, and it works great. When I crank the current up to 250 amps and stop the cup is glowing, the entire thing. The tungsten is cool by the time the post gas flow stops, 3 secs.