City Pressure TIG torch cooler

[Fastest1]

Today I was looking at my welder and wanting to install a tig cooler. I thought about using a carbonator pump and motor. I even went as far to go to a beverage equipment dealer looking for a used combo. Then the proverbial light bulb in my head went off. I had a couple of hundred feet of 1/4" plastic tubing for an irrigation project in my back yard. I repurposed it along with a few quick connecting push in fittings and a valve. I then plugged it all up to the machine and it seems to function just fine. I installed a shut off valve right at the machine. It has a female garden hose to 1/4" compression fitting that accepts the 1/4" line. I use this same tubing as the dump line. I simply have it going into the backyard (actually into a gutter drain). Since it is 1/4" the flow wont be ridiculous and I can vary it at the wall or at the valve at the machine. Being that I am only a hobbyist and wont be welding for hours, I cant imagine over 20 gallons or so at a time if that. Maybe I will water the yard or plants with the discharge. The only negative I can think of are mineral deposits over time but even that will be minimal. Also the fact that I will be disconnecting and draining the lines, algae wont be an issue. Very inexpensive and clean.

[KHK]

Use Caution city water pressure can reach 60 psi. That kind of pressure could pop the cooling line while you are holding the torch, this could be fatal! I would recommend that you install a regulator on the incoming water line to the torch, this will bring the pressure down to about 7-10 psi. This would give you a better chance of surviving an accident.

[Fastest1]

Keith, thanks I will check it. I believe Houston pressure is in the 20-30lb range. However the water coolers for tig torches seem to run a procon pump, generally this pump outputs in the 120 psi or higher range. I see no provisions in their systems that reduces the pressure. Also between the valve at the wall and the valve at the machine I should be able to keep pressures very low while still keeping the heat down quite a bit.

---------- Post added at 09:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 PM ----------

Just went and checked, Houston pressure is supposed to be between 55-65 psi. I will have to cut it back a bit but also there is no restriction on the output.

[SICFabrications]

60 psi wont get enough water through the torch to make ANY difference... there is a reason why tig coolers run procon pumps.... just sayin

[KHK]

WOW times have changed... The water cooler that I had, had a small impeller pump in it. You could stop the impeller with your finger. It cooled the torch quite well. This was 30 years ago, I guess that I need to keep up to date. Thanks for the up date Stan.

[tigqk]

I quess it come down to whether you are welding enough to warrant a water cooled tig torch, if the present one is getting to hot to work with and warping collets then go the proper way and put something together in a nice package or buy a cooler off Simon, he has some good prices on his coolers with little worry about performance, and away you go.. personally I like to build my own stuff if I can but want if to look like it was done professionally when finished.Let us know how you are going and pics.

[SICFabrications]

I quess it come down to whether you are welding enough to warrant a water cooled tig torch,

i have been welding aluminum for going on 18 years and have yet to even hook up a water cooler.... i have 2 of em, sitting there and collecting dust.... both are miller 1a coolers.... make a offer and i might part with them...

[Fastest1]

You have a water cooler but have never used it? Do you not weld aluminum very often or for very long? My limited use when welding aluminum has shown me that the cable gets very hot (too hot for bare skin and very uncomfortable thru a thick shirt). The torch itself will continue to smoke for a few minutes after finishing a weld. I personally believe that with the 60 psi city pressure plenty of heat will be dissipated. I will test the results later today. I am thinking that the 1/4" line will flow at least a 1/2 gal a minute and that should carry away some heat. I will let you know the flow rate wide open, incoming water temp, outgoing water temp and cable temp before welding and say cable temp after 3 minutes of solid welding. I will do both of these tests with and without water cooling and see the difference for myself.

[KHK]

Yes this will be good information! Please keep us updated..

[SICFabrications]

You have a water cooler but have never used it? Do you not weld aluminum very often or for very long?

ha! i do nuclear spec'd aluminum and ALOT of it around here.... guess what? water coolers and water cooled torches ARE NOT ALLOWED... check out some of my vids, especially one called aluminum fuel tank repair, i wear heavyweight gloves while tig'in and just melt metal.... you'll get used to the heat.... just sayin