What are you guys using?

I was at the local HOLOX dealer this morning and I was recommended to run a straight 180 #9 tig torch with a 12 cup size. I was thinking about purchasing this for those really tight area's and I was wondering what you guys out there with experience are using. Also.... what type of amperage are you guys hitting the collectors with? I plan on using the same old SS schedule 40 piping.

 

well i use just a normal db17 with gas lense , and the shortest back cap i could find, that torch would probly make it easyer , but if you weld things in the right order it will work out just fine with a normal torch,

 

I am using a 17 tig torch right now. I've had a whole assload of cups that came with my miller tig but I never really got around to actually experimenting with the new ones. Here are some of the cups that I am going to give a try...





#9 cup. Pretty damn small (.38") I am still not sure if i should get the 180 #9 torch or not to use with this cup... it would definetely come in handy with all of the oil return bungs I weld to the oil pans. If you guys think the 17 is all I need then i'll stick with it... but I don't mind spending a little bit extra so I can get into really tight places.





17 tig torch #4 cap (.45"). A lot better than the .565" I was using prior.



Long backcaps with the shortest one they had. The short cap I've needed for a long time now.

 

newb question : What is the purpose of the backcap?

 

i have the small back cap like the one at the bottom, and if you use a gas lenz you can pull the tungsten out further than you can with the normal cups here is a pic of my troch ,

 

Those cups are BIG. You should look in to getting a water cooled torch if you want to get in to tight places.

 

i just switched to one , so we will see how it helps out

 

Here are my two work horses and my new gas lens

 

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i love this torch for tight places... the pic really doesnt do it justice for how small it is... the only problem is sharpening the tungsten... its just a pain in the *** sometimes because it so small...

i personally have a water cooled torch with a flex neck and about 9 interchangeable heads for it...

-9 series (pencil, 70 and 90 degree)
-24 series (70 and 90 degree)
-26 series (pencil and 70 degree)

i havent come across anything i couldnt do with at least one of the heads yet

 

i tried the small one today , lol i had a time with it on alumi piping , am starting to turbo my r1

i couldnt keep it lit and i put the bigger one on and it worked good

BTW: what kinda setting do u use on your miller thats what i have , what u use on alum and steel

 

Amps you mean? Typically I use around a 90-100 for regular mild/SS piping and around 120-130 for aluminum brackets and what not.

 

Here's the one I use to get in to tight places. I need to find a shorter cup to make it even smaller.

 

You guys need to learn to sharpen tungsten better.... The only one I see with a nice point to it is the one that looks like 1/16" tungsten.

A general rule: The taper should extend back 2-2.5 times the diameter. That will give you the proper angle. This will help your welding a lot.

B18C1CYA: I know we talked about the tungsten in another thread, and I can see the tip if I look closely. You need to grind it back more also. By having a more blunt tip, it greatly diminishes the focusing affect of the point. In other words, your arc will not focus as precisely as it will with a nice point on it.

Myself, I prefer gas lenses in all areas possible. I have a WP17 right now, but will be getting a WP20 sometime.

 

Can you enlighten us as to why you like to use a gas lens when ever you can?

 

im just copying and pasting...

A gas lens collet body provides a number of benefits for all but the most basic of applications. The primary benefit is improved shield gas coverage. This is achieved by flowing the shield gas past a series of concentric, layered screens of varying mesh. These screens generate a laminar gas flow which optimizes the weld zone coverage and eliminates the turbulence created by a standard collet body which can draw in contaminants from the surrounding air. A gas lens collet body is almost mandatory for TIG welding oxidizing materials such as aluminum.

A secondary benefit of this improved shield gas coverage is that the tungsten electrode can be extended beyond the end of the gas cup by as much as 1 inch (2.54 cm). This electrode extension greatly improves welder visibility and can reduce tungsten inclusions and weld defects.

 

Where do you get a little tiny torch like that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Overblown-Teg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Where do you get a little tiny torch like that? </TD></TR></TABLE>

welding supply stores

 

thanks,

 

You can see them here
http://www.esabna.com/ESAB/sho...D=165