Hey guys,

To avoid derailing Agtronic's thread, we got talking about DIY water coolers..

Can we please have some examples/part lists

I was about to drop $1300 NZD on a Miller Coolermate 3, But if I can DIY it, i'd be much happier, I can add a radiator to the system with no issues (I make automotive radiators)

Thanks,
Scott

 

heres an example
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...read.php?t=804

looks pretty simple and cheap to make one

 

It's very easy to make one....Look on ebay for a McCann Big Mac soda carbonator. It has the tank and motor and pump that you need, you just have to switch around some hoses and modify the stainless tank. Add in a heat exchanger and fan and fittings for the torch and you're done.

 

The original miller coolers where nothing more then a tank with a pump to circulate the water. They held about 10 gallons. You could easily use a 5 gal bucket and get a shurflo pump or similar and just circulate it. Unless your going to do 150amp+ welding all day long you don't need anything fancy. The small lines in the torch don't allow for allot of flow. The miller syncro 300 I had used a small gear pump (brass housing).

 

im just using an old bernard cooler, they are pretty cheap to pick up. the cost of a new watercooler torch is a bit more though. i think my torch was like 350.00 or something.

http://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=136

same cooler i have, you can usually find these for like 2-300 used

 

Hey guys,
Sorry I didnt respond sooner. I dont frequent this board much. I thought I had some pics, but of course I dont. Ill take some tomorrow. Youll need a motor for the pump also, which I forgot when I added up the costs last time. As mentioned Procon carbonator pumps is whats used in all of the big name TIG coolers. I bought mine for $60, was rebuilt and they set the pressure for me(you want them around 40psi if I remember correctly). Then its a matter of fabbing a tank, which I made out of aluminum and bolts to the top of my welder, and then buying water cooled torch and the adapter for your specific machine from the manufacturer. I can get the Miller part number if needed. Its a super simple setup, and I probably went a little overkill with mine but oh well.
Ill try to get some pics tomorrow.

Kyle

 

If you buy the whole carbonator you can usually get a better deal, since it comes with the procon and the motor. The tank is just a bonus! I work for a very prominent soda company so if you need any fittings or parts for the procons or motors I can probably get them dirt cheap.

 

sounds like you can get a decent budget TIG welder with the stick welder conversion + this. haha

 

I'm a bit late here but a few more things to mention are that the Procon pump to use is the series 1 because its the only model that has a built in cleanable strainer.

the max water pressure for most torches is 50psi and minimum water flow is 1qt/min so check the pumps operating pressure before buying or have the pump serviced for a lower pressure spring.

also don't use a heater core from a car use a stronger tube core, freezers have some pretty big condensers so check eBay.

some examples below.

 

Why are they using such a large pump size? Unless there is a substantial amount of tubing I'm not seeing, or they need to maintain very high pressure, a smaller unit from shur-flo or flojet would flow the same amount for probably 25% of the price. I use larger metal gear pumps for 800 foot runs at 60 psi with about 1-1.4 gpm flow, and a plastic unit would have the same flow rate up till 400-500 feet, just at a lower pressure.


Edit: Never mind, read the carbonator's pressure.

 

Rotary: Thanks alot of those pictures, gave me alot of insight.. I also make oil cooler cores, so I'll use one of those.. Radiator cores are only designed for 0-20psi MAX, the oil cooler cores we do are good for 180psi.

I wonder what luck i'll have at getting a soda stream machine here in NZ..

 

Will a civic ac condensor also work? I plan on building one of these and I have an ac condensor with the fan at home. Thanks

Adriano

 

An A/C condensor will handle the pressure, yes, but it is a bit large. The A/C condensors we pressure test/weld/repair at work (Automotive radiator/a/c shop) are tested to 180psi..

 

Hey all,
Sorry it took so long, and to those who PM'd me, heres the answers to your questions. Youll need the following:
*Reservoir to hold coolant(easily fabbed with some aluminum)
*Water Cooled TIG torch
*Procon Pump (used in soda carbonator machines...search ebay)
*Motor for Pump(be sure its specifically for a carbonator pump...they have a funky shaft)
*Adapter Fitting to go into the front of your machine(contact local welding shop)
*Misc Fittings and Hoses to Connect everything

Its really a super simple deal once you have everything. Everythinig is clearly labeled. Dont worry about any sort of heat(radiator, heater core, etc.). Just make your reservoir big enough to hold enough coolant that wont get hot. Mine holes about 4 gallons which is way more than enough. DONT USE WATER!!! Water will cause calcium build up in your torch, and it doesnt take much to clog up the little tiny passages. Get actual coolant from your welding supply shop.
Heres pics of mine:

 

Whats the part number to that adapter fitting you are using for your welder? I have the same welderalso

 

Q5WGT http://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma...products_id=47

 

why not just use an electric pump? why does it have to be a carbonator pump?

 

question,

how cold can the water/coolant be to run through the torch ? will it matter it the coolant is lower then 60 deg f ? i was thinking about using a fridge to keep mine cool.

 

You guys are putting way too much into this concept. You dont need to cool the coolant. It wont freeze, so it will always flow. Whether its 0 outside or 110 outside...make your reservoir fairly good size and you wont have any worries! No need for fans, coolers, radiators, etc.

Kyle

 

Thats a beautiful resovior blueoval557


is a water cooled torch heavier than a regular torch?

 

Not at all, my water c ooled torch on my miller is tiny, so nice and easy to hold

 

Nice setups. That pump on the motor who makes that?

Also anyone have pics of a lincoin water cooled torch head?

 

The water cooled torches are superior to air cooled torches in every way. They are half the size, half the weight, and 100 times more flexible! The pump itself is made by Procon. As mentioned, scour eBay searching "ProCon Pump" or "carbonator pump".

Kyle

 

Cool thanks guys. I noticed after building some intercoolers on a hot day **** my hand was almost melting.

 

Here are a few pictures of the cooler I made recently. I bought the pump, motor, and tank on ebay for $200. Which was more then I wanted to spend but it saved me from fabing a tank and it was in almost new condition. I also kept getting outbid on all of the cheap motors and pumps. I welded for 25 minutes on 200 amps and saw the water temperature rise only 4 degrees.