Welder circuit

[Rick_L]

Your welder, or mine, is probably at the amperage limit where you could get away without one. If you're welding thick stuff very often, you probably want one. I don't, but never say never. The biggest downside is that it's just more hoses that are attached to the torch lead (weight and awkwardness), plus it's just another thing to maintain and keep working correctly.

[chevynut]

Rick, my son welds on the frames we build for sometimes hours at a time. The torch gets very hot. I didn't think it was a big deal until I welded up some of my seat mounts and found out what he was saying. It's not so much the thickness of the metal, it's how long you're welding. It gets hot even on relatively low current....not at the max output anyhow.

[NickP]

http://welding-tv.com/the-tig-finger-heat-shield/

Get him one of these - solves the issue and a lot less expensive than a new rig.

[chevynut]

Nick, it looks like that's to keep from burning yourself on the hot workpiece. The torch itself is getting hot. It burns the index finger, even with gloves on. Plus, doesn't the tungsten burn away easier if it gets too hot? I thought that was part of the reason to get a cooled torch.

I wouldn't get a whole new rig unless I wanted to upgrade. The cooling unit and torch are about $800 for my 180SD. Do you have cooling on your TIG?

[Rick_L]

Cnut, I think your comments on the torch are correct. Temperature on the outside of the torch is a time and temperature thing. And you're right about the effect on the tungsten too.