Welding Tips and Tricks

When is a water-cooled torch used with TIG welding?

When you weld for long periods of time or long weld beads. You can increase the amperage rating of a torch because the water provides the cooling as opposed to the argon.

mobile1 wrote:When is a water-cooled torch used with TIG welding?

Welding aluminum requires more amps, plus AC heats up the torch more.

So once you start doing a lot of aluminum over 1/8" it's time for a water cooled torch.

I've ruined several torches and am now going water cooled.

Water cooled torches take advantage of the return flow of coolant to limit the temperature of the torch lead. Copper is heavy! A smaller wire does the job if kept cool. Water cooled torches are smaller, weigh less, and you may not need as heavy a glove. The down side is noise from the cooler.

For me always, I have an air cooled in the event the welder leaves the house so I don't have to take the cooler, but hate using it