Welding Tips and Tricks

I have the flex loc 230 torch and when I pull the long back cap off, I do this more often then not, the oring seems to get damaged. It seems to hang up when I pull it off, so it keeps getting damaged. I tried taking the damaged one off of another cap I have, but it broke in half VERY easily when I tried to roll it off.

Is this a common issue with this torch and oring? It seems like a crappy design. Can I use a common oring, or do I have to buy that specific one? I am up the creek as we speak.

If you need to get it going any oring will do. The original may have a higher temp rating so might be worthwhile keeping some spares. I've been using a flexloc for a couple of years now and not changed any orings yet. You may have a burr on the thread or something cutting your oring.

Put a tiny dab of silicone grease on it.

I screwed a couple of o-rings up on torches. If you need a few quick. I have gotten them from usaweld.com, they are not on website but if you call they have them and ship fast. I keep a few extras in box in case I mess one of them up. I noticed since I went with wedge collets over split collets haven't messed up o-ring since. My personal thoughts on it are sometimes those split collets when they get hot the tungsten comes loose I would tighten the back cap and believe with the torch and o-ring being that hot it would stick a little and tear. plus as we all know the split collet is twisting when its hot at this time too.

exnailpounder wrote:Put a tiny dab of silicone grease on it.

Agreed. They're meant to be lubricated.

Silicone lube is the ideal. 99 cents as spark-plug boot grease at the auto parts house.

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:

exnailpounder wrote:Put a tiny dab of silicone grease on it.

Agreed. They're meant to be lubricated.

Silicone lube is the ideal. 99 cents as spark-plug boot grease at the auto parts house.

Steve S

Have you actually done this? I realize we are talking as small amount of grease, but even high temperature grease breaks down. Have you ever had or thought you had contamination from this? It is a great idea if it doesn't lead to contamination later.

Otto Nobedder wrote:

exnailpounder wrote:Put a tiny dab of silicone grease on it.

Agreed. They're meant to be lubricated.

Silicone lube is the ideal. 99 cents as spark-plug boot grease at the auto parts house.

Steve S

I do use the silicone

i use dialectic grease
any auto store
craig

Dirtmidget...I have used just a tiny dab of plumbers silicone grease on all my back cap o-rings...just the tip of a toothpick amount..and I have had my torch so hot the cup cracks off and the grease has never thinned out and run into the collet. I started doing it when I noticed my orings getting a little chewed up.
Of course now I NEVER dip my tungsten anymore so the cap never comes off

I also use the dielectric grease on the orings...just a little don't gob it on. No issues at all.

Well thanks for info. I got dielectric in stock in shop never thought about using it for this will give it a shot. It prolly could have saved a couple of orings from having an early death.

jeff
dipping my tungsten depends on how good
my eyes are on a given day...
some days i weld a lot some days i grind a lot.......lol
craig

Craig,,,its funny you say that because some days my eyes are better than others. Some days I'm not hung over and I never dip...I'm starting to notice a connection

If you have to replace the o-ring, it's probably best to go with a Viton one for the temp., but I've used regular ones and never had a problem. I use a flex-loc all the time and get it hot enough to melt the knob off it from the inside out and have never had an o-ring fail. I use only wedge collets though and seldom remove the back cap, only to put on a button cap for tight spots.

I've never put any grease on them, but I've always worked in a shop where a drawer of o-rings was commonplace. Can't see why it would hurt though.

Len

Brings like a little lube, learned this years ago rebuilding
motorcycle shocks. the hard why i might add.
craig

O rings not B rings....... auto spell
craig