Upgrading to a gas lens

NYWELDERJim · Sun Feb 24, 2013 1:55 am

Hello folks,

I am thinking of upgrading my model 17 air cooled torch to a gas lens. I have been using my air cooled torch with the short alumina cups. Most of my welding is done to join mild steel, aluminum (once I develop the right skills) and rarely stainless steel. I know the gas lens will improve the gas coverage of the weld and should help reduce gas consumption by allowing a reduction in gas flow.

Is it worth it to change to a gas lens setup?

Any advantage or situations where a gas lens setup is not preferred?

Thanks!!!

Jim

noddybrian · Sun Feb 24, 2013 10:14 am

Hi - I think it's largely personal preference based on what you weld - my latest tig came with a very flexible WP17 air cooled torch & funds were tight so I kept it - due to difficult shape joints on small tube I got a gas lense - I would have liked a short one ,but never found them available in the UK - since using it I found generally you can drop 25% flow of gas compared with a standard cup & the ability to use a long stick out makes it worthwhile - I seldom remove the gas lense as with this 1cup & 2.4mm tungsten nearly any job is possible without changing setup so was a good investment - however - if funds permitted I would park the air cooled 17 - keep it for odd jobs or going out on site & get a water cooled WP20 - including gas lense - having used both at a shop I would save your money & change to water cooled - even a cheap Ebay torch & cool it from tap water running to waste - I think you'll be better off long term - till I tried one I just thought Jody had a fetish for them - but as usual he's right !

TamJeff · Sun Feb 24, 2013 11:32 pm

If you can afford it, go for it. But, if you are new to TIG welding I think it better to learn without it, with tungsten exposure closer to the cup, especially with aluminum. I have used both and it really is of no benefit to my work. I find it better to use a more compact setup, and then customize accordingly as needed.

taylorkh · Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:43 am

I purchased some gas lens parts for my WP17s a couple of years ago. I have not looked back. I purchase most of my consumables from weldingcity.com. The gas lens parts you need will not set you back very much. Go with the medium gas lens as the large gas lens is really LARGE. I can also recommend their WP17 and WP9 flex neck torches. For $10 they are hard to beat.

On the other hand if you want to go with the stubby gas lens for the WP17... It seems to be available only from Weldcraft at the moment and will set you back a little more. At least until weldingcity gets some in stock

Ken

p.s. Look here http://www.weldcraft.com/parts-accessories/ for the part numbers of the bits you will need.

Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:37 pm

The biggest benefit I found for a gas lens was when welding outside, where I had limited ability to control the draft near my weld. It was a big help with gas coverage.

I prefer a gas lens now, but simply because I'm used to it, and it affords me more stick-out for difficult to reach welds, including coverage for the "bent tungsten" trick.

If I pick up a torch a co-worker has already set up with a standard collet-body, I won't change it unless there's a particular need.

Steve S

NYWELDERJim · Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:09 pm

Thanks for all the replies and the excellent information.

Jim

WerkSpace · Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:51 am

My local supplier wanted a small fortune for TIG parts,
so, I bought my gas lens parts from http://www.weldingcity.com via eBay.
I bought a few medium gas lens parts, but mostly the largest ones available.
For $80 I bought lots of fun stuff to experiment with, mostly as a hobbyist.

hey_allen · Tue May 19, 2015 1:41 pm

After watching Jody's videos and doing a bunch of reading here, I bought a selection of gas lens bits from a LWS, and they were within spitting distance of the prices of normal pieces and all CK brand.

I'm not sure how well this shop deals with shipping out of the area, and their website is more of a contact page with a few specials, but their prices were excellent when I have needed anything from them.

If anyone is in Lakewood, WA or nearby, check them out. Otherwise, you might give a call if you have the time to inquire/order over the phone. http://www.rainierweldingsupplies.com/index2.html

No relation other than being happy with getting the gas lenses (and my CK20-25SF, etc...

) at good prices through this LWS.

edit: Ack, just noticed that this was an old post that I found while browsing and thought it was a new one...
Sorry for the resurrection!

pgk · Tue May 19, 2015 5:01 pm

Ok Steve,
You sparked my interest! What in Gods name is the bent tungsten trick? lol As brittle has tungsten is I can't imagine you could bend it with out breaking it???

Pete

Otto Nobedder wrote:The biggest benefit I found for a gas lens was when welding outside, where I had limited ability to control the draft near my weld. It was a big help with gas coverage.

I prefer a gas lens now, but simply because I'm used to it, and it affords me more stick-out for difficult to reach welds, including coverage for the "bent tungsten" trick.

If I pick up a torch a co-worker has already set up with a standard collet-body, I won't change it unless there's a particular need.

Steve S

Bill Beauregard · Tue May 19, 2015 5:56 pm

Jody uses a gas lens because it works. Zapster in Welding Web does not for the same reason. Jody is a highly educated brilliant man who dumbs it down so the rest of us don't get bored. Zap does not because his level of skill can produce the desired results without the bells and whistles. Zapster produces flawless welds in aluminum and everything else using equipment bought from Ben Franklyn's estate auction, cause he can. Jody uses all the technology available cause he likes the cutting edge of technology. A gas lens is the aerator on your kitchen sink faucet. It reduces the turbulence in the shielding gas, reducing the tendency to suck in air, and reducing its urge to blow away. At the beginning of learning, it's one more variable. When you try to figure out what's wrong, you might not have Jody or Zapster looking over your shoulder saying; "You've got gunk in your screen" Most expert teachers want you to build skills before adding gadgets.

Am I a beginner? As I tell my friend who started skiing 20 years ago; If you started 20 years ago you aren't a novice, you're just not very good.

I haven't welded TIG all my life, but the beginner excuse is getting weak.

exnailpounder · Tue May 19, 2015 6:10 pm

Heat up your tungsten red hot with a propane torch and bend it with pliers. That would be a rare thing to have to do but I have seen fitters do it.

Wobulate · Tue May 19, 2015 7:53 pm

Otto

Otto Nobedder wrote:The biggest benefit I found for a gas lens was when welding outside, where I had limited ability to control the draft near my weld. It was a big help with gas coverage.

I prefer a gas lens now, but simply because I'm used to it, and it affords me more stick-out for difficult to reach welds, including coverage for the "bent tungsten" trick.

If I pick up a torch a co-worker has already set up with a standard collet-body, I won't change it unless there's a particular need.

Steve S

,

Ok, I'll bite, what is the bent tungsten trick?

I'm thinking bending the tungsten using heat, to get into tight areas like a tubing cluster joint.

Wobulate

LtBadd · Tue May 19, 2015 8:26 pm

exnailpounder wrote:Heat up your tungsten red hot with a propane torch and bend it with pliers. That would be a rare thing to have to do but I have seen fitters do it.

Sometimes nothing else will get the job done!

pgk · Wed May 20, 2015 1:07 pm

Thanks

exnailpounder wrote:Heat up your tungsten red hot with a propane torch and bend it with pliers. That would be a rare thing to have to do but I have seen fitters do it.

Wed May 20, 2015 7:28 pm

Yep.

Depending on the size of your cup (particularly with a large cup on a gas lens), you can sharpen your tungsten and then bend it 15-20* to get your arc where you need it.

Steve S

Rick_H · Thu May 21, 2015 8:50 am

Jody sells a nice CK stubby gas lens kit as does HTP for the 17 torch....

Just go to the store on this site http://weldmongerstore.com/collections/ ... s-lens-kit or http://www.usaweld.com/Stubby-Gas-Lens- ... 1stglc.htm

geo · Thu May 21, 2015 1:04 pm

Otto Nobedder wrote:Yep.

Depending on the size of your cup (particularly with a large cup on a gas lens), you can sharpen your tungsten and then bend it 15-20* to get your arc where you need it.

Steve S

I could have used that trick when I built a t-slot table out of angle iron for my drill press. How hot? Tightest radius (meaning can you get to 90)?

About my venture into gas lens. The Chinese stuff (Ebay, Everlast) is not worth the aggravation of loose collets.CK is better but,,,,. Miller consumables have kept their standard high.

Thu May 21, 2015 7:42 pm

geo wrote:
Otto Nobedder wrote:Yep.

Depending on the size of your cup (particularly with a large cup on a gas lens), you can sharpen your tungsten and then bend it 15-20* to get your arc where you need it.

Steve S
I could have used that trick when I built a t-slot table out of angle iron for my drill press. How hot? Tightest radius (meaning can you get to 90)?

About my venture into gas lens. The Chinese stuff (Ebay, Everlast) is not worth the aggravation of loose collets.CK is better but,,,,. Miller consumables have kept their standard high.

You won't get 90*. The argon flow will re-direct your arc. 45* can be done with fair reliability on short stick-outs, tight quarters, and low flows.

Steve S