As a rule, I hate a big TIG torch.
Which is kind of weird, since I learned to tig weld with a 17 air-cooled torch… I never even touched a small tig torch for the first 13 years of my welding career.
In pipe welding, the air-cooled 17 was the norm, so I was fine with it.
Usually it was scratch start, too.
… Then I got spoiled.
I started working as a welder for a commercial airline overhaul center – where for aircraft welding, everything is smaller.
Tig torches were smaller, smaller electrodes, smaller filler wire, and smaller welds, too.
You get the picture?
In the pipe welding industry, a 1/16″ filler rod was only used to tack weld consumable inserts to pipe joints and was too small for anything else.
But for welding aircraft parts, a 1/16″ filler rod is considered pretty big.
.023″ and .030″ diameter filler rods are very common.
So after using a small water-cooled #20 tig torch and learning that it will handle 250 amps, I got spoiled to a small tig torch.
But out there in the “real world” welders are still using the air-cooled 17 and 26 big tig torch. I realize that, so I have a tip that you may not know about…
Here is today’s tip.
The 17h Stubby Gas Lens Kit
I ordered a stubby gas lens kit recently from TigDepot.com.
The reason I bought one is because I have a few big tig torches that I don’t like… and the stubby kit will make them work better for me.
Air-cooled tig torches are simple. I like that. And I also like not hearing the pump and fan on a tig cooler run.
A wp 9 tig torch is a small air-cooled torch that is only rated at around 125 amps. So if I need to weld some thick aluminum at 175 amps, that wp9 is going to get really hot.
That is were the stubby gas lens kit is handy.
It lets you use a bigger higher amperage big torch, while reducing the overall size of the tig torch.
( And as always, feel free to visit us at our sister site, WeldingTipsAndTricks.com. )
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May 9, 2012 at 5:23 PM
Thank you for the great explanation in all your videos. I am allready 58 years old and and live in Holland (The Netherlands) never had lessons in welding, but now i can make repairs after seen these examples.
(Sorry for the bad englisch, but i hope i am clear enough.)
I will say keep going in the further future, and wish you all a great deal off luck.
March 27, 2012 at 1:22 AM
Hi jody all the videos are excellent and very helpful.
what would your suggestion be for a home or shop tig welding machine. Im a tube welder boilermaker
But i need to brush up on my root pass skills. The output i need is for duel schedule 80 or heavywall.
I know i need a 220 machine jusrt to get started. do you know anybody selling a machine?
I do use a tig finger i bought online excellent tool
Thk u boilermakers get the job done right the first time….
March 22, 2012 at 9:46 PM
Good information, I am passing your video’s on to my grandsons who are interested in welding and since I retired last summer, every time they come down we get the mig out and spend a few hours welding. I want them to have all the information they need to pick a good career for themselfs. They both like welding and I enjoy sharing your videos and my skill with them.
Keep up the good work.