David’s Story
David Anthony of Empty Tomb Choppers in San Diego started designing custom choppers in San Diego. At first he would buy pre-fabricated parts and contract out any custom work. Then he taught himself to gas weld, and soon after learned to TIG (GTAW) weld.
“I was looking for more control of the entire design process,” he said. David also got tired of burning his hands, “Especially when you’re doing a long run on a seam. I’d be in a hurry to finish before my torch got too hot.” He wanted to upgrade to a water-cooled TIG torch, but he didn’t know what he would need, and in fact, thought he might have to buy a new welding machine.
There are several models of water cooled TIG torches to choose from, available from a number of manufacturers. Arc-Zone.com carries Weldcraft® -- the industry standard when it comes to TIG
torches. What this means to you is that all the parts are engineered to fit and work together maximizing the efficiency of your TIG torch.
The WP-20 is the TIG torch we recommended for David. It’s small,
lightweight and easy to handle, but delivers 250 amps making it the most popular water cooled model on the market. And, to make it even easier, we recommended the Arc-Zone PRO package, a completely weld ready package-- everything from front end parts and back cap to cable cover and international DINSE style gas through connector installed.
David needed a way to direct cool water into the torch head, without buying a new welding machine. Specifically we recommended purchasing a closed loop water cooler that he could connect to the welding machine he already had.
here are other options like hooking up to your city water supply, or building your own water
cooler, but for someone like David, with customers waiting, building his own cooler wasn’t really
an option.
And while many fabricators connect to city water successfully for years, you’ll expose your torch’s cables and small internal passages to minerals and additives in the water which can clog and ultimately overheat your torch.
Using a closed loop water cooling system provides optimal cooling for your water-cooled TIG torch,
and lowers the risk of contaminants or particulates clogging your TIG torch.
For David, Arc-Zone recommended the TIG-er, a compact, rugged, two-gallon 10,000 BTU water
cooler constructed of stainless steel, and two gallons of Defense Ready-to-use coolant for water coolers. Automotive anti-freeze contains additives that can block the small water passages in your TIG torch.
To sweeten the deal, Arc-Zone included Joe Welder’s Guide to Setting Up and Optimizing Your Water Cooled TIG Torch, and offered to let David make payments. David was TIG welding with his new water cooled torch, and Cool Kit™ in no time.
Now David can hold his TIG torch comfortably with a steady hand, wearing just a thin deerskin glove. He’s not in a hurry to finish a seam any-more either.
“I can wait longer, let the puddle form and just push it along. And
he weld seams are so much nicer,” he said. And for a fabricator known for his stainless steel gas tanks, getting a nice seam, a seam impervious to gas vapors is critical.
David has also noticed a significant savings in his argon consumption. “When you actually stop a
weld, there’s a five to 10 second period when the gas is still going. If you’re stopping a lot [with
an air-cooled torch] you’re using a lot gas.” Whether you TIG weld for a living, or for a hobby, there are a lot of benefits to upgrading to the smaller, more efficient water-cooled TIG torch. You’ll enjoy improved control of your weld and increased arc time.
The consumables will last longer as well since the nozzle, tip and/or gas lens benefit from the
water cooling along with the torch body. And best of all your hands will benefit from the improved
cooling capacity as well. No more putting your TIG torch down to let it cool off just when you’re
“in the groove.”