Fronius TTG2200 TIG Torches FAQs
Answers on choosing and using a higher-rated gas-cooled manual TIG torch for heavier, longer TIG welding.
When should I move up to a higher-rated gas-cooled TIG torch?
Step up when your normal welding current, or the time you spend with the arc on, is close to the limit of your current torch. A torch run above its rating heats up faster and its usable duty cycle drops, which means more stops to let it cool and faster wear on the consumables.
A higher-rated torch gives more margin for thicker material and longer welds. Compare the DC and AC ratings and the duty cycle on the data plate with your usual settings, and leave headroom rather than working at the limit. Our team can help you choose if you are unsure.
At what point is a water-cooled torch the better choice?
For heavy, sustained work at high current, a water-cooled torch is usually the better option. Its cable is lighter and more flexible, and its consumables tend to last longer, but it needs a cooler unit and coolant, so setup and upkeep are more involved.
A gas-cooled torch is simpler to set up and move, and can be a good fit when welding is intermittent. If you find the handle getting uncomfortably hot, or you are regularly waiting for a torch to cool during long welds, it is worth looking at a water-cooled option. The maker's duty cycle figures are the place to start.
Why is the cable on a higher-rated gas-cooled torch heavier, and does it matter?
A gas-cooled torch has no cooling water to carry heat away, so the cable needs more copper to carry the current. That makes it heavier and stiffer than a water-cooled cable, and the torch itself can be heavier in the hand.
Over a long session this can increase operator fatigue. Support the cable where you can, avoid tight loops and kinks, and avoid letting it hang from the torch. If heavy handling is a problem for the work you do, a lighter water-cooled torch may suit better. Check weights and lengths in the maker's data.
How can I tell my torch is overheating, and what should I do?
Typical signs are a handle or cable that gets too hot to hold comfortably, discoloured or soft collets that no longer grip the tungsten, and collet body threads that seize. Running above the torch's rating is a common cause, as is cutting the post-flow gas short while the head is still very hot.
Stop welding and let the torch cool, then check the settings against the rating and duty cycle. Do not carry on at the limit. Check the collet and other consumables for heat damage and replace any that are discoloured or distorted. Follow the manual for your torch.