Fronius TTW4000 TIG Torches FAQs
Answers to common questions about heavy-duty water-cooled manual TIG torches, including flexible-neck, extraction and long hose-pack versions.
When is a water-cooled TIG torch a better choice than an air-cooled one?
A water-cooled torch carries coolant through the torch head and power cable, which carries heat away. That generally lets a torch of a given size run at higher currents, or for longer continuous periods, than an air-cooled torch of similar size. Air-cooled torches are usually chosen for lighter or intermittent work where a cooling unit is not wanted.
The trade-off is a compatible cooling unit, extra hoses and a little more routine care. Compare the current rating and duty cycle on the torch data plate with the work you actually do, because ratings differ between makers and between AC and DC.
What coolant should I use in a water-cooled TIG torch?
Use only what the torch and cooling unit manuals allow. Some makers accept distilled or deionised water or a dedicated low-conductivity TIG coolant, and say that other coolants can damage the pump and radiator and may void cover.
Tap water is usually best avoided because minerals can scale up and block the narrow passages in the torch. Automotive antifreeze is generally not designed for TIG cooling systems, so do not assume it is suitable. Mix and change coolant exactly as the manufacturer says, and keep used coolant out of drains.
How does a torch with built-in fume extraction work, and is it enough on its own?
An extraction torch draws fume away at the arc through openings in the torch itself, so the capture point moves with the welder. The HSE lists on-torch extraction as a type of local exhaust ventilation, and says modern high-efficiency welding guns with built-in extraction can give strong control of fume, although its example is MIG welding.
How well it works on TIG depends on technique, torch angle and draughts across the work, so it is not safe to assume it is enough on its own. All welding fume can cause lung cancer, so decide what is needed through your COSHH risk assessment, which may include other local exhaust, room air filtration or respiratory protective equipment.
Do I still need to test the extraction and wear respiratory protection with an extraction torch?
Fume extraction used to control exposure is local exhaust ventilation under COSHH, so it needs to be kept in working order and thoroughly examined and tested at regular intervals, with records kept. Ask a competent person how this applies to your set-up.
If extraction cannot adequately control exposure, or when working outdoors where it cannot be relied on to capture fume, the HSE says suitable respiratory protective equipment is needed. Particulate filters do not protect against welding gases, so the right type depends on your risk assessment.