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Answers to common questions about choosing and setting up a complete water-cooled TIG torch package.
A water-cooled torch needs a cooler unit that circulates treated coolant through the torch head and back along the power cable, so check that your welder has one built in or that you have a separate cooler. You also need a shielding gas supply with a regulator or flowmeter, and tungsten electrodes of a suitable type and size.Check that the torch connections match your welder's torch, gas and water outlets, and use adapters only where the maker's instructions allow. Your machine manual and the torch data sheet will list the connection types.
A specially treated coolant is recommended instead of tap water, which can cause algae growth or scale (mineral build-up) in the hoses and torch head. Deposits restrict flow, and a torch that is not cooled properly can overheat.Use the type of coolant the cooler maker recommends, keep the level topped up, and clean any filter as instructed. Never run the torch for welding without coolant circulating.
Compare the torch's rated current and duty cycle with the maximum current you will set and how long you weld without a break. Duty cycle is the share of a 10-minute period a torch can run at a given output, and running above the rating can overheat the handle and cable quickly.Makers often give separate DC and AC ratings, and the AC figure is usually lower, so check the one for the current type you use. Read the rating basis on the data sheet and label rather than relying on a single headline figure.
Cooling lets the head and front-end parts such as the collet body and cup run cooler, so consumables typically last longer than on torches that rely on air alone. That means fewer changeovers during a long job.Consumables still wear. Worn collets, damaged O-rings and cracked cups should be replaced, and tungsten should be matched to the collet size. If you change the tungsten or cup, switch off the welder first.
Switch off the power source before changing the tungsten or gas cup. Many TIG welders use a high-frequency start, which is a short pulse of very high voltage, and the maker guidance is that the welder must never become part of the electrical circuit.Wear dry, undamaged welding gloves, wear insulating footwear, and do not repair a torch with insulating tape. If insulation is damaged, replace the part. Follow the welder maker's manual and your own risk assessment.
Welding torches are covered by an international safety standard for torches, which applies to manual, air-cooled and liquid-cooled types and sets out construction and test requirements such as heating and insulation tests. Ask for the maker's statement of conformity if you need to show what a torch is built to.A standard does not replace the data plate. Use the torch only within the ratings on its label and in its manual, and check it for damage before each shift.