12.5' or 25' TIG cable???

[johnnymg]

Greetings

I'm getting ready to order a small water cooled TIG torch and would like some help deciding on the cable length. The CK torch I'm looking at is available in either 12.5' or 25' (http://www.ckworldwide.com/fl230.htm).

OK, so what are the pros and cons of the shorter vs longer torch cable??? Note, the price (for the longer version) is only slightly higher than the standard cable so that issue is "a wash".

Any other suggestions on what to order with this torch???

regards
JohnG

[zoama]

It's better to have it and not need it... than to need it and not have it........ Get the longer one.

[DaveO]

Agreed. The only other thing I can think of is a ground cable to match. But that could be as simple as adding additional cable to your existing ground.

[johnnymg]

Thanks Zoama585 and Dave

That looks like great advice. So, perhaps the only gotcha might be the need for ground/return cable extension (to match the 25' tig cable). Cool beans!

cheers
JohnG

[zoama]

Any other suggestions on what to order with this torch???

I really like the CK wedge collets... One will probably last you forever. I buy generic gas lenses and cups from weldingcity.com, they also have the lowest price I've seen on 2% lanthanated tungsten. http://www.weldingcity.com/tungsten-...-2.4mm-x7.html

Thanks Zoama585 and Dave

That looks like great advice. So, perhaps the only gotcha might be the need for ground/return cable extension (to match the 25' tig cable). Cool beans!

cheers
JohnG

You can purchase #2 copper welding lead to replace the length you have now. I paid 70 cent per foot for 50' which I planned to cut in half.
The guy said he didn't have it in one length so he gave me the end of two rolls, one about 30' and the other about 35'... all for the price of 50'... BONUS !

[johnnymg]

I think this question has been asked before (found another thread) but I'm just confirming:

Is this the correct DINSE adapter for a water cooled torch and the 210 EXT?

cut and paste from CK catalog:
DINSE 35 (1/2" 12.8mm) STYLE WATER COOLED
TORCHES FUSE BLOCK ORDER NUMBER
w/o Fuse Block SLWHAT-35M

regards
JohnG

[sportbike]

I would go with the longer one (Take that advice from a guy who has two welders with 12' cables and no 25' leads to be seen...)

[zoama]

I think this question has been asked before (found another thread) but I'm just confirming:

Is this the correct DINSE adapter for a water cooled torch and the 210 EXT?

cut and paste from CK catalog:
DINSE 35 (1/2" 12.8mm) STYLE WATER COOLED
TORCHES FUSE BLOCK ORDER NUMBER
w/o Fuse Block SLWHAT-35M

regards
JohnG

It's best to call Oleg since he's sold a bunch of those. You want to get one that's plug and play with Everlast.

[performance]

We have a video on that on our youtube. channel that explains it all as far as selecting the correct CK Dinse.

[johnnymg]

We have a video on that on our youtube. channel that explains it all as far as selecting the correct CK Dinse.

Thanks for the youtube reference. I ended up ordering the 25' water cooled torch.

regards
JohnG

[youngnstudly]

Sounds like you made the right choice. My only problem with using 25 footers in the past is having a spot to put the extra 12.5'. If you have the room though, it's not a problem. At my previous job the torch cable and ground would get rolled/coiled up and set on the top of the machine, and it always seemed like it was doing the "teeter totter" balancing act as you wheeled it across the cracked and damaged concrete floor. Once false move and you then had 20' of leads to retrieve off the floor. It never goes back on the welder the same (neatly coiled) way it fell off the welder!

[jakeru]

If you have a highly portable TIG power supply (which is easy to move to the workpiece being welded, but keep in mind you'll probably need to move the tank as well), the 12.5' lead length will probably be optimal. Excessive lead lengths aren't necessary desirable. Extra electrical resistance, possible harder HF starts, extra EMF emissions in AC mode or when HF starting (from a big coil of leads) etc. It's not just about cost. Its also harder to move the extra leads around (and it's not just about torch lead length, but eather, the footpedal, and ground all need to be lengthened so the system is effective).

If you have a portable setup, it's best to try to keep it portable. 25' leads are probably not the hot ticket for maintaining a portable setup. To maintain a highly portable setup that you can still move around far away from a plug, consider lengthening the power supply cable instead of the TIG leads. You don't necessarily need thick, high-gauge conductors to accomplish this. I believe I needed only 12 gauge conductors to extend the power supply cable of my 200 amp @ 60% duty cycle machine an extra 25'.

If you don't have a portable machine (and generally speaking, a watercooled setup is not generally portable, unless you have it on wheels) you'll probably want the longer 25' version, unless you expect always being able to bring your work close to the machine (which depending on what you're welding, may not be practical).

[Jason]

I tend to try and always use my foot pedal so a 25' cable wouldn't work so well. If you have means to move the pedal that far or use a finger switch then thats not a problem.. Maybe something to think about though.

[johnnymg]

Good points on the length................. but I just got the torch and it's a real thing of beauty! hahaha!
I'll "live" with the longer cable and extend the foot pedal cable when I actually need/want to run a full 25' from the 210.

Here's a close up pic of the head with the "gas saver" collet/screen system installed. Need to get the cable adapter and my ghetto cooler set up.