This is a great thread, I know I am learning a thing or two, from the pro's and those in the know. I surmise the wp18 torch is great, so be it with coolant cooling, be it ethylene or propylene glycol I surmise. And a lot of previous tig weldors(those who've welded for years) may have not been associated or trained with the new technology, it runs a little hotter, and I surmise a lot of folks want to shell out a lot of money for a machine then don't want to heed torch capacity, or have trouble initially attending the school of hard knocks with burned down torches, I mean, I have no problem buying what I need, its the knowing what I need, I mean, I don't plan on burning down a torch.
I know I could also get a air cooled torch extra for all those smaller projects making sure not to over amp, I also like that talk of those short flex head torches with tungsten limitations, that would be great for tight work spaces, if I run into any anytime soon. If I choose a spare torch right now, air cooled it would only be for thinner or small ferrous items not high amperage, and maybe easier to manipulate if possible, nothing wrong with having a water cooled torch and cooler for say, maybe making some items to help me in my welding "work", I can think of some things right now with two long aluminum girders I have, they are about more than a 1/4 inch to almost half inch thick, thinking about making a fancy coffee table for my den, or maybe some sort of table for the shop, I knew it was best to hold onto those for the future. I just don't want to have multitudes of torches hanging over a hook in five years with that strange layer of "never used" dust, so embarrassing when entertaining company, not to mention money that can be geared elsewhere.
Right now, I know I can be set up good enough with the wp18, its just whether or not what else I need, maybe just one other, and wait and seen what I need, apart from I am gonna have to buy some electrodes ferrous and aluminum if I want to practice.
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