torch recommendation

[snail81]

I have a 250ex on order and will be here on friday. As you all know it comes with a water cooled torch. I am not a professional welder just a hobbyist. So that being said I don't have a cooler and won't build one for a while, but want to weld when my machine gets here. So I need yall's recommendation of a ck flex head torch. Part number would be great. Ill be welding 3/16 thick at the thickest.
I wanted the 250ex just in case I needed the extra power.
Oh tungsten size would be nice too. My welding experience is a little MIG and stick. Prolly welded a total of a foot of tig.
Ok I rambling so thanks

[zoama]

Call everlast sales and they will help you with a plug and play CK torch. 3/32 2% lanthanated tungsten will give you the most mileage. http://www.weldingcity.com/tungsten-...-2.4mm-x7.html

[RichardH]

So I need yall's recommendation of a ck flex head torch. Part number would be great. Ill be welding 3/16 thick at the thickest.
I wanted the 250ex just in case I needed the extra power.

Caveat: you've done more TIG than I have, so I'm just sharing my research here... (my welder's a few weeks out). I talked with CK this week for exactly this reason; here's what I learned:

They have 2 air-cooled Flex-Loc torches (the style with the swivel head); I didn't look into their other flexible-head torches. Flex-Loc has 130-Amp "Series 2" that uses size 9 fittings, and 150-Amp "Series 3" that uses size 17 fittings. The only difference between the torches is the head, which is interchangeable between the two sizes. (No idea how easy that is.) E.g., FL1512SF is the part number for the Flex-Loc 150-Amp, 12-foot, with Superflex hose, and no gas valve (about $145).

You can get their standard hose or their SuperFlex hose, which everyone raves about. Hoses come in 1-piece or 2-piece varieties, but newer machines use the 1-piece. Mark at Everlast recommends not getting the 25' hose unless you need it, because it can affect arc starts and require higher power settings at the machine.

You need an adapter to convert the combo gas+power to a Dinse connector with a quick-disconnect pigtail for the gas. Presuming your welder has the QD for the gas and a 1/2" Dinse, the part you need is SL2-35QD (about $46).

Per Mark at Everlast, this chunky adapter has trouble mating fully on some welders, and some "field modification" may be required so it'll seat fully. (This is an issue on the 210EXT; I don't know about your model.) The first 210EXT I received included a male-to-female extender block that I think is designed to fix this issue.

Weldfabulous.com is often mentioned as a source. Everlast is also reselling CK products, and Mark's the guy to talk to.
http://www.everlastgenerators.com/contactus.html

I hope this helps!

Cheers,
Richard

[RichardH]

You might also be interested in these threads on consumables (particularly tungsten):
http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.co...php?f=5&t=4193
http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...ending-Methods

[zoama]

Caveat: you've done more TIG than I have, so I'm just sharing my research here... (my welder's a few weeks out). I talked with CK this week for exactly this reason; here's what I learned:

They have 2 air-cooled Flex-Loc torches (the style with the swivel head); I didn't look into their other flexible-head torches. Flex-Loc has 130-Amp "Series 2" that uses size 9 fittings, and 150-Amp "Series 3" that uses size 17 fittings. The only difference between the torches is the head, which is interchangeable between the two sizes. (No idea how easy that is.) E.g., FL1512SF is the part number for the Flex-Loc 150-Amp, 12-foot, with Superflex hose, and no gas valve (about $145).

You can get their standard hose or their SuperFlex hose, which everyone raves about. Hoses come in 1-piece or 2-piece varieties, but newer machines use the 1-piece. Mark at Everlast recommends not getting the 25' hose unless you need it, because it can affect arc starts and require higher power settings at the machine.

You need an adapter to convert the combo gas+power to a Dinse connector with a quick-disconnect pigtail for the gas. Presuming your welder has the QD for the gas and a 1/2" Dinse, the part you need is SL2-35QD (about $46).

Per Mark at Everlast, this chunky adapter has trouble mating fully on some welders, and some "field modification" may be required so it'll seat fully. (This is an issue on the 210EXT; I don't know about your model.) The first 210EXT I received included a male-to-female extender block that I think is designed to fix this issue.

Weldfabulous.com is often mentioned as a source. Everlast is also reselling CK products, and Mark's the guy to talk to.
http://www.everlastgenerators.com/contactus.html

I hope this helps!

Cheers,
Richard

There is no "adapter" the cable simply screws onto the dinse and it's a simple as that. The first time you put the dinse in the machine it will be hard to turn. Just crank it on around and it'll be fine after that.
I have two CK torches for my 250EX. A 130 and a 210.

[snail81]

There is no "adapter" the cable simply screws onto the dinse and it's a simple as that. The first time you put the dinse in the machine it will be hard to turn. Just crank it on around and it'll be fine after that.
I have two CK torches for my 250EX. A 130 and a 210.

Do you have part numbers? are you happy with them?

[RichardH]

There is no "adapter" the cable simply screws onto the dinse and it's a simple as that. The first time you put the dinse in the machine it will be hard to turn. Just crank it on around and it'll be fine after that.

When you say no adapter, you're talking about the extender block I was describing, right? You should still need the CK adapter to convert from the hose to Dinse / gas QD fitting, no?

Even the torch that came with the 210 was really hard to connect the first time, but was fine after that.

[zoama]

When you say no adapter, you're talking about the extender block I was describing, right? You should still need the CK adapter to convert from the hose to Dinse / gas QD fitting, no?

Even the torch that came with the 210 was really hard to connect the first time, but was fine after that.

On both my torches the cable screwed directly to the the dinse. CK 130 CK 210.

[RichardH]

Ah. Maybe it comes down to how it's being packaged. Where I was looking, the part you show is sold as two separate parts.
http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-76303-...superflex.aspx
http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-77559-...17mr70-qd.aspx

[snail81]

y'all are really confusing me now.

[zoama]

Ah. Maybe it comes down to how it's being packaged. Where I was looking, the part you show is sold as two separate parts.
http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-76303-...superflex.aspx
http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-77559-...17mr70-qd.aspx

That's correct. I purchased the torch with cable and a dinse. My point was that it doesn't require an adapter to screw the cable into the dinse.
The part numbers have changed slightly since I got mine well over a year ago. I'm very happy with them. I use the 130 for everything up to 150 amps and then the 210 up to 250 amps. I would rather have a 130 flexloc than the 130 flex that I have.