TIG Torch Connector Kit

[Rugar]

After talking on the phone and e-mailing back and forth to Jim Watson at http://www.arc-zone.com/, he is going to put together a Plug n Play TIG water torch connector kit to work with the 250EX and the 300 cooler. I sent him pictures of mine so he knows what is needed. He said he has had several phone calls from people wanting to upgrade to aftermarket torchs.

From one of his e-mails:

I will work with our TIG Product Specialist to come up with a proper TIG torch and connector kit for these machines so people don't have to waste so much time and spend a bunch of money trying to get their new machine set up. . .

[WILD BILL]

That would be cool.

I've seen a few "kits" that ere supposed to be generic for all torches and machines but they were expensive.

[woodchuck]

That's great Gerald...thanks for the effort.

Chuck

[mp006ltk]

hey guys,

I have my everlast preordered, so I don't actually have a machine to test this one, but here's what I did. I wanted to make sure all my torches would fit on the elverlast before I ordered and I think I have it licked.


Arczone has 2 types of quick connects made by weldcraft. The LH thread model looks like a direct fit to the everlast water cooler connections.

The problem is with the gas connection. The weldcraft connector is like micro sized. Here's what I noticed. If you take one of the LH connections and drill it through so that it is a consistant inner diameter all the way, it will sleve over the weldcraft gas connector. I mounted one of the LH water connectors in a drill press by it's connection end and I turned the drill press on. I used a hacksaw blade like lathe tool to cut off the connection end. Then I used a small round file to clean up the inside until it tightly fit over the weldcraft gas quick connect. Once I had the fit snug but able to be fit all the way, I removed it. I added a small dab of epoxy to the gas connector and slid the new sleve over top.

So in the end you now have one RH threaded gas connector and then just buy 2 more of the LH connectors for your water cooler.

Total cost is around $20.00 pe torch for 3 LH and 1 RH connector.


Obviously if you have a lathe you can do a better job, but even the drill press worked well.

The only worry I have and I won't know until I get my machine is if the new gas connector sticks out enough to latch. Since cutting it off without a lathe shortens it overall, this could be a problem. With a lathe you can cut into the wide end and effectively create a longer connection.

If weldcraft would just offer one of their water connections threaded the other way that would solve all of this, but I don't know if they see this as a large enough potential market.