Tig water cooler

[Joefish]

I need to make a water cooler unit. I didnt want to spend what they cost.

Can anyone tell me how big the tank needs to be? What kind of pump to use? How to cool the water? Any help is welcome and I thank you.

[Gene_Olson]

Joe,
this is the one I've been using for the past 20 yrs.

PUMP,SUBMERSIBLE
Compact Submersible Pump, Power Rating 1/15 HP, Equivalent Pressure 7.5 PSI, Maximum Head 17.3 Feet, FNPT Inlet 1/2 Inch, MNPT Outlet 1/2 Inch, Water Flow @ 1 Foot of Head 500 GPH, Water Flow @ 11 Feet of Head 255 GPH, Water Flow @ 13 Feet of Head 163 GPH, Water Flow @ 3 Feet of Head 435 GPH, Water Flow @ 5 Feet of Head 337 GPH, Water Flow @ 9 Feet of Head 255 GPH, Length 7 Inches, Height 5 1/2 Inches

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...mId=1611629362

It sits in a covered 5 gal bucket.
Coolant goes from the bucket to the torch, back through an old radiator and into the bucket.

[astroracer]

How about a small pond or fountain pump? They have about the same specs and are fairly compact...
Mark

[Joefish]

Thanks Gene

I am going to granger this afternoon. This welder has a big fan that will be perfect to blow through the radator I have a nice unit out of a vw rabbit

Right now I am using an air cooled torch, I am hopeing the water unit will use less gas, maybe im doing it wrong but I have welder 2 to 3 hours and i have used almost a 1000 lbs I have a 125 size bottle. Right now I have the twin gauge regulator I have a nother reg. w/ a flow w/ a ball floating in a tube. see how much I know about this. I am thinking that one is better than the other based on cost only.

[steve.murphy]

Hey guys,
do a search on ebay for tig water cooler plans several will come up.There enough detail in the picture to get the idea what you need, a fountain pump, heater core ect.
Good luck, Its on my list of things to do too.

Steve

[jlrussell4]

Hi Joe,

Right now I am using an air cooled torch, I am hopeing the water unit will use less gas, maybe im doing it wrong but I have welder 2 to 3 hours and i have used almost a 1000 lbs I have a 125 size

Don't forget that the valve on your argon tank is double packed. You have to open it fully and seal the upper packing or the valve will leak and you will use a lot of gas. Ask me how I know

[houseoffubar]

I like you submersible pump idea. I always said I would make my own cooler if I ever needed another. I bought mine new with the welder, and spent over four hundred bucks! All for a radiator, and little pump.
Hey Joefish, If your using that much argon on a project that is constant welding for two hours or so, that may not be that much gas. If, however that off, and on for two hours, that's a lot! I use a bottle a day in an eight hour day at work, but that is at least seven solid hours welding.
At home a bottle lasts a month or more, and I weld a lot there. Other than the other advice, I can only think to open the bottle valve all the way. They are said to leak, if not opened all the way. I don't really believe it, but it can't hurt. That, and spray all your fittings, and even the flow meter with soapy water to check for leaks. Good luck. Eric

[Joefish]

Got it all done. A used sump pump a few fittings a new filter a used radaitor and some hose. It didnt cost much. :mrgreen:



I add anti-freeze latter



I like this. Caps J B welded on cheap and clean.

Here are a few welds. Need lots of pratice!





There it is welding table all done and the welder is all set. Now I need to get more amps to the welder so I can crank it up on a part for the 510.

Hard to finish projects when I keep starting new ones. Got a few sheets of rock up.

[Peter Miles]

J B Weld! Great idea. Be sure to give us a 6-month followup and let us know how that is holding up.

[Joefish]

Thanks Peter I will

By the way I forgot

Thanks Gene ,Peter and I forget who else helped me do this.