HTP Arctic Chill TIG Cooler Mod, a la This Old Tony

[Weldo]

I'm glad this helped some people! I give a lot of props to This Old Tony for blazing the trail!

 

[General Zod]

I highly HIGHLY recommend switching out the worm clamps on the inlet/outlet of the radiator/heat exchanger, and using double pinch clamps on the hoses. Trust me, you don't wanna deal with a HUGE potential mess. Ask me how I know.

 

[AGCB97]

Would a 26 series torch solve the problem w/o coolant?
Aaron

 

[General Zod]

Would a 26 series torch solve the problem w/o coolant?
Aaron

Depends which "problem" see are seeing in your head, specifically. Will a 26 series handle the heat like a water-cooled 20-series? Nope. Will it be less bulky/cumbersome than a water-cooled 20-series? Nope. Remember, he already has a water-cooled torch. He's not at a point where he is pushing the limits of a 17-series air-cooled and needs to decide what route to take to upgrade...

 

[Weldo]

I highly HIGHLY recommend switching out the worm clamps on the inlet/outlet of the radiator/heat exchanger, and using double pinch clamps on the hoses. Trust me, you don't wanna deal with a HUGE potential mess. Ask me how I know.

What is it about the clamps that caused your problem? They cut through the the hose?

 

[General Zod]

What is it about the clamps that caused your problem? They cut through the the hose?

Even with two, the non-uniform clamping pressure from worm clamps will eventually allow the hose to let go of the tube, since there is no shoulder to prevent it from slipping away.

 

[Weldo]

Ah ha. Good advice, thanks! I’ll check that out.

 

[General Zod]

Knowing what I know now, I would have should have brazed a single small diameter copper wire (≈ 0.030" - 0.040") around the end of the radiator tubes in order to provide a shoulder to prevent the tube from slipping off during use and spilling out heaps of water/coolant all over my garage floor.

 

[keeena]

Knowing what I know now, I would have should have brazed a single small diameter copper wire (≈ 0.030" - 0.040") around the end of the radiator tubes in order to provide a shoulder to prevent the tube from slipping off during use and spilling out heaps of water/coolant all over my garage floor.

Would putting a lip on the bung using a plumbing double flare tool would work? I realize you'd have to disassemble things a bit to fit the tool in there, just not sure if the diameter & wall of the material would work.

 

[General Zod]

Would putting a lip on the bung using a plumbing double flare tool would work? I realize you'd have to disassemble things a bit to fit the tool in there, just not sure if the diameter & wall of the material would work.

possibly, but braided high-pressure nylon tubing is quite stiff and doesn't like to expand, so if the lip formed from the double-flare is too large, you may struggle with getting the hose back on.