Printable View
Welding an Airboat outside the temperature was -18C or -0.5F the tig hoses got a little stiffer then last job outside at -4C or 25F welding the blade protector was a lot of fun, I would like to see someone do it with a foot pedal on a step ladder, I use the Amp control buy CK it made it a lot easier.
Attachment 11751Attachment 11752Attachment 11753Attachment 11754Attachment 11755Attachment 11756
Foot pedals are nice but can not be used all the time. The stiff cables and hoses are one thing I do not like about the new tools of almost all brands. In December I had a 41/2 in grinder cord snap on me when I tried to use the grinder. My everlast 60 plasma cables get very stiff too. I have tried to be very careful with it when I use it in cold weather. I would gladly pay extra for something that would stay pliable in the cold. That would be a good sales extra to advertise that the cables and hoses stay flexible in cold weather. I know they can make it because many of the old tools I have including tig torches will flex in the cold without worry of cracking. Even the plasma ground cable on my everlast plasma gets so stiff I think it could crack. This might seem like a small inconvenience to most but with being modil it is a major problem.
I have the old Weldcraft super flex CS310 25 foot I am going to get a DINSE #35 quick disconnect kit for it, but it will get stiff after getting the cover wet and the high flex hoses wet, the snow get on all of it and then melts in the shop with the water that is on the floor also not a problem in the summer get the cables wet from rain or things that are wet. Need a water proof cover that is flexible in the winter and summer.
Silicone insulated wire will stay flexible over a wide range of temps. Maybe a silicone cover would do the job for you.
Of course the real solution to the problem is to move someplace nice! ;)
I wonder what the storage and operating temps are for these machines, anyway. I didn't see that on some of the spec sheets, but Miller rates some of their equipment to the following:
Operating temp: 14°F to 131°F/-10°C to +55°C.
Storage temp: -4°F to 158°F/-20°C to +70°C.
I have a thin silicone cover it will take the heat and is water proof but it is heavy and it is hard to get the lines inside it no zipper.