Another DIY Tig Torch Cooler Shooting for under $100 not counting my labor

[aaxiss]

Yea I will post some Pics Tomorrow. I still have to weld up my tank ( 3 gal aluminum ). Just got the weld on bungs in the mail today. I was side tracked by an infection and 2 weeks in the hospital. And really need to finish my welding table ( Strong hand clone with 1-3/4 spacing on the 5/8 plates so I can use their clamps that fit that 1-3/4" gap.

I myself am up to about $150 in parts now also, are you using a pressure bypass valve to control the pressure? I got one that will bypass from 25 to 175 psi from McMaster Carr . I think it was around $40 That and all the brass fittings increased the cost quite a bit. I also reduced the inlet and outlet to 1/2" right at the pump which will limit the pumps ability to reach maximum pressure a bit I would think. And also the 1" brass was big $$$. I will take some pics tomorrow I also have to plumb in the radiator and the heat sensor Tee . I will run that to a relay to shut off the pump when the water coming out of the heat exchanger (radiator) drops below 100F.

any way .... Pictures tomorrow. Btw I plan on making a stainless cabinet to enclose the works Ala Delorean LOL

Cheers

[everlastsupport]

I myself would like to see pictures of the strong hand clone. Maybe start a new thread. What kind of money do you have in that so far?

[aaxiss]

ok sorry for the lack of updates, ok pretty simple but I decided to change from pvc to all brass/copper because at some point I am going to take this apart and mount it into a cabinet and the pressure indicator will have to come forward to be flush with a similar diameter hole in the front of the cabinet and the quick disconnects will be panel mounted also.

ok now what you see is I have reduced the inlet and outlet right at the pump with 1" to 1/2" npt hex reducers. I tee'd off the outlet to the psi gauge and then another tee to the pressure bypass hanging down and then to a 90deg st elbow to my output to torch which will be getting a quick disconnect end on it soon ( green line ). On the input you see the reducer into a 90 street elbow with a copper pipe adapter ( not screwed in fully at this point ) I will be going with copper to the tank with unions ( intake from tank and bypass back to tank )

side picture you see same copper 1/2 to slip, I will send that back to the tank ( excess pressure). the small hex shaped knob hanging downward from the regulator will allow me to adjust how much pressure actually goes to the torch from 25 psi to the recommended 50 psi max I think around 40 psi should be fine . Returning heated water will go into a trans cooler with a fan pushing air through it and then dump into the tank.

should be another week or so before I have it up and working, Using my weldtec air torch for now, but the warm cable on the back of my neck is irritating cant wait to get to using my wp20

Total investment at this point $150 counting the used trans cooler you dont see and the 2 1/2 npt alum weld on bungs. I already had the .120 aluminum sheet on hand for the tank but could have just as easily used a cheap poly tank of some kind. only other cost will be the 2.5" weld on filler inlet with cap ( $16 ) Total cost will then be $165. I could have done it for under $100 but it would have looked like an 8th grade science experiment LOL. I wanted it to look decent





Cheers