Building A Tig Water Cooler For Dummies!!!

[rahtreelimbs]

I have access to a piece of 11 gauge stainless approx 16" x 120". I figure this would make for a great tank for a water cooler.


I would like to see this thread take a course where guys like me that know diddly about water coolers could get info like tank measurements, part numbers and vendor info for the other hardware.....bungs, pump, radiator fans.....etc.

Thanks in advance!

[LIGoomba]

I built one a few years ago.Pretty much from junk .It works just fine.
Someone had posted pictures and I used them as a reference.
For the tank I used one of those stainless steel Buffet/food trays they use in deli's.My buddy had it in his garage,the motor was salvaged from an old soda dispenser machine and the pump was a Pro Con pump.I got the pump from Ebay,it was like 30.00 and the motor from Craigslist for about 20.00.I had an old heater core from a truck and a small computer fan. The housing is from some scrap aluminum i had and the frame is just some angle iron I had.The rest of stuff(fittings,hose etc...) I got locally from Lowes.I had a pressure gauge and light switch.The most exspensive stuff was the torch and hoses which I got from Arc zone.I think I have about 100.00 into it,if that .I hope the picture posts.

[Robert Hall]

There are calculators on the web that can tell you, given tank measurements, the volume of said tank in gallons.

[Gravel]

I like the idea. Keep in mind that yhe tank doesn't have to be big. 1 cubic foot holds 8.34 gallons if I remember correctly. The Miller ones I have looked at hold between 1 and 3.5 gallons.
Looking forward to lots of good reference material here when I get ready to build one.

[mad welder 4]

I don't know if I would even build a tank. I figure if I was ever going to go tig and build a cooler I would just use a car radiator as both the cooler and the tank since a radiator can easily hold several quarts of coolant and is already built to dissipate tens of thousands of BTUs per hour with forced air.
I don't even think you would need a radiator fan for most setups. Then if you need a fan, just stick on a 12v universal radiator fan on there or if you don't need that much air flow or noise, stick a few computer fans on the radiator.
For the line, I would just use air line.
For he pump, I would just use a sureflo 12v diaphragm agro spray pump since it can pump pretty much any chemical concoction at 1 to 3 gpm.

[MikeGyver]

11ga is waaaaay too thick, I mean it'll work and all but damn... I would use 18ga stainless.

I've got a lot of info on DIY tig coolers on my build thread, a lot of other have popped up recently too.

[MikeGyver]

build thread:
http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...Cooler-for-TIG

[Rick_H]

Mike check your inbox please

[rahtreelimbs]

11ga is waaaaay too thick, I mean it'll work and all but damn... I would use 18ga stainless.

I've got a lot of info on DIY tig coolers on my build thread, a lot of other have popped up recently too.

Yep........but 11ga. Is free.

[CharleyL]

I built a Tig cooler 5 years ago by modifying a carbonator that I bought off Craigslist. I used the Proconn pump and the 2 gallon stainless tank that came on it and just re-plumbed and replaced the lines. The radiator is an aluminum transmission cooler that I attached to the side of the carbonator base and I added a sheet metal shroud with 2 muffin fans to force air through the radiator. The coolant temperature has never gone above 110 degrees during any of my aluminum welding since the cooler was built. I have used RV antifreeze and Distilled water 50/50 mix since the cooler was built with no problems. Adjust the pressure relief bypass of the pump to 45-50 psi and you will be fine. The 2 gallons of coolant seems to be more than enough.

Charley

[dva]

1 cubic foot holds 8.34 gallons if I remember correctly.

7.48 gal per ft^3

[Gravel]

7.48 gal per ft^3

You are correct. I was thinking of the weight of a gallon of water...

[Drf255]

I've always felt that an old Cornelius keg would be a perfect reservoir for a cooler. Stainless steel, opening to clean now and then, and you can cut and weld to make any size you'd like. Pretty cheap as I recall (haven't home brewed in years).

Combine with one of those inline tranny coolers, the long round tubular ones with the radial fins radiating outward from the center. Procon pump and motor. Voila, a 5 gallon cooler for under $200.

[Gravel]

Here are some rather large stainless tanks on CL. I'd like to see the cart some of the guys would build to move this around!
http://houston.craigslist.org/bfs/4620689307.html

[Gamble]

I've always felt that an old Cornelius keg would be a perfect reservoir for a cooler. Stainless steel, opening to clean now and then, and you can cut and weld to make any size you'd like. Pretty cheap as I recall (haven't home brewed in years).

That's a great idea. Then add a Y valve and circulate beer instead of coolant, and open the Y valve when you need a drink.

[Slob]

That's a great idea. Then add a Y valve and circulate beer instead of coolant, and open the Y valve when you need a drink.

I see a guy running out of torch coolant and making some really bad welds.....

[Robert Hall]

That's a great idea. Then add a Y valve and circulate beer instead of coolant, and open the Y valve when you need a drink.

Just what the world needs, more hot beer.

[acourtjester]

Here is one I built for a carbonator from Ebay. Stainless tank and AV evap from a auto. drilled a hole in the end of the motor shaft and mounted a fan on it for cooling of the evap.

[Robert Hall]

What torch are you running off that?

[acourtjester]

wp-18

[Gravel]

I built a Tig cooler 5 years ago by modifying a carbonator that I bought off Craigslist. I used the Proconn pump and the 2 gallon stainless tank that came on it and just re-plumbed and replaced the lines. The radiator is an aluminum transmission cooler that I attached to the side of the carbonator base and I added a sheet metal shroud with 2 muffin fans to force air through the radiator. The coolant temperature has never gone above 110 degrees during any of my aluminum welding since the cooler was built. I have used RV antifreeze and Distilled water 50/50 mix since the cooler was built with no problems. Adjust the pressure relief bypass of the pump to 45-50 psi and you will be fine. The 2 gallons of coolant seems to be more than enough.

Charley

Can you show some shots of the cart. I've been thinking about raising my HF so the cooler is under it. Not sure if I have strong enough materials on hand or if I'll have to buy some new steel.

[MCE]

Here's the one I made. Used a trans cooler, Two box fans and a Procon pump. Homemade tank pictured.

[MCE]

I'm only an "apprentice", so what do I know? lol

[Gravel]

Here's the one I made. Used a trans cooler, Two box fans and a Procon pump. Homemade tank pictured.

Nice. I like the small footprint.

[rahtreelimbs]

Here's where I am at. I sheared up 12 pieces 11 ga. stainless I got for free. I am got more than I needed just because it was free. I am making a tank that is 8" X 8".........this will give me approx. 2 gallon of coolant. I am wondering what and where to get the bungs and the filler cap. An idea on the cheap would be to weld a stainless nut big enough to tank a funnel and use a bolt as a filler cap. As far as the hose bungs go I was thinking again of welding nuts...........drilling out a bolt on my lathe........( basically a hollow all thread rod) and jam nutting it with about an inch sticking out to connect a hose to.


Again any comments are appreciated.