I have only used Airco .
But I have used a lot of mig guns they all about same.
Water cool is more flexible but pain too with water and coolants need.

There a lot of tig uses and will give great advice too.

Dave

 

Yeah this will be a light air cooled torch.

 

Oscar is very good with TIG and he give you very good information on TIG.

My background is structural steel work and really big repairs using Fluxcore and Stick.

I would avoid water cooled and stay with air cool but only for my experience with MIG guns.

Good luck
Dave

 

and now for some advice the OP can actually use....

JamesBill,

Both of those TIG torches are relatively similar. They are both 17 "sized" so they are typically rated at 150A DC. The AC rating is sometimes "equal" but in reality the TIG torch will always heat up more on AC. They will work for you machine, but not at full output (230A) for very long. The torch itself will heat up, as will the internal copper conductor, but too many times at extreme temps will deteriorate the hose material at the brass fitting inside the torch handle. Your machine came with the 26-series 25ft air cooled torch? So long as you know you will be limited to how much amperage you can use, and that the 17 isn't that much smaller than the 26, go with the CK model from HTP (usaweld). If you really want to shrink the size of the torch, get a 20-series swivel head, which is a water cooled torch that obviously needs a water-cooler. With Superflex hoses, it's a whole 'nother ballgame, and with a rating of 250A DC & AC 100% duty cycle, you won't have to compromise anything.

 

and now for some advice the OP can actually use....

JamesBill,

Both of those TIG torches are relatively similar. They are both 17 "sized" so they are typically rated at 150A DC. The AC rating is sometimes "equal" but in reality the TIG torch will always heat up more on AC. They will work for you machine, but not at full output (230A) for very long. The torch itself will heat up, as will the internal copper conductor, but too many times at extreme temps will deteriorate the hose material at the brass fitting inside the torch handle. Your machine came with the 26-series 25ft air cooled torch? So long as you know you will be limited to how much amperage you can use, and that the 17 isn't that much smaller than the 26, go with the CK model from HTP (usaweld). If you really want to shrink the size of the torch, get a 20-series swivel head, which is a water cooled torch that obviously needs a water-cooler. With Superflex hoses, it's a whole 'nother ballgame, and with a rating of 250A DC & AC 100% duty cycle, you won't have to compromise anything.

My time at high amps will be limited. My machine did come with a 26 so I want a 17 so all my collets etc fit.

This video shows how big and cumbersome this torch is to meet that amp rating at 13:33

[video=youtube_share;A1RluTc2t4Q]https://youtu.be/A1RluTc2t4Q?t=813[/video]

The Lincoln torch I linked is what he compared it too but I take it from your reply the cheaper one from USA weld is also good to go. The sad thing is I have had this machine a week and didn't notice this torch was flex.

 

As Oscar stated go with CK Master TIG brand, just about all of their torches are rated at 100% duty cycle for both AC and DC, the Lincoln you
posted is rated at 60%

 

can also get the CK 18 liquid cooled superflex- will stand up to 350 amps has more cooling area inside the torch takes the same consumables as the 17 torch

 

Check out WeldTec/TecTorch/Speedway torches. Really nice stuff. Outifit is run by a guy who used to be an engineer for WeldCraft, then went off and improved on WeldCraft's designs.

 

For the OP, another option to look at for making the existing torch head smaller is to get some of these.

I have stubby and stubby slammed at work and they help to get the torch head into tight places.

You can find these at trick tools

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

I've welded with a lot of different style and size Tig torches. CK worldwide is a great option. If you're not going to be in the 200 amp plus range for more than 2 to 3 minutes at a time while giving it a 10 minute break a 17 size torch will have no problems for a while. Now if you want a 17 size with extra duty cycle you could look at CK worldwide 26 Trim Line. It is exactly the same size as a 17 and uses the same consumables. The only downside to it is it uses the larger cable (super flex) so its slightly less maneuverable. Just my $0.02.

 

Yeah I won't be throwing away the torch that came with the machine so I can switch to that for bigger stuff.

Right now the switch to water cooled would be about 2000 for torch and cooler so it isn't worth it.

 

Superflex cables are worth every penny.

What are amperage are you welding and for how long?

Air cooled torches are fine but when they run at higher amps or longer times you end up spending a lot of time waiting for them to cool off or putting on band-aids on your blisters. The higher the amps and the longer you run the more you need either a bigger torch if air cooled or a water cooled torch. You can push a 150 amp torch beyond it's rating but it's going to heat up quickly.

After of few years of hobby welding TIG with a #26 sized air cooled torch I got a chance to use a #20 water cooled torch. It's so tiny and never it gets hot even at a full 200 amps. I went home and bought a #20 water cooled and built a cooler and never once regretted it.

 

If you make the switch to a water cooled no. 20 you won't regret it. It can be done for far less. The only slight drawback might be having to plug the water cooler in separately if the Aspect doesn't have a built-in cooler power supply. I don't know the particulars on that 230.
I set up an Esab with a used Binzel cooler from Ebay, model identical to a Miller Coolmate 3. Came with a brand new Procon pump. I have a no. 26 air cooled (Trimline) to use occasionally if I need to go mobile out of the shop. All my torches are CK with super-flex hoses, the plastic hoses suck.

 

Yeah I had seen references to the Aspect only offering DC power for the cooler but if powering it separately is fine I guess I do have an affordable option. I'll keep that in mind if I find myself doing way more aluminum.

Ask one question, get educated on a better solution. Thanks.

 

Why it doesn't come with a WC torch is a mystery to me. HTF are you gonna weld with 230A with an air-cooled torch? It's like selling a car with a lawnmower engine.

 

They offer it in multiple packages, so that some consumers end up upgrading.

 

The downfall of aircooled torches rated for 150 amps is the power cable. It is the weak link limiting you to 150 amps. The torch head itself being a 17 style torch head is just fine. After numerous conversations with the TecTorch people the answer is either use a shorter cable, or a cable with heavier copper to carry more current without heating up as much. Then whatever heat developed in the power cable can be exhausted by the torch heat. Still not as efficient as water cooled but goes a long way to dealing with overheating.The TecTorch Rocker power cable is designed to handle up to 200 amps. You can buy this kit and still retain your favorite 17 style head.
https://ramweldingsupply.com/p/weldtec-rk-25-rocker-tig-retro-kit/

Here is the spec sheet on the full Rocker torch.
http://tectorch.com/Rocker Tig Torches/rocker_tig_torches.pdf

Another product I use is TecTorch medium stubby gas lens kit for 17 style torches. Bigger than the small stubby gas lens, the medium size shields heat from the torch side, and diffuses heat from the power cable side.
http://tectorch.com/PDF/Updated_DS19/stubby_gas_lens.pdf

Still not as efficient as a water cooled setup but a much less expensive way to weld twice as long on your 230 amp aircooled welder than with a standard 17 style torch.