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Advantages of the air-cooled torch:
+ Simple system which is easily connected to
a power source – consists of current cable,
handle and swan neck.
+ Lower repair costs.
+ Lower size but higher weigh compared to
water-cooled hoses.
Disadvantages of the air-cooled torch:
– Long welds and high welding current
require large and heavy torches.
– Nozzles and torches are constantly hot
and dependent on the pause time between
welds.
– If there is a short pause between the
welds, the torch and contact tip will be
constantly heated and the accumulated
heat will aect the duty cycle negatively. At
the same time the increased heat will wear
hard on the contact tip, which lifetime will
therefore be reduced.
– Torches can become uncomfortably hot
to hold and in the long term the heat will
break down both the torch handle and
cable.
– Higher consumption of wear parts.
Advantages of the water-cooled torch:
+ With the water-cooled torch, the heat is
removed from the contact tip/gas cup and
torch during welding. At the same time,
most welding machines are set to have
an aftercooler, where the torch and the
coolant cool down after welding is finished.
Aftercooling can vary in time depending on
the welding machine’s setup.
+ The lifetime of the contact tip and nozzle
stick is significantly extended by sucient
cooling, so less consumption of wear parts.
+ The torch handle is always more
comfortable to hold on, as the torch is
constant cooled. This extends the lifetime
of handle and cable.
Disadvantages of water-cooled torches:
– Requires connection to the cooling unit on
the welding machine.
– In general, expensive in purchase and repair.
– More vulnerable, as the cooling hoses
inside the torch and water connections can
break and leak.
– Lacking/insucient cooling flow will
damage the water-cooled torch handle and
current cable.
Air-cooled vs water-cooled MIG/MAG torch
• Water-cooled torches can achieve significantly higher currents and better duty cycle than the
air-cooled ones.
• Water-cooled torch has a longer arc time and therefore increased productivity.
• Water-cooled torch has less consumption of contact tips than an air-cooled torch.
• Water-cooled torches weigh less than air-cooled ones.
• Water-cooled torches are more comfortable for the user than air-cooled ones, as the torch is
always cooled.
Drawing of air-cooled cable Drawing of water-cooled cable
Wire guide hose / gas
Current cable
Trigger wire Water current cable
Gas
Wire guide
hose
Trigger wire
Water inlet