Dynasty 280DX torch upgrade

Jakedaawg · Thu Dec 22, 2016 10:40 am

Now that I have been practicing out of position welding on aluminum with my dynasty I can see the need for a torch with a flex head or a flex lock head.

Questions:

1. CK makes a couple of these torches, is CK "get what you pay for"? It seems they are about half the price of miller.

2. Do I need to replace they whole torch set up with cables and all? That looks like a $400 dollar investment if I stay with Miller. Or, can you just by a new torch or head that would be installed on the end of the hoses/cables whatever they are for significantly less?

3. I assume I need a flex or flex lock or maybe both eventually. Am I looking to stick with the "series 2" which corresponds to the "20" style torch that the wp280 weldcraft torch that came with the rig?

Once again, this is an investment in my business and I only want to consider Quality brands, I have no interest in buying knockoff stuff.

Thanks in advance for anyone who has the time to once again answer some of my many questions. This communities input and collective experience has been invaluable to me. Someday maybe I'll be good enough to answer a question and pay back all the help.

Oscar · Thu Dec 22, 2016 11:25 am

CK is top-notch stuff. Weldcraft costs a lot because Miller bought them out. Also consider Weldtec/Tec Torch. Yes you want to stick with 2-series which is the same family as wp-20, but flex-loc models can also accept 3-series heads (wp-17/26 style).

Jakedaawg · Thu Dec 22, 2016 11:53 am

I guess my question then is am I buying just the handle and head and will that hook up to the 25' hoses and leads that are on the torch I have now or does each torch you buy have to have its own set of hoses and leads?

Oscar · Thu Dec 22, 2016 2:52 pm

You haven't mentioned if you are using an air-cooled tig torch or a water-cooled tig torch. Both are available in 25-ft lengths.

Have you pulled the handle off your current tig torch to see/measure what kind of fitting it has?

GreinTime · Thu Dec 22, 2016 3:15 pm

Oscar wrote:You haven't mentioned if you are using an air-cooled tig torch or a water-cooled tig torch. Both are available in 25-ft lengths.

Have you pulled the handle off your current tig torch to see/measure what kind of fitting it has?

Wp280 out of the box on a Dynasty should have a collar lock on the AR line and the water in, and a typical power cable threaded fitting.

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Jakedaawg · Thu Dec 22, 2016 11:23 pm

nope, haven't pulled anything apart. It all came assembled, torch on the end of some hoses with a zippered cover. 25' long. Havent even unzipped it yet. wp 280 weldcraft I believe is what miller calls it. It would be nice if I could just buy one of the $100-200 dollar flex head ck torches and hook up to the cables and zippered cover I already have. I just don't even know what to look for? hence the question.

Jakedaawg · Thu Dec 22, 2016 11:25 pm

No real point in unhooking it all and looking of I dont know what I am looking for.

On a side note..anyway to turn off/disable the caps lock key on a macbook pro laptop. Darn thing is a pain in the ass.

Oscar · Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:01 am

Jakedaawg wrote:No real point in unhooking it all and looking of I dont know what I am looking for.

On a side note..anyway to turn off/disable the caps lock key on a macbook pro laptop. Darn thing is a pain in the ass.

But people who do have CK torches (like me) would know what to look for in your pics of your torch

GreinTime · Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:23 am

I can take a picture of one in a little bit here when I go back in from lunch.

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Jakedaawg · Fri Dec 23, 2016 9:50 am

Okay, I get it. Ill unzip and post pics. It is water cooled. This afternoon sometime. Thanks so much.

GreinTime · Fri Dec 23, 2016 10:34 am

I forgot to take a picture. Sorry about that!

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Jakedaawg · Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:09 pm

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Jakedaawg · Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:10 pm

: 20161223_140641-1134x2016.jpg (58.79 KiB) Viewed 1533 times

Jakedaawg · Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:13 pm

So, I think what I would like to do first is add the appropriate 20 series water cooled flex head torch.

Question is whether I have to buy an complete assembly with hoses and all or can I just buy the torch and have these hoses attach to it.

Jakedaawg · Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:15 pm

20 series ck flex head torch to clarify. Or, if there is a better suggestion please say so. Totally willing to act on advice of the community here.

Oscar · Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:49 pm

that torch indeed has standard water cooled connections. The argon and water inlet hoses are held by a threaded fitting that binds the hose against the tube by means of physical pressure. The power/water return hose has a female 1/4"-20 fitting that threads onto the torch itself. The CK torches that are designated as 2-series will have the same connections. You won't go wrong with CK torches. A CK dealer should be able to order you the torch itself without the cables. You can go to the CK Worldwide website and download the parts list PDFs so you can get part numbers and also look them up online yourself. Tec Torch also makes excellent torches. I use CK & Tec Torch torches. I think Tec Torch offers very innovative products.

Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:43 pm

I agree with Oscar. The CK torches will be "plug and play" with those hoses. The water return/power cable hose will thread right on, and I'd suggest trimming the water supply and gas hoses about 1/2" so you eliminate the "dents" the barbs will have on them and start fresh.

Steve S

Jakedaawg · Fri Dec 23, 2016 10:19 pm

Otto Nobedder wrote:I agree with Oscar. The CK torches will be "plug and play" with those hoses. The water return/power cable hose will thread right on, and I'd suggest trimming the water supply and gas hoses about 1/2" so you eliminate the "dents" the barbs will have on them and start fresh.

Steve S

If you have the time could please expand on this trimming suggestion. Will I be trimming something on my existing hoses/fittings or modifing something on the new torch head/handle assembly?

on another note...is there any way to disable the caps lock key so that it does not work on a MacBookPro?

Fri Dec 23, 2016 10:32 pm

Trimming the existing hoses. When you break it down to change it, you'll understand.

The power fitting has a threaded flare fitting that wrenches off and on, and needs no modification. The gas and water-in fittings are rubber hoses that slip over barbs on the torch, and the CK uses a threaded collar on the torch side of the fitting to secure them (brilliant design). Removing a 1/2" from the existing hoses removes the dents (the "set", if you will) given to it by the previous torch's hose barbs. Lesser torches secure these two hoses with twisted safety wire, and losing that dent is a good thing, too.

Steve S

LtBadd · Sat Dec 24, 2016 8:30 am

Jakedaawg wrote:on another note...is there any way to disable the caps lock key so that it does not work on a MacBookPro?

Google is your friend

BigD · Sat Dec 24, 2016 9:41 am

Sorry if I missed it but why do you want the CK torch without the hoses? The hoses are one of the best parts! The superflex hose is absolutely delicious. I just got this torch for my 210 and love everything about it. It's more compact than my weldcraft 9/17 flex kit and feels better made (this is subjective but everything about it feels a bit more substantial while being more compact, plastic on the handle feels denser, the flex neck is smaller but tighter etc).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JM ... UTF8&psc=1

I already had the CK microtorch with the superflex hose so I knew I wouldn't be disappointed but I was still pleasantly surprised.

Also +1 to Oscar's recommendation of TEC. I spoke to him at PRI and played with the torches and was quite impressed. If I wasn't such a fan of CK I would get his microtorch in a heartbeat. I really liked his mega cups and screens and will be getting some, they are captured unlike the Furick stuff and that may be why he said they can be used with AC.

http://www.tectorch.com/PDF/TIG%20Weldi ... Nozzle.pdf

GreinTime · Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:52 pm

The Miller equivalent of the SuperFlex hoses are actually pretty nice.

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Sun Dec 25, 2016 1:45 am

GreinTime wrote:The Miller equivalent of the SuperFlex hoses are actually pretty nice.

Agreed. That's why I suggested trimming the two non-crimped lines, rather than replacing them and the power lead.

Those hoses are very flexible and light weight, and high quality.

In addition, you can order and change individual lines on the CK (Or order from CK and replace lines individually on almost any torch.

Steve S

Jakedaawg · Sun Dec 25, 2016 6:49 am

LtBadd wrote:
Jakedaawg wrote:on another note...is there any way to disable the caps lock key so that it does not work on a MacBookPro?
Google is your friend

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

I am not computer literate, the best I can seem to do with google is get to a wikipedia page.

I have been able to figure out how to get to a couple forums on the internet/web.

My computer abilities lie solely with my use of them as a tool in the shop. I can hook it up to your Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and do wonderful things...like repair the engine with the right parts the first time...many shops can't and give legitimate shops a bad name by just replacing parts til they get it right...

Thanks again for taking the time to search that out, and having the knowledge to put it into a link that made it possible for me to turn the darn miserable key OFF!

Jakedaawg · Sun Dec 25, 2016 6:54 am

Well, with everybody's help I believe I have the answers I needed.

It appears I will be able to save consideable funds and buy a CK Flex Head torch and install on my properly trimed hoses to prevent leaks and insure a proper fit up by removing the "set" that will be found in the coolant hoses.

Now it will just be a matter of figuring out the right part number and site to order from as my local weld supplier sells radnor products and not CK it seems.

Maybe Jody sells them on here. I need to buy something from this site as a thanks for him having this online resource.