Welding Tips and Tricks

What is everyone's favorite tig torch and why? More specifically, air cooled. Also anyone have any experience with either Heavy Hitters or Black Mamba? Do they live up to the hype?

Size 17 flex head is my go to. Both at work and at home. I like the CK best, but lots of other weld shop branded ones are abou5 the same. I have tried Miller ones, with the neck that looks ribbed like a vacuum hose, not going to buy another one of those unless it’s my only option. They don’t seam to flex as easy or as far as the CK ones. Plus the threads on the back of the head for the back cap seam to wear out faster, might be a softer brass or something.

I have a heavy hitters 350V. I haven't used it, but it is BEEFY. An acquaintance of mine has used it, and it, according to him, almost lives up to it's rating. I believe I already posted pics of it here.

CK20 flex head with 25ft superflex cables. It's the perfect torch for the job 99% of the time. Only will step up to an 18 if I'm running AC above 300A or so, which is not often.

https://store.cyberweld.com/weldcraft-w ... 0p-25.html

Along with this kit...

https://store.cyberweld.com/wetigtokitak1.html

Does positively everything. It's the bee's knees...

I like the CK Flex Lock with the super flex cables. I have both the air cooled and the water cooled for my Dynasty. I like how you can set the torch head at whatever angle you need to get access to the joint,

Just for an actual comparison...I use a CK Flex-loc 250 and a CK18. With the chiller set @ 50° and 44 psi, the FL250 w/25ft. superflex cables does return fairly hot water @ 250A and I cap the amperage there unless only tacking. (Be sure to check for CK's recommended coolant flow on these torches.)
The CK18 has a 25 ft. heavy duty power cable option (not listed in my catalog, but readily available) that extends it's capacity from 350A to 400A to match my Dynasty, running approx. twice the flow of the Fl250, returning luke warm water @ 250A, and hot water @ 400A. This power cable is fairly stiff, but I've got my torches boom mounted from above, which seems to help with positioning/weight management.
I end up at 330A quite a bit (3/8" aluminum) and the 18 never gets hot. BTW, a 5/32" gas lens allows tungsten life at 330A. But keep in mind that this is my first welder, so I don't have the background most of you folks do... I'm not a pro, but just taking advantage of my 480/277 service at home. - ODNT