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The TIG craft relies heavily on dexterity developed through long practice.
As the main interface to your process, your TIG welding torch is extremely important.
Aside from skill level, the main factor in determining the quality of your TIG welding is the welding torch you choose.
TIG welding is known for its painstaking, careful progress.
The slow pace heats up the torch a lot.
The wrong flashlight is uncomfortably hot, lacks durability, and wastes time on maintenance.
We searched extensively for five welding guns that will make you a better TIG welder.
in a hurry?
Here's our pick of 3 products that you might be interested in depending on your budget…
professional choice
Welding process WP-20-25
Miller's Weldcraft WP-20-25 is a WP-20 water cooled TIG welding torch tip with 25 feet of vinyl hose. Designed for 250 amps, Miller backs this flashlight with a 1-year warranty.
professional value
Miller Weldcraft A-200
The A-200 is rated at 200 amps and can be customized using a wide range of parts from Miller Electric. The body is made of copper alloy for durability and has a flexible neck to easily adjust the angle of the narrow point.
best budget
WP17 Argon arc welding torch
This is an affordable Weldcraft compatible WP-17 flashlight rated at 150 amps DC and 120 amps AC. The 13-foot hose and valve in the body add a lot of value to this air-cooled TIG torch.
Best TIG Torch Reviews
Here is a list of some of the best TIG welding guns we found on the market:
1. Weldcraft WP-20-25 Water Cooled TIG Welding Torch
- Water-cooled TIG welding torch
- 1 year warranty
- 25ft vinyl hose
- 250 amp rating
- 0.020 to 0.125 inch electrode size
- Fittings designed to eliminate leaks
advantage
- Mechanical fittings for easy hose replacement
- Water cooling around the welding head
- Same size as air-cooled torch
- easy connection
- lightweight body
shortcoming
- more expensive than competing brands
overview
With water-cooled TIG torches, size and weight can be an issue. The WP-20 is at the top of its class due to its light weight and slim profile. The 70-degree angle between the handle and head makes the flashlight easy to operate. Getting a TIG torch into tight areas is always a problem, but this torch's compact design helps minimize those issues.
Miller Electric takes over the Weldcraft line. The company has renamed this flashlight the W-250, but kept the design as it is. The number in the model name is the current rating for using the flashlight. This means that the flashlight is rated at 250 amps. As a water-cooled torch, it handles the heat well and users are very pleased with its robust construction and economical use of consumables.
Now that Miller is making Weldcraft TIG welding torches, customer service and parts availability should be top notch. The WP-20-25 comes with a one-year warranty and 25 feet of hose. Fittings and seals are designed with special focus on minimizing leakage and saving on consumable costs. Parts are interchangeable with WP-9 series flashlights.
2. Miller Weldcraft A-200 Air-Cooled TIG Welding Gun
- flexible head
- air cooled torch
- rated at 200 amps
- 1 year warranty
- 12.5 ft hose
advantage
- Flexible neck lets you reach tight places
- strong and sturdy
- heavy copper structure
- Costs less than water-cooled torches
- Miller's Customizable Parts
shortcoming
- If you bend a lot, the neck will break
overview
The A-200 was formerly known as the WP-26 series, but was given a new model when Miller acquired Weldcraft. It's an air-cooled flashlight that comes in six models and a variety of custom parts. The main body and other parts are interchangeable throughout the series. There are different neck angles and bodies, with individual valves to fine-tune airflow. Both flexible body and solid models are available with or without valves.
The A-200 is rated at 200 amps. It's made from a solid copper alloy that provides excellent cooling and can withstand heavy use. Some users have complained that if the flexible part of the body is constantly bent at different angles, it breaks internally. Among the large selection of replacement parts that Miller offers are some solid parts that do not have this particular weakness.
Many users recommend having several different flexible bodies in the toolbox, bent at different angles to avoid breakage during work. Miller offers a 1 year warranty on the A-200 series, one of the most used flashlights in the industry.
3. Parweld WP17 TIG Welding Torch
- Air-cooled torch
- 150 Amp DC
- 120 amp AC
- 2-pin connection interchangeable
- 0.02" to 3/32" electrodes
advantage
- Compatible with Weldcraft torch parts
- copper structure
- Industry standard parts in price range
- Inexpensive alternative to big brand parts
shortcoming
- 2-pin connection is not compatible with high frequency arc starting
overview
When you need a low cost TIG welding torch, the Parweld WP17 is your best choice. It uses industry standard parts compatible with Weldcraft WP-17 welding guns. It is rated at 150 amps for AC and 120 amps for DC TIG welding. It is air-cooled with a 13-foot hose. The body is made of copper and uses a standard M16 socket with a two-pin connection. The plug can be replaced with a 5-pin connection for use with brands such as Everlast and Eastwood welders.
This welding torch can directly replace the QQ150 welding torch used on many general-purpose and imported welding machines. Some users are dissatisfied with the sewn-in covers instead of the zippered ones, but some more expensive TIG torches don't even have covers. The cover looks solid and should work in a normal store environment.
It is not compatible with lifting or non-contact starting, but it does contain a gas valve for fine tuning the flow of protection. The valve also means that this flashlight will work on machines that are not equipped with a gas solenoid valve.
4. CK CK17-25-RSF FX TIG welding torch
- Compatible with industry standard size 17
- air cooled
- 150 Amps @ 100% Duty Cycle
- Nylon braided sleeve over silicone hose
advantage
- Compatible with Weldcraft Redhead Accessories
- Ribbed body makes it easy to handle
- Using Weldcraft 10N consumables
- Flexible head – easier access to tight places
- Lightweight and compact for easy handling
shortcoming
- Reports of loose hose connections
overview
CK is one of the leading manufacturers of TIG welding torch equipment used by many professionals on a daily basis. CK CK17-25-RSF FX torches use brass tips instead of copper to eliminate thread jamming. Brass is self-lubricating under pressure and quickly returns to its original shape when cooled. CK is known for fail-safe accessories that stay secure without the need for zip ties.
This series of flashlights features a silicone hose that provides high temperature resistance, durability and long-lasting flexibility. The CK is combined with a braided nylon cover for a durable hose. The torch body is covered with silicone to minimize high frequency loss when connected to a welder with non-contact arc start.
The torch has a flexible head that can bend up to 40 degrees to get just the right angle in tight places like welding tips or elbows.
Some users have reported that the hose connection in the head is not secure, which may be a real problem with the flexible torch. This doesn't seem to be a widespread problem. CK rates this flashlight at 150 amps for continuous use.
5. Miller Weldcraft A-150 TIG Welding Gun
- 25mm Dinse Connector
- 12.5ft rubber hose
- Weldcraft Aluminum Oxide 7/16" Nozzle
- 3/32" collet and body
- Air-cooled TIG welding torch
advantage
- Ribbed handle for cool operation
- Ergonomic diamond grip head
- Interchangeable with Redhead flexible body
- Standard Weldcraft 10N consumables
- 1 Year Miller True Blue Warranty
shortcoming
- Bulkier than a water-cooled flashlight
overview
Miller Electric recently took over Weldcraft. To incorporate these products into its parts system, Miller renamed the TIG welding torch. "A-150" is the Miller-based designation for the Weldcraft WP-17. Under the Miller part system, the "A" part of the name indicates air cooling, and the "150" indicates amperage rating. The system clearly states that this is an air-cooled flashlight rated at 150 amps.
This torch is an industry staple. Because it's air-cooled, it's much larger than a water-cooled torch of the same power rating, making it difficult to weld in tight spaces. The Weldcraft A-150 features a ribbed handle design that keeps the torch cool during long welding sessions. Miller's diamond tips are ergonomically designed to shape the torch tip for easy grip, provide a good angle for welding, and prevent operator fatigue.
As part of regular maintenance, the entire air-cooled Miller Weldcraft range can be replaced with parts from the Redhead range to upgrade every aspect of the welding torch. Miller backs the A-150 TIG welding torch with a 1-year warranty.
About Jeff Grill
Jeff Grill hails from Long Island, a 118-mile stretch of land that stretches from the shores of Manhattan to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. He was interested in welding from an early age, as evidenced by the scars on his body when he started working with various metals.