As for how long a wheel will last–  not to be cagey, but it’s hard to say.  It depends on how much you use it, and how hard you use it…  in other words are you consistently prepping 1/8-in tungsten or .040-in tungsten  for your TIG welding or  plasma arc welding application?

NOTE:  if you are running an automated TIG or Plasma Arc Welding application you may want to consider pre-ground tungsten electrodes, prepped to your specifications to minimize variables.

You’ll have to visually inspect your grinding wheel to see the signs of wear:   “grooves” where there is no diamond grinding media.  On most tungsten grinders you can simply adjust the pick up point (where the tungsten contacts the wheel) this will engage fresh diamond media for continued grinding.  When you have moved across the entire face of the wheel it’s done — replace it!

In some cases the wheels become glazed over or smooth and no longer grind.  In that case you need to replace the wheel as well.

And don’t forget–Arc-Zone.com offers the industry leading Core Exchange program for Diamond Grinding Wheels…   a great way to stretch your budget, check out the details at our webstore.  And while you’re over there, check out the line up of diamond grinding wheels for most every tungsten electrode sharpener on the market! (and Made in the U.S.A)

We also carry a line of tungsten electrodes for your TIG and Plasma Arc Welding needs, including premium brands like ArcTime Hybrid (good for all metals and all machines) and tungsten from top quality manufacturers like CK,  Sylvania and Weldcraft.

Carlsbad, Calif.— Whether you’re using the Thermal Dynamics 2A, 3A, 4A and PWM300 Plasma Arc Welding Torches, setting up a new Plasma Arc Welding station, or optimizing your existing welding station, Arc-Zone.com’s Plasma Arc Welding Accessory Kits are fully loaded with a variety of performance proven parts.

Designed by Arc-Zone.com technicians, the kits allow you to fine-tune your existing plasma arc welding torch, or get your new torch dialed in and ready to weld.

Operations manuals often suggest options for various amperage settings, adjustments and top sizes. “The benefit of the Arc-Zone kit is that every part you need is stored in one convenient and rugged kit box,” says Jim Watson, founder and CEO of Arc-Zone.com. “From replacement shield cups, back caps, pre-ground electrodes, shield cup gaskets, to long tips you’ll have easy access to the parts you need to customize your torch, minimize downtime, and you’ll have the quality to minimize variables.”

Whether you’re ordering the standard kit or the deluxe kit, you’ll also get Joe Welder’s Guide to Optimizing Your Plasma Arc Welding Torch. And re-ordering parts for your kit is easy: each kit is labeled with a custom made lid card that identifies each component, and a super cool Weld Like A PRO™ sticker.

Founded in June 1998, Arc-Zone.com®, Inc. delivers proprietary, brand name and OEM replacement parts and accessories for GMAW, GTAW and Plasma Arc Welding and Cutting applications to customers worldwide.

Though not affiliated with Thermal Dynamics Corporation, Arc-Zone supplies OEM and high quality replacement parts manufactured to demanding specifications and engineered to be interchangeable with Thermal Dynamics® parts, are not OEM parts and are not endorsed by Thermal Dynamics®

For more information, visit the Arc-Zone.com web site at www.arc-zone.com, call 760-931-1500 or email sales@arc-zone.com.

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One new weapon in the welder’s arsenal against heat fatigue is Miller’s new Arc Armor™ Heat Stress Protection products:  The CoolBand™ and the CoolBelt™.

The CoolBand™ is an integrated system that works with most Miller Arc Armor helmets to reduce under-the-hood temperature by up to 8 degrees (Farenheit).  You’ll get up to six hours of continuous cooling from one battery charge!

“Improved productivity, work quality and overall well-being of the employees are all benefits our customers are realizing through the utilization of these products by their welders.”  -Bill Gardner, product manager, Miller Electric Mfg. Co.

For an even more robust solution to heat stress, check out the CoolBelt™ system. The lightweight, belt mounting system can lower temperatures under the hood up to 17 degrees!  The CoolBelt offers multiple air speeds and directional air controls to keep air moving over the users face and head.

Especially when working in the field, it may be impossible to avoid the heat, so if you do work in extreme heat environments, consider an investment in your health with these great products from Miller.

Also, be sure to check out  the Centers for Disease Control’s tips for maintaining personal safety in the heat, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Guide to Protecting Workers from the Effects of Heat (.pdf) and the OSHA Fact Sheet on Working Outdoors in Warm Climates (.pdf).  And always keep your cool!

And for even more information, check out the Heat Stress Webinar hosted by the folks over at Miller–  an hour long discussion with Product Manager Bill Gardner and industrial hygiene and safety experts.  You can register and listen for free.

These nozzles come with a gas lens collet set up to provide optimal coverage, coherent gas flow, and minimal turbulance–  great for welding metals like titanium or stainless steel where oxygen contamination in your weld zone can ruin your weld.  And the clear nozzle offer great visibility.  It’s way more than a party trick.

These nozzles are the brainchild of the folks over at CK Worldwide, well-respected TIG torch  engineers who got their start in the aerospace industry.  And these nozzles will not only work on CK TIG Torches, but on all major brands of TIG torches  (Weldcraft, Weldtec, TecTorch, Radnor, BestWelds, Master TIG, Profax, etc.)

At Arc-Zone, we’ve assembled  PRO Kits from the Deluxe Gas Saver Pro Kit that has everything you need for your 9/20/CS3210 series TIG Torch, to the Standard Diameter Gas Saver Pro Kits for your 17/18/and 26 series TIG Torch. These kits come with everything you need to Weld Like A PRO(tm)!

Not only do you get a box full of accessories for a variety of TIG  welding applications, you get a TIG Welding calculator you take with you on the job as well as several of our popular articles like  ”Joe Welders Guide to Optimizing your TIG Torch.”

From basic hobby applications to working in an extreme heat, high-tech welding environment, these welding helmets will keep you safe and comfortable and with the variety of designs we offer, you will look cool while doing it.

Designed to protect your eyes and face in some of the most intense welding environments, Miller’s welding helmets meet ANSI Z87.1-2003 (High Impact) industry standards.  Hard hat adapters are available and most of the helmets come standard with an auto-darkening lens.  Miller’s passive welding helmets can be upgraded to an auto-darkening lens with the Digital Elite™ Upgrade kit.

BENEFITS:

The auto-darkening features are awesome, instead of having to stop what you’re doing to adjust your helmet, your helmet’s arc sensors will automatically darken to preset shades at lightning fast speed as soon as the arc is detected.

Highly sensitive Electromagnetic Digital Arc Sensing is also available for use when welding outdoors or at very low amperages.

Auto-darkening lenses can be preset to your shade preference in a variety of different standard shade options: (all lenses include light shade #3)

• MP-10™ Series – non auto-darkening, Passive Shade #10 lens
• Pro-Hobby™ Series FS#10 – fixed shade #10
• Pro-Hobby™ Series – variable shade #8 – #12
• Performance™ Series – variable shade #8 – #13
• Elite™ Series – variable shade #8 – #13
• Digital Elite™ Series – Electromagnetic digital arc sensing
  • Weld Mode – variable shade #8 – #13
  • Cut Mode – variable shade #5 – #8
  • Grind Mode – Light Shade #3
  • X-Mode – variable shade #8 – #13
• Titanium™ Series – used for extreme heat and industrial welding, can come equipped with most of the auto-darkening options available.

Auto-darkening viewing areas up to 3.85 x 2.38 in / 9.22 sq in.

Lithium Ion batteries are included and come pre-installed

Magnification lenses are available from 0.75 – 2.50 and all helmets come standard with a magnification lens holder

Most helmets are compatible with the Arc Armor™ Heat Stress products, including the CoolBelt™ and CoolBand™ which both help to increase air flow and lower the temperature under the helmet.

The welding accessory experts at Arc-Zone.com deliver a complete line of replacement parts and accessories to upgrade or maintain your Miller welding helmet.

When you’re welding in a production environment, you want to make sure you minimize your production variables.  And as great as some of the grinders we have are (we do have the most comprehensive line up of tungsten grinders in the industry) precision, pre-ground tungsten electrodes are definitely the way to go.  With a pre-ground tungsten electrode you’ll maximize your TIG or Plasma Arc Welding operations.  Pre-grounds  offer consistent finish, and a precision repeatability you’ll not find with a benchtop grinder.

Arc-Zone.com’s pre-grounds are made with exceptional quality electrodes that meet or exceed ISO 6848 and AWS A5.12 standards and prepared on precision CNC grinding machines.

We stock pre-ground tungsten electrodes for Weldcraft® WP-125 (MT-125) and WP-50 Micro TIG torches, and for your Thermal Dynamics® Plasma Arc Welding Torches.  Ready for immediate delivery — We can work with you to schedule deliveries based on your production demands.

• Precise… Maintain specified electrode geometry for precise welds.
• Practical… Our pre-ground electrodes minimize electrode shedding.
• Efficient… Use our pre-ground electrodes to eliminate the maintenance and repair of dedicated tungsten grinding equipment.
• Safe… Our pre-ground electrodes help you Improve safety and eliminate electrode grinding hazards.
• Cost-effective… Save time and money because there’s no need to stock bulk-quantities of expensive electrodes.

Ordering Options

• Use your welding equipment manufacturer’s part number (if available)
• Complete form (below) specifying, material type, length, diameter, grind angle, tip flat and finish.
• If you are not sure what you need, or if you would like us to make a recommendation — take a moment to describe your welding equipment and application in the field below. Based on that information an Arc-Zone.com Plasma Arc Welding Specialist will provide you with a electrode solution engineered to improve your weld quality and productivity.

Note: Our pre-ground electrodes are produced on precision CNC grinding machines. To cover our set-up costs, we require a 50 Piece Minimum Order.

Place Your Order Here!

We solved the problem with the New Plug-n-Weld TIG Connector Kits. No more wasted time trying to find adapters, converters, or the proper connectors. If you’re a counter salesman at a welding supply shop, this kit makes it easy for you to get your customers exactly what they need. If you’re a buyer for a construction site, tool room or maintenance department you can save valuable time and money with Plug-n-Weld kits.

Choose the Air Cooled TIG Torch Plug-N-Weld ™ Kit or the Water Cooled TIG Torch Plug-N-Weld ™ Kit– Thes handy kits include everything you’ll need to hook up an air, or water-cooled TIG torch to welding machines with small and large Dinse type recepticles, gas-through and standard solid pin, the also includes a threaded stud adapted to convert machines with mechanical stud connections to the Dinse style, for simple no tools-needed torch change out.
Save time and money — Plug-n-Weld Kits are organized into one sturdy kit box, with a lid card that identifies each part, making re-orders quick and easy.

Now when you arrive on a job site you can start building – no more jackin’ around with suppliers and OEM’s trying to figure out what you need to connect your torches. With your torch, the TIG machine and a Plug-n-Weld Kit you are ready to start burning some rod!