Category
TIG Torch Consumables
TIG torch consumables are the wear parts every TIG welder goes through regardless of the machine driving the torch: ceramic cups, collets, collet bodies, back caps and torch heads. The TIG torch consumables below are sized for the T17, T18 and T26 torch families used across our TIG welding machine range.
✓ Since 2002
✓ In-house torch workshop
✓ Air Products gas agent
✓ Direct-to-consumer pricing
Fourteen TIG torch consumables are in stock in Kempton Park and priced direct, from R6 for a stubby ceramic cup to R450 for a heavy-duty T26 torch head. Ceramic cups and collets wear fastest and are worth keeping a spare of on hand; torch heads and sheathing are a less frequent but bigger-ticket replacement.
We have built and repaired TIG torches in our own workshop since 2002, so if you are not sure which cup size, collet diameter or torch family your machine takes, bring it in or send us a photo and we will match the TIG torch consumable to your setup.
Which torch family does your machine use?
Our TIG torch consumables are sized for three torch families: T17 (air-cooled, up to around 150A), T18 (air-cooled, up to around 150A, slightly larger body), and T26 (air/water-cooled, up to around 200-250A depending on cooling). Check your torch's own markings or your machine's included-equipment list before ordering — a T17 back cap will not fit a T26 torch head, and the collet and collet body sizes are family-specific too.
Standard cup, gas lens cup, or jumbo?
A standard ceramic cup is the default and cheapest option, fine for most general TIG work. A gas lens cup pairs with a gas lens collet body to smooth the argon flow for better shielding on stainless and aluminium, or when welding into a corner where a standard cup can't get close enough. A jumbo cup gives wider shielding gas coverage for higher-amperage work; a stubby cup trades coverage for reach into tight spaces.
Collet and collet body — matched to your tungsten size
The collet grips your tungsten electrode and must match its diameter exactly — 1.6mm, 2.4mm or 3.2mm in our range. The collet body it seats into must match both the collet diameter and, if you're running a gas lens, be the gas-lens version rather than the standard version. Mismatching any of these three parts is the most common reason a TIG torch won't hold an arc steadily.
What wears out first
Ceramic cups crack or chip with normal use and are the most frequently replaced part — keep a spare on hand. Collets wear where they grip the tungsten and should be replaced if the tungsten starts slipping. Back caps and torch sheathing last much longer and are a less frequent replacement. Torch heads are the least frequently replaced part and the biggest single cost if one does fail.
Buying more than one part at a time
If your torch needs several parts replaced at once, check they all belong to the same family before ordering. A T26 torch commonly needs a matching T26 back cap, collet, collet body and cup together, and mixing parts from different families is the fastest way to end up with a torch that leaks gas or won't seal properly at the back cap.
Not sure what you need?
Bring your torch in to our Kempton Park workshop, or send us a photo of the torch head and its markings, and we'll match the correct TIG torch consumables to your setup rather than have you guess and reorder. We have built and repaired TIG torches since 2002 and know the common torch families inside out.
Common questions
Are all TIG torch consumables the same?
No. Consumables are sized by torch family, mainly 9/20 for compact air- or water-cooled torches, and 17/18/26 for larger, heavier-duty torches. A collet, collet body, back cap or cup from one family generally won't fit another, so always match parts to your specific torch model before ordering.
What consumables are needed for TIG welding?
A complete TIG torch needs a collet matched to your tungsten diameter, a collet body, a ceramic cup or gas lens kit, a back cap, and the tungsten electrode itself. Most of these wear or need swapping between jobs, so it's worth keeping spares of the cup and collet on hand.
What is the rule of 33 in TIG welding?
One common use of the term refers to cup setup: the tungsten should stick out roughly a third of the cup's internal diameter, with a similar arc length relative to the tungsten diameter. It's a starting-point guideline, not a fixed rule, so adjust for the joint and material in front of you.
What are the common problems with TIG torches?
The most common issues are a cracked or chipped ceramic cup letting air into the shielding gas, a worn collet that lets the tungsten slip, and a loose back cap breaking the gas seal. Most of these are a five-minute fix once you know which consumable is at fault.
How do I know what cup size I need?
Cup size mainly depends on amperage and how much shielding gas coverage the joint needs, with smaller cups for tight spaces and lower amperage, larger cups for higher amperage or extra coverage on stainless and aluminium. If you're unsure, bring your torch in and we'll match it for you.
What's the difference between a standard collet body and a gas lens collet body?
A standard collet body directs gas through a simple opening. A gas lens collet body adds a fine mesh screen that smooths the gas flow into a longer, more laminar column, reducing turbulence and letting you use a longer tungsten stick-out or weld closer into a corner.
Can't find what you need?
WhatsApp us the spec. If we don't have it on the site, we probably have it in the workshop.
