Welding Tips and Tricks

I learned to TIG in the early 2000's on the old transformer style machines at a vocational school. Once I left school, I can count on one hand the number of times I TIG welded up until about 2016 when I got my own machine.

I've never encountered this issue before and up until last year, I never had to take apart a TIG torch to even realize these parts were separate, but the sleeve that attaches to the actual TIG torch that you remove in order to reach the actual (tube) torch connection on the Miller machine at work twists very easily. I am used to holding the torch from this "stem" and I've really had to adapt the way I hold the torch and it gives me a whole lot less comfortable grip holding the small area of the torch head instead of the handle.

Is there some kind of fix for this issue? Hopefully the pictures will describe the part my words are not.

It seems like a very poor design not to have some kind of "key" to keep that sleeve from spinning.

Torch is a Miller branded "Weldcraft A-150"

get something better such as ck 17

tweake wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2026 11:30 pm get something better such as ck 17

I mean that would be fine, if it were my equipment, but this is the shop welder. I bought a CK worldwide for my own machine at home.

If you’re talking about the corrugated sleeve spinning in your hand, then it’s a case of the fitment has lost its “grip”. After time and usage, this sleeve can become loose.

You could try a bit of high temp tape at the top of the tube to the torch handle. That might get you by.

cj737 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 24, 2026 2:30 pm If you’re talking about the corrugated sleeve spinning in your hand, then it’s a case of the fitment has lost its “grip”. After time and usage, this sleeve can become loose.

You could try a bit of high temp tape at the top of the tube to the torch handle. That might get you by.

Yes, that's exactly the issue. That sleeve isn't tight like my home unit. It's been like that since we unboxed the welder. A real pain.

You could try to build up the Inner section with some tape or some silicon tube sliced in half or the right size o-ring to give it a tighter fit.
You might need the tiniest bit of dish soap to get it on but once it dries it should be a pretty solid fit.

Deepwinter wrote: ↑Sun Apr 26, 2026 9:24 am You could try to build up the Inner section with some tape or some silicon tube sliced in half or the right size o-ring to give it a tighter fit.
You might need the tiniest bit of dish soap to get it on but once it dries it should be a pretty solid fit.

I'm probably going to have to try something like that. I was wondering if I could somehow shrink the plastic with heat or something, but my work environment isn't great for getting supplies right now so if I ruin it, it's going to be more of a pain for me than anyone else.