Furick 3 Series TIG Parts FAQs
Cups, collets, gas lens parts and kits for a larger-style TIG torch: how to match them to your torch and tungsten, and how to look after them.
How do I choose the right cup size?
A larger cup gives a wider, steadier flow of shielding gas and so broader coverage, while a smaller cup reaches tight joints but speeds the gas up, which can cause turbulence. Choose the largest cup the joint access allows.
Cups are normally numbered by opening size, in sixteenths of an inch, so a bigger number means a wider cup. Metals that need careful gas cover, such as stainless steel, usually benefit from a wider cup, often with a gas lens. Make sure the cup is the style made for your torch and for either a standard collet body or a gas lens.
How far can the tungsten stick out of the cup?
Keep the stick-out as short as the joint allows. A common workshop rule of thumb is that the tungsten should not stick out past the cup by more than somewhere between half and the full inside diameter of the cup, but this is a guide, not a standard. A long stick-out is a recognised cause of poor shielding, and the usual fix is to reduce it or fit a larger cup.
A gas lens gives a smoother column of gas, so it tolerates a longer stick-out and helps in corners and tight access. Whatever you choose, check the weld for discolouration or porosity and follow the torch maker's guidance for your set-up.
How do I match the collet, collet body and tungsten size?
The collet and the collet body or gas lens must suit the diameter of the tungsten electrode. Maker parts lists and kit tables are organised by tungsten size for this reason.
Work from the tungsten you will use. A 2.4 mm electrode, for example, needs a 2.4 mm collet and a matching collet body or gas lens. If you change electrode diameter, change the matching parts too. A worn ordinary split collet can twist or jam, and a wedge-style collet is the maker's suggested answer for short collet life, so ask if one is made for your torch.
How do I work out which consumables fit my torch?
Torch consumables are made in families, and the cup, collet body or gas lens, collet and back cap must all be the style intended for your torch. Maker manuals list matching parts by torch series, so start with the series or type marking on the torch and its manual.
A larger-style torch generally uses a longer collet body than a smaller-style one, but do not rely on that alone. Compare thread, diameter and length with the old part. Parts from different torch families may not screw together, so do not assume two similar parts are interchangeable. If in doubt, our team can help you match parts to your torch.