Install instructions
Tool-free install in under two minutes. Works with any major-brand TIG torch and any standard remote HF start momentary switch.
Measure your torch handle outer diameter
Use calipers to measure the OD of your torch handle just behind the cup. Match the measurement to Small (0.50–0.60"), Medium (0.65–0.75"), or Large (0.78–0.90").
Snap the Button Clip GTAW onto your torch handle
Position the clip where your thumb naturally falls. The clip flexes open just enough to seat over the handle, then locks closed.
Drop your switch into the cradle
Seat your SW-1F, SW-1, or ETSW-1 switch into the clip cradle. The switch body rests against the cradle walls — no compressive force on the housing.
Rotate to your thumb position
Rotate the assembly 360° around the torch handle until the button sits exactly under your thumb at your normal grip.
Test the momentary action
Press the button before striking an arc — confirm a clean click and release. The switch should fire on the first press.
Tuning the button position
The 360° rotation is the install’s biggest win. Most welders set the button once and never re-position it; the welders who tune per-job get better thumb endurance and fewer mis-fires. Position notes per technique:
- Push technique (right-handed) — button at ~1 o’clock viewed from the rear.
- Pull / drag technique — button at ~10–11 o’clock.
- Out-of-position pipe — re-rotate as you move around the joint; the bottom of a 5G/6G pipe is roughly 6 o’clock.
- In-tank / restricted access — keep the button on the opposite side of where the torch braces against a wall, so you don’t fire unintentionally.
Common install mistakes
- Mounting the clip too far forward (fouls on the cup or lens cap when adjusting gas).
- Buying a size too big (clip slides under glove pressure) or too small (clip won’t fully snap closed).
- Skipping the press-test before striking an arc — catch a damaged switch before it ruins a weld.
Per-switch install variations
The high-level install is the same across switches; minor seating differences are documented per switch:
For the long version
The detailed install guide with the engineering rationale is how to mount a TIG torch button switch. If you’re curious why the wrong install kills your switch in the first place, read why your TIG torch switch keeps failing.
Need a Button Clip GTAW?
Pick your size on the product page. Three sizes cover most TIG torches.