Where do you get your consumables?

[Gavin_d]

hi guys, just wondering where you get your consumables from. I'm after a really big lot of all sizes of collets, ceramics, gas lenses in sure you see what I mean.

I've seen them on eBay for around £65 but know what the quality will be like. Thanks all.

 

[Mr shiney]

I get mine from ebay and have no problem with them.

 

[Maker]

I've heard of the cheap ceramics having voids in them and cracking/exploding with the heat, so they may not work out to be cheap in the long run. I think I got mine from Weldequip a while ago and they seem to be of good quality. Rapidwelding also sell consumables, genuine CK ones so more expensive but better quality(Probably).

 

[eSCHEn]

I use WECS for my stuff. I liked that I could build up a selection of assorted bits.

 

[Richard.]

I've paid a range of prices for them and I honestly could not tell one from another. I got a batch of collets once with some slight burs on the inside (they were really cheap) they soon pushed out when the tungsten was put in. Sizing wize they all seem a good fit I don't think you need to worry.

 

[Maker]

Has anyone tried wedge collets? Supposedly, normal collets can bend/twist out of shape if you turn the back cap when it's still hot and wedge collets don't (Or something like that)?

 

[Richard.]

Has anyone tried wedge collets? Supposedly, normal collets can bend/twist out of shape if you turn the back cap when it's still hot and wedge collets don't (Or something like that)?

Can't say I have mate. I know what you mean I bend em up all the time and chuck em when there beyond help. I'll have to look into them.

 

[Appyasme]

Some of the copy stuff on the market is rubbish.Try Weldcraft.There is a good old saying ,you buy cheap you pay twice

 

[Maker]

 

[Mr shiney]

I got a full set of stuff from ebay for £18 and it's been flawless. Came with 3 sets of everything including blue tungstens of each size and 4 sizes of cups.

They have all been fine. I am a believer in buy cheap buy twice as a rule, but sometimes a cheap gamble pays off......

 

[Richard.]

Yeah I'm terrible for buying expensive stuff as I totally believe you get what you pay for but in this case I've used really cheap torch consumables and better named dearer ones and they both performed equally well. Like I say a few machining burs but no big deal.

 

[Tigman]

Maker you can get them at Rapid Welding , cant see a price , but they look good !

 

[Maker]

£1.62 for series 2 wedge collets and £1.98 for series 3 ones.

 

[Tigman]

if it stops the twistys then its all good !

 

[Richard.]

Agreed^^^^

 

[Appyasme]

Again you get what you pay for.The collets that you buy cheap will twist,I know they ARE cheap and you might think every is hunky dory.You buy cheap ....you pay twice

 

[lotus 30]

If you buy of ebay just look at the feed back that will tell you most things

 

[Gavin_d]

Thanks for all the info guys! My only problem is if i did want to buy quality branded stuff it never normally comes as an assorted set. You can only normally purchase say a pack of 5 collets and a few ceramics the same size in a small box. It all adds up buying it like that. This is the reason the big assorted jumbo kits on ebay appealed to me.

 

[dannyp]

i went for a big assorted kit of bits, then i top up it up with decent bits as i use them, that way the stuff you use most off is good quality and the stuff you don't is cheep but if you need it you still have it.

 

[Gavin_d]

i went for a big assorted kit of bits, then i top up it up with decent bits as i use them, that way the stuff you use most off is good quality and the stuff you don't is cheep but if you need it you still have it.

Sounds like a good plan. My thinking exactly.