expensive tungstone electrodes

[M1CDQ]

The other month when I got my new tig welder I went to Engweld to get my gas and I picked up some grey tipped 2.4mm electrodes and was charged £31.86 for a pack of 10. I now have access to their online system for parts so i checked out the price.they charge £5.55 ex VAT for one electrode
so a pack of 10 would cost £55.50 ex VAT

I quired the price today while getting more gas he said the price was right after checking and that Id got 50% discound on my order thats why they where cheap at £31.86 for 10

well I will not be getting any more from them.Just my Gas

any suggestions for other suppliers

 

[weldequip]

PM sent Were they gold tipped?...as in gold plated
weldequip

 

[M1CDQ]

they should have been.
I first thought the price on the website was for 10 but it not its for 1

I know you dont go through that many as you get better. As I am slowly getting better at tig im not touching down as much.
cheers weldquip you will be getting the next order when I need some more.

 

[pedrobedro]

Lawson HIS do 10 2.4mm ceriated for £9.44 here which is as cheap as I've seen them anywhere.

 

[scott0031]

Lawson HIS do 10 2.4mm ceriated for £9.44 here which is as cheap as I've seen them anywhere.

I think you will find that's each and not for 10. If you look below it states each and gives a price for each. I have to say i cant ever remember tungsten's being 90p each anywhere even 15 years ago. Unless i have been ripped off for years.

The cost has always kept me buying small amounts as having 200 odd quid in different types and sizes of tungsten's sitting on the shelf has never been realistic.

Just checked it out with the buy now button x that cost by the amount you order Even more expensive than the prices M1CDQ quoted. 10 = £84.92 +vat and postage, which is stated at 6 quid or £4.24 pending how many you buy or cost amount.


Kind regards,


Scott (ward eng)

 

[Paul.]

That price is for 1 pack of 10, I normally pay about £12 - £14 for a pack of 10, 2.4s from my local welding supplies co.

 

[scott0031]

If i have got that round my butt and misread it then I freely admit i haven't bought any consumables for several years being as i have had enough to keep me going for that time.


Paul a question, have tungsten prices fallen over the years? My memory is telling me they were typically two to three quid each plus, pending size etc. Not something i payed huge amount of attention to at the time, so my memory could have failed me on this one.


Kind regards,


Scott (ward eng)

 

[weldequip]

have tungsten prices fallen over the years?

They have, largely due to the fact most are now imported from China
There is a considerable difference in quality between cheap & quality Tungstens.
Ever wondered why your arc seems to 'wander' & strike/re-strike can seem difficult; thought it was down to in-experience or not keeping a well ground tip? Chances are it's down to sh1te Tungstens!
Quality Tungstens have a precise, measured amount of additive (Cerium, Thorium, Zirconium, Lanthanum etc.) throughout the length of the electrode to provide arc stability for the given application... cheap Tungstens don't
weldequip

 

[Paul.]

I think torch consumables, have been fairly stable for a number of years, at least where I buy they are, A lot of firms quote an over inflated list price then heavily discount when your eyes water, so you think you're getting a good deal, for occasional buyers and diyers it may work, but the trade know what to pay, there's also a lot of imported stuff around, which is cheaper than the big name stuff, I bought a wp17 flex neck torch last week for less than £10, 1.6 thoriated tungstens £11.70 for 10, collet bodies .90p each, ceramics .80p each. all imported and nothing wrong with any of it, been buying it for ages.
The internet is not always the best place to buy, in many cases the carriage will make the order more expensive than a local purchase, a good relationship with a local welding supplies company is well worth having, just avoid the one whose primary business is Gas sales, now they are expensive.

 

[scott0031]

Paul and weldequip,

Thanks for the replies, It explains what appears to be a massive price difference at times This isn't like a small price difference either in % terms its pretty huge.

I'm not a big buyer of consumables these days, the tig especially is more service orientated so if when a job comes in and needs some machining and some neat welding the tig comes out to play. So that's why i haven't bought any consumables for the tig in a long while. Plus i find stuff at auctions etc anything to save a few quid.

I agree building up relationships with local suppliers, something i have always done, not because they are always cheaper. More the fact if you keep them in business they are there to help you when you need something desperately in the middle of a job and you get a torch burn out or wot not.


I guess the general rule of thumb is still you get what you pay for, But i know with some of the Chinese stuff its sometimes not all that bad and very usable. I have to say i do remember having some duff tungsten's and took me forever to figure out what was going wrong.


Again thanks to you both.

Kind regards,

Scott (ward eng)

 

[pedrobedro]

The Lawson advert clearly states it's for a pack of 10 electrodes, buy 5 packs and they give a discount for bulk. I've paid less on ebay. The only problem I have had with anything is with some cheap ceramics which disintegrated under heat and the end came off like a ring.

 

[M1CDQ]

thats what I am going to have to get soon some more ceramics.I got enough tungstens to last a while