Anyone have a good online supplier for tig consumables? I just bought a water cooled 225 multihead Weldcraft torch that can take 3 different styles of consumables. 9/20, 17/18, 24 I believe. My local LWS are impatient for putting a kit together for the more common sizes I use and want way too much for the kit made for the torch.

Thanks

3/32" 2% Thoriated (red band) should be just fine for nearly everything you would need do in this hobby. Use the #20 head, get a collet and collet body in 3/32, #6 or #7 alumina cup (the pink kind), and at minimum a long back cap. If you want get gas lens parts instead of the regular collet body and nozzel, they provide smoother gas flow and allow a longer stickout but are physically larger (I use a gas lens about as often as I use 1/16" or 1/8" electrodes, very rarely). Medium and short back caps are nice to have when you need to get into a tight spot.

I would but two each of collet and collet body, one back cap (per size if you want all three), at least two cups (they always seem to break at the worst times), and 3-4 electrodes (if you don't want to buy a box of 10). Buying some cups in different sizes would be nice too, see what you like the most, #5 and #8 are a good smaller and larger choice.

If you're planning on doing lots of aluminum, that's when I would consider getting consumables for the #18 head, 1/8".

I just don't think the kits are worth the price because you end up with a bunch of stuff you probably won't ever need.

I use either Mr Tig (http://www.tigdepot.net) or Welding Supply (http://www.weldingsupply.com)

Both are great at what they do.

I use ... Mr Tig (http://www.tigdepot.net)

I 2nd this one.

I`ll have to check out Mr Tig... I use Welding Supply.

3/32" 2% Thoriated (red band) should be just fine for nearly everything you would need do in this hobby. Use the #20 head, get a collet and collet body in 3/32, #6 or #7 alumina cup (the pink kind), and at minimum a long back cap. If you want get gas lens parts instead of the regular collet body and nozzel, they provide smoother gas flow and allow a longer stickout but are physically larger (I use a gas lens about as often as I use 1/16" or 1/8" electrodes, very rarely). Medium and short back caps are nice to have when you need to get into a tight spot.

I would but two each of collet and collet body, one back cap (per size if you want all three), at least two cups (they always seem to break at the worst times), and 3-4 electrodes (if you don't want to buy a box of 10). Buying some cups in different sizes would be nice too, see what you like the most, #5 and #8 are a good smaller and larger choice.

If you're planning on doing lots of aluminum, that's when I would consider getting consumables for the #18 head, 1/8".

I just don't think the kits are worth the price because you end up with a bunch of stuff you probably won't ever need.


I like the kits due to there is always something you're missing on the weekend or late at night when the stores are closed. And you can glance at the box and tell what you are missing. Never know what situations welding you may get yourself into. I guess I could get a list together and make my own kit with a clear plastic tackle box.

I do agree 3/32 is a very versatile size tungsten and thoriated can weld well on everything. It's nice to have a variety of cups due to lack of clearances when welding in tight spots. I always go for the alumina (pink) cups the lava ones are more expensive and break easier.

Weldingsupply has good prices but it's hard to navigate and tell what you are ordering due to lack of good pictures or any pictures.

Everything above, but I run a gas lens more often than a collet body just because it works better.

Also ive ordered a bunch from cyberweld before and they have great service.

Everything above, but I run a gas lens more often than a collet body just because it works better.

Also ive ordered a bunch from cyberweld before and they have great service.

Cyberweld is one of the only online welding stores that supplies the interchangeable torch head consumable kit and is one of the lowest prices I could find. I might just save some more money and just buy the kit. Has a good selection of collets, cups, interchangeable heads, etc.

This is my lil torch part kits box I made :D

http://www.4x4blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/tig-kit.jpg

This is my lil torch part kits box I made :D

http://www.4x4blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/tig-kit.jpg

Are those boxes of 10 cups of the same size or boxes for 10 cups with different sized cups. Thanks for the picture.

if your looking for a milti sized kit check ebay. USAweld has them on ebay i think.

You can see the full details of my tig consumables here (http://www.4x4blog.com/tig-torch-parts-parts/).

Mix of sizes.

HTP welding's site has good deals on small kits for consumables. After a little more research I think I am going to piece together several kits (since my torch takes 3 different kinds of conumables) to keep the interchangeable torch heads and their correct consumables seperated. I already have a consumable kit for the 17/18 series torches.

If I were to buy the big master kit for the 225 torch it does not come with gas lenses and other accessories, but if I buy mid size kits for each torch type I get gas lenses and everything else I would need.

I priced the consumables online seperately and they are a good deal for a particular size but if you putting a kit together with the boxes of 10 they come as you would need a tool box to store everything. Several sizes would not get used enough to justify 10 of that particular size. But as Todd W mentioned it would be good for the 3/32, #5 and #8 sizes since they are the most used.

http://cgi.ebay.com/5-13N23-3-32-TIG-torch-welding-collets_W0QQitemZ200295747586QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea28e9002
usa weld is the cheapest i have seen. they will combine shipping on almost any thing.