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Between ordering from Everlast, Harbor Freight, and a plethora of other online sources, has anyone found that some are better than others as far as quality and longevity under proper use?
Try to find authentic Trafimet parts, or are some aftermarket brands as good or better?
I find the real trafimet are a "little" better. But good dry air, right air pressure, they all work fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by sticks
Trafimet has there logo on the upper ridge of their parts if you want to confirm they are authentic.
Harbor Freight typically uses genuine consumables. Ours have an E on them if they are ours or a flying T logo if they are the original ones usually sent with the torch. The E's have proven themselves to generally be as good if not better in lifespan. Others are of various quality.
I just bought 10 tips and 10 electrodes off ebay for $30 free shipping, think I might order 10 more tips as it seems i go through them faster than electrodes... The last tips and electrodes I used were harbor freights.
Those would have been true trafimet...or were a few months ago.
The Harbor Freight ones are real, but the price is a joke. However, if it was a Sat/Sun and you had a cutting job and no consumables, it is an option. Best to always have plenty on hand.
Price isn't really that bad...if you use the 20% discount. They send me a 20% discount every month to my email. It's cheaper than the OEM HT or TA cons.
Our consumables though as aftermarket are thought to be slightly better because of the special copper billet our factory uses from Finland. The Trafimet cons are made in china, and they may (or may not) use the lower quality, recycled copper with a high TIN content. They are better made for sure than the cheaper ones from ebay bucket full price suppliers.
Each one of the consumables are turned on a lathe, which can allow for some differences, depending upon the condition of the lathe, person overseeing the turning and then the ultimately the precision of the measuring devices and the qc.
surprised they would be using a lathe, I would have guessed a screw machine.Quote:
Originally Posted by performance
I saw the machine and person years ago making them. It was a lathe back then. Duncan took the picture. Not sure if it was emailed or via forum. I was shocked as too.
The s45 electrodes should have a Halfnium insert..Quote:
Originally Posted by performance
Yes, ours use halfnium, from Haas. But other brands may not use halfnium, and use something inferior, or not as good of grade.
What does hafnium do for them ?
It increases life span, as it has a high melting point...and it's conductivity. Very similar to Zirconium, but different, and yes, I think I mispelled it. I typed it first as hafnium, then saw brucer's spelling and thought I had gotten it wrong myself...oh well. Anyway, it's a pretty cool metal from what I have read.