S45 consumeables - anyone find some are betther than others?

[performance]

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.

[brucer]

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.

[everlastsupport]

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.

[brucer]

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.

The s45 electrodes should have a Halfnium insert..

[performance]

Yes, ours use halfnium, from Haas. But other brands may not use halfnium, and use something inferior, or not as good of grade.

[zoama]

What does hafnium do for them ?

[performance]

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.