My Power Arc 160 STH arrived and I have questions.

[jameslo]

For either torch type, are the consumables and assorted parts standard?

In other words, can I go into any welding shop and pick up gas lenses, cups, tungsten, replacement torch parts, and so on? Or will I need to look for specialty products to fit, or order them from somewhere?

Thanks.

[everlastsupport]

For either torch type, are the consumables and assorted parts standard?

In other words, can I go into any welding shop and pick up gas lenses, cups, tungsten, replacement torch parts, and so on? Or will I need to look for specialty products to fit, or order them from somewhere?

Thanks.

Most all around here carry weldcraft. So you should me OK. Take the torch with you and they will be able to stock them if not.

[youngnstudly]

I brought a ceramic cup with me to the welding shop, along with a collet (just for the hell of it) and they had all the parts I needed in stock and they were standard 17 style torch parts. I received the black handled torch and I actually really like it a lot.

Once I realized that the parts were standard, I went to weldingcity.com and spent about $50 (total with shipping) on 2lbs. of stainless rod, a new cloth zippered cable jacket for the torch, and a ton of different sizes of gas lens cups. The ceramic cups were $2.45 for a minimum order of 5 (49 cents each!), and the welding shop wanted $2 to $6 per ceramic cup! I did spend $3 on one special extended cup for getting into tight spaces, but I bought like 17 cups for around $10. I like to keep an overkill of supply on hand (especially when it's extremely cost effective)...plus I've had a few "slips" of the torch and those ceramic cups don't like hitting the floor too often!

It may not be an issue for you, but I just changed the cable cover/jacket on my torch leads to a zippered cloth style one and it made a huge improvement for me as far as flexibility goes. I no longer feel like the torch is twisting my hand as I weld. I think that upgrade was like $15.

[jameslo]

I brought a ceramic cup with me to the welding shop, along with a collet (just for the hell of it) and they had all the parts I needed in stock and they were standard 17 style torch parts. I received the black handled torch and I actually really like it a lot.

Once I realized that the parts were standard, I went to weldingcity.com and spent about $50 (total with shipping) on 2lbs. of stainless rod, a new cloth zippered cable jacket for the torch, and a ton of different sizes of gas lens cups. The ceramic cups were $2.45 for a minimum order of 5 (49 cents each!), and the welding shop wanted $2 to $6 per ceramic cup! I did spend $3 on one special extended cup for getting into tight spaces, but I bought like 17 cups for around $10. I like to keep an overkill of supply on hand (especially when it's extremely cost effective)...plus I've had a few "slips" of the torch and those ceramic cups don't like hitting the floor too often!

It may not be an issue for you, but I just changed the cable cover/jacket on my torch leads to a zippered cloth style one and it made a huge improvement for me as far as flexibility goes. I no longer feel like the torch is twisting my hand as I weld. I think that upgrade was like $15.

Nice! Thanks

[youngnstudly]

Nice! Thanks

You're very welcome! I got tired of the high prices that all the local welding shops were charging, so now I simply get my Argon bottle exchanged at (my favorite) LWS and almost everything else comes mail order for me. If the consumables at the LWS don't have a name brand on them, you can bet it's the same cheap supplies that you're getting online, just a lot better pricing! If they do have the name brand on them, you get charged for it! Good luck and have fun!

[Mr120]

I brought a ceramic cup with me to the welding shop, along with a collet (just for the hell of it) and they had all the parts I needed in stock and they were standard 17 style torch parts. I received the black handled torch and I actually really like it a lot.

Once I realized that the parts were standard, I went to weldingcity.com and spent about $50 (total with shipping) on 2lbs. of stainless rod, a new cloth zippered cable jacket for the torch, and a ton of different sizes of gas lens cups. The ceramic cups were $2.45 for a minimum order of 5 (49 cents each!), and the welding shop wanted $2 to $6 per ceramic cup! I did spend $3 on one special extended cup for getting into tight spaces, but I bought like 17 cups for around $10. I like to keep an overkill of supply on hand (especially when it's extremely cost effective)...plus I've had a few "slips" of the torch and those ceramic cups don't like hitting the floor too often!

It may not be an issue for you, but I just changed the cable cover/jacket on my torch leads to a zippered cloth style one and it made a huge improvement for me as far as flexibility goes. I no longer feel like the torch is twisting my hand as I weld. I think that upgrade was like $15.

Good little upgrade to the torch with the more flexible jacket. Does it pick up much off of the floor?

[youngnstudly]

Good little upgrade to the torch with the more flexible jacket. Does it pick up much off of the floor?

To be honest, it doesn't really hit the floor. If it did, I'd say "Yes", but I route it from my welding cart directly behind the job box I use for TIG welding. As you can see, I added a crossbar to the rack that supports the light fixture, and I route the torch through the crossbar for ease of use. It keeps all the tension off the torch when welding, plus the leads are always off the floor. I bet the jacket would capture every little piece of hair and lint if it did sit on the floor when welding though. My yellow lab isn't allowed past the door opening, yet for some reason I have clumps of dog hair on the floor at all times....and multiple tennis balls, bones, chew toys, etc.

[everlastsupport]

It may not be an issue for you, but I just changed the cable cover/jacket on my torch leads to a zippered cloth style one and it made a huge improvement for me as far as flexibility goes. I no longer feel like the torch is twisting my hand as I weld. I think that upgrade was like $15.

Was it this one?

http://www.weldingcity.com/tig-torch...-w-zipper.html

Or this one?

http://www.weldingcity.com/tig-torch...-w-zipper.html

[youngnstudly]

Was it this one?

http://www.weldingcity.com/tig-torch...-w-zipper.html

Or this one?

http://www.weldingcity.com/tig-torch...-w-zipper.html

Mike, I just checked my receipt and it was the 3" wide version. I initially ran a piece of string around the torch leads with the factory covering in place and measured the circumference that I got by marking the string and laying it up against a tape measure. It ended up being just the right size when I installed it and the length was near perfect too. The gain definitely outweighed the expense in my experience, but not everyone has a problem with the stiffer lead covering/jacket in the first place.

http://www.weldingcity.com/tig-torch...-w-zipper.html

BTW I just went over my expenses on that receipt and the SS 309 filler was less than $6.50/lb.! Good deal considering what the LWS charged for a pound of stainless 308 (around $17/lb!). The LWS knew they wouldn't sell any welding supplies if they posted prices in the store. I learned me an expensive lesson that day!

[everlastsupport]

Mike, I just checked my receipt and it was the 3" wide version. I initially ran a piece of string around the torch leads with the factory covering in place and measured the circumference that I got by marking the string and laying it up against a tape measure. It ended up being just the right size when I installed it and the length was near perfect too. The gain definitely outweighed the expense in my experience, but not everyone has a problem with the stiffer lead covering/jacket in the first place.

http://www.weldingcity.com/tig-torch...-w-zipper.html

BTW I just went over my expenses on that receipt and the SS 309 filler was less than $6.50/lb.! Good deal considering what the LWS charged for a pound of stainless 308 (around $17/lb!). The LWS knew they wouldn't sell any welding supplies if they posted prices in the store. I learned me an expensive lesson that day!

I will grab a couple and try them out. As time grows you get used to the stiff cables, but if only $15 that is a bargan over CK, worth a shot. I have seen cloth ones as well, like on our spool guns.

Yea, the LWS never have prices out. Like HVAC, plumping supply, etc. You get to the counter and you pay the price. And they're never there for you on a weekend for those prices either

[DaveO]

You get to the counter and you pay the price.

Kinda have to wonder who continues to shop there, when pretty much everything is available online. I wonder if anyone knows exactly how much internet sales have eaten into brick and mortar sales... do they have captive customers that keep them going? When I worked at an LWS- back before the internet was even a gleam in Al Gore's eye- it was always fun when guys from the railroad came into the store- they were spending someone else's money and didn't care, and when they stopped in for supplies, any purchase on any whim went on the pile. There was an Air Base nearby too, and around September they were getting close to the end of the fiscal year and in danger of losing their "use it or lose it" budgets so they would leave with a truckful too.

As with local hardware stores and Home Depot, higher brick-and-mortar prices with less selection will drive customers away, and that will drive prices up... which will drive customers away and drive prices up in a continuing vicious cycle.

[youngnstudly]

I will grab a couple and try them out. As time grows you get used to the stiff cables, but if only $15 that is a bargan over CK, worth a shot. I have seen cloth ones as well, like on our spool guns.

Yea, the LWS never have prices out. Like HVAC, plumping supply, etc. You get to the counter and you pay the price. And they're never there for you on a weekend for those prices either

Since the nerve damage in my hands showed up, I have become a lot more "sensitive" when gripping or holding things with my hands. Before the nerve damage, I always used water-cooled torches, and they are such a pleasure to use that I never had a problem in the first place!

It drives me crazy that the LWS are never open on weekends! You'd think a few of them would open for half a Saturday or something. Heck, even 2 of the 3 local steel suppliers are open on Saturday! That is normally when I run out of supplies though (half way through the day), so it'd be my luck that the LWS would close 15 minutes before I arrived. Then I'd have to read the lovely sign on the front door that says "Sorry, but we closed the second you ran out of supplies and we're now sitting at the bar laughing about it! Come back some other time when we're open! Haha!!!!"

.....I swear the sign says that on it if you look at it in just the right light!