Chinese eBay tungsten?

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So on a whim, I went ahead and ordered a 10 pack of 2% thoriated fron Hong Kong, $9.99 shipped for 1.6mm. Figured it wouldn't hurt to try on practice pieces. Any opinions on this vs. 'higher quality' stuff shipped from the US that is $2.3.00 per piece? (I searched, really I did)Motorboating...in the Cleavage of the Tetons
Reply:I don't know if there's any difference in the Chinese and American ( there usually is  )but I ordered about 3 packages of 2% lanthinated and  3 of 2% thoriated to practice with on my scratch start, I ordered from HTP off of Ebay and they seem to work well. I haven't ever done TIG except for scratch start practicing a few times in the last 2-3 weeks."Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's Liberty, Teeth, and Keystone under Independence." - George Washington
Reply:I have had good luck with tungsten-direct on eBay.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jeromy_EI don't know if there's any difference in the Chinese and American ( there usually is  )but I ordered about 3 packages of 2% lanthinated and  3 of 2% thoriated to practice with on my scratch start, I ordered from HTP off of Ebay and they seem to work well. I haven't ever done TIG except for scratch start practicing a few times in the last 2-3 weeks.
Reply:I use Chinese tungstens from WeldingCity.com and they seem to work fine, though I've only been TIG welding a couple of years and don't have much room for comparison.
Reply:If you are still in the "dippin and sippin" stage of learning TIG cheap will not hurt. On the other hand if You are welding rocket science parts, I would buy better. Take a  guess which side I camp on?
Reply:Originally Posted by Jeromy_EI don't know if there's any difference in the Chinese and American ( there usually is  )but I ordered about 3 packages of 2% lanthinated and  3 of 2% thoriated to practice with on my scratch start, I ordered from HTP off of Ebay and they seem to work well. I haven't ever done TIG except for scratch start practicing a few times in the last 2-3 weeks.
Reply:I don't see a reason to cheap out the extra $10 for a ten pack of tung that lasts 3 years?
Reply:I have both in the garage, I can't tell the difference between the two.
Reply:Originally Posted by VPTI don't see a reason to cheap out the extra $10 for a ten pack of tung that lasts 3 years?
Reply:Of course much of the earths rare minerals come from mines in China.That being said, there are plenty of horror stories about Chinese steel.  I won't buy anything from China that has a point or needs to keep an edge.  Besides, tungsten is relatively cheap.  I think my highest cost is probably gloves, followed by shields on the helmets.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX