Newbe and TIG consumables

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Hi guys I came up empty on my searches so here goesI have been experimenting with my new machine and have got to a point where I have used up most of the consumables (or damaged them slightly) that I bought from my LWS and need to replenish.They sell both no name parts and Weldcraft pieces (almost double the cost) originally I bought the no name collets, bodies and cups but found that they take no abuse at all.I never dropped the torch but somehow the back cap has a crack, most of my Alumina cups are chipped and a couple of my collets don't seem to hold tight anymore?Also I would like to try the gas lens and since I pretty much need to start over should I move into the gas lens bodies and cups at this point? From what I understand the parts aren't interchangeable and so I really don't think I need to have two different sets?So, are the name brand pieces worth the extra money or are they all pretty comparable? Do I spend less and buy more or if I spend more will I need less?If you were outfitting your consumables over today what route would you go?TIASrLincoln Squarewave 255Miller Coolmate IIISpeedway 320Lots of melted mess so far
Reply:save money and go with no name, all the tungstens are made in china, ive bought a lot fromm ebay from welders4less and have been very happy with price, service and usability of parts
Reply:ALl cups will chip if you drop them, and the collets eventually wear out and lose their hold on the tungsten.Your right, you need new parts to go over to the gas lens, I would say just go with that setup, you get better coverage with less gas used.  The parts are slightly more expensive but take care of the screen and you will be fine.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Sylvania is the only Tu made in the USA. Arc-zone.com has them, I think. As far as quality, cups and collet bodies probably don't matter; Tu might.My one 1/8" collet is starting to slip, but I've used it for months (in class, six hours a week).Cups and collet bodies are all you need to change. Collets stay the same for both. I did ok with standard cups and collet bodies on mild steel. On alum, the gas lens allowed stickout equal to what I used on mild steel. I had trouble with shielding, using the same stickout as a standard cup, that I used successfully on mild steel.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Thanks for the replies guys, I took the advice from a recent post and ordered a bunch of 2% Thoriated tungstens in the different sizes I will need but was really unsure on the cups, collets, and lenses.Sometimes there is value in spending more on stuff but in this case it doesn't look like it.I think I will go ahead and get a couple gas lens sets in the various sizes I use and not look backLincoln Squarewave 255Miller Coolmate IIISpeedway 320Lots of melted mess so far