TIG Welding Argon Regulator/Flowmeter repair/replacement question

I brought my old Smith regulator / flowmeter in for repairs last week, and the estimate came out to $105. Now I'm thinking that I could just buy a new one for less than that. Anybody have any input on repairing vs buying a new lesser expensive one? Any thoughts on the Smith H1952 or H2051? What are all of you using?

 

I do not know what those regulatore you have listed are, but my past experance tells me that for what little extra it costs to buy new regulators compaired to repairing your old regulators, buy the new stuff. Most I've seen repaired were short term repairs and devoloped more problems in short order.
Gene

 

Thanks for the input, I was leaning towards new as well. Any thoughts on this unit? http://cgi.ebay.com/Victor-Argon-Flowmeter-with-gas-hose_W0QQitemZ7590561401QQcategoryZ34096QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Victor stuff is good, although I been told they're made overseas now.

 

All the good stuff seems to be moving overseas. Bigger profits for the MFG.

 

Mine is a Victor HPF 2425 which as I recall was the cheaper of a couple of choices and was around $125.00 ten years ago. I look at it as shielding gas, not oxygen flow to the crew of the space shuttle.

By the way, didn't the repair guy say, from experience you'd be better off with a new one?

 

I had a pressure regulator for my mig that I put an old flow meter in the exit port and set pressure and adjust the flow with the knob on the flow meter. Works for several years. I did find some good deals on Ebay b4 buy up some of these parts at the swap meet. Ed ke6bnl