$15 for one stick of 1/2" square

[Frosty]

Bought a 20' stick of 2x2x1/8 angle yesterday. $31.60 + tax.

Good thing I have most of what I need for this project in my stock pile. I'm putting together a Variable Volume forge for the shop.

Ouch!

Frosty

[GOATMAN]

Not Blacksmithing, but custom steel control panel production; We currently have some big projects that span 2 to 3 years, and we’re loosing out because since we bid the job, prices have increased +50%! Material is CRS sheet & rectangular tubing, mostly.

[ornametalsmith]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Bought a 20' stick of 2x2x1/8 angle yesterday. $31.60 + tax.

Good thing I have most of what I need for this project in my stock pile. I'm putting together a Variable Volume forge for the shop.

Ouch!

Frosty

COOL beans, Frostilio........you know we'll need pix.

fwiw....the last 1/2" sq. solid I got.....was $11 for 20', here in FL. That was from a local supplier. IF I'd needed more and ordered from Tampa Bay Steel, I'm sure it would have been less.

And I agree it's painful to the hobbiest........but just be glad your not wanting to play with Copper or Sil. Bronze. DOH!!!!!!

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by ornametalsmith

COOL beans, Frostilio........you know we'll need pix.

I think I'll post the drawing to a new thread and we can kick it around there.

Frosty

[tetnum]

i am proly lucky but i can still buy 3/8 round 20' for $1.78 +tax thats what i paid a week a go

[Ten Hammers]

"For those of us who are hobbiest, the prices are a bigger deal."

Don't take this as a shot accross your bow. Consider this. Those of us that make a substantial part of our living forging and selling forged goods can't just "pass it on" to the customer as easily as you may think. Go buy 10-15 sticks of hot rolled rod and square ( 3/16 through 1/2) and a group of other stuff ( sheet etc ) and look at last years prices to compare. Then compare energy costs to forge and weld. I build functional day to day items to be used for cooking and other camp related things as well as doo dah's for consumers that they can't get from China at the local mass merchandiser. Custom work as well ( stock inventoried items ). Will be interesting to see how the year goes with rondys and other shows as to how folks hang on to their cash. I have been in business (field) for roughly 34 years. Maintaining a raw materials and finished goods inventory is part of my life. I refuse to be snuffed and have taken on the first steel inventory of the year. Time will tell but I remain optimistic.

The steel ( suppliers - read mills ) for the day job I work have told the company that they will guarantee a 3 day quote ( this may be on an order of 500 24' pieces of 2 x 2 1/2 11 ga tubing along with another 4-5 ton of other tubing and bar). There are business owners that frequent this website that budget for the amounts I mentioned in the last sentence. These owners also budget employees time and benefits. Large order items are not the issue. Stainless is incredible in price. Fortunately my day job has business and I have somewhere to go when I'm not home in the shop. The ones that say that the price of materials is a pittance of the final cost of the finished goods had better wake up and smell the coffee. Some stock has gone up 5 TIMES the cost in the past 10 years. Has your retail followed ? KY boy, thank you for starting this thread. These are issues that should be discussed. I mean no disrespect.

[pete46]

Ten Nailed It .
People Have Less Desposable Income So They Pass On What Your Sell'n .

[rfb343]

well at least we've still got smiths in india will to work for penny's a day(and they can smelt thier own metal). Like Ten Hammers said, I'm glad that smithing isnt my daily bread maker, cos noone wants to hear that that Fort Megis axe is 75 buck cos its hand forged, when you could go to the next tent over and buy one thats cast, from who knows what metal with mold lines and poor casting drips hangin off of it, for $25 bucks. So my heart and prayer go out to the people that depend on smithing for their income. "steppin off the soapbox"

[hammerkid]

Originally Posted by larrynjr

For those of us who are hobbiest, the prices are a bigger deal. I would think those who are smithing professionally and selling the product to a customer, the increase in cost will get passed along as well.

Unless you prebid something using steel prices that are no longer accurate and are not able to rebid using new steel costs. Then you are out of luck.

Yeah I know waht you mean Larry. Its killing me! I`ve had to start charging Friends , who `s projects was going to be free. Also the price of welding supplies, gas,wire etc., is hurting my wallet.
Thanks,Chris

[steve sells]

Its not only the bid's time limit, its the time from bid, to delivery can be 6 months or more under normal manufacturing conditions for pattern welded blades, due to the Que of other orders ahead.

Even with time limits on bids, some makers have a waiting list of 2 years out! So I Don't think my 6 month wait is hurting me as bad as them. But the cost rise from the time I got the assignment until I get it paid for is eating what little profit I had.