Geez - materials prices

[KC2IXE]

Geez, materials prices have gotten CRAZY

I'm building a simple little barstock engine (a Linley RV-1), and didn't have some of the materials, in particular, the brass square stock, and the 316 stainless square stock

Needed ONE inch of 1x1 brass, a few inches of .5x.5, decided to buy 2 ft of the 3/16" 316, and a length of drill rod. Gad, the 1x1 brass is like $34/foot!

With online Metalmart having such high shipping, I threw a BUNCH of other stuff in the mix (hey, the shipping didn't go up, so might as well stock up, and it was stuff not as common on ebay) but...

It USED to be that building barstock engines is what you did because it was CHEAPER than building from castings, but when I realize that buying the 10-12" random drops etc for this kit (NOT including stock I already had) and paying for shipping, I could have bought a PM Research Model 2 or Model 3 casting kit (already DID a model 3, so..), and for just a few $$ more, gotten a Model 6 or a Model 1

One of my eventual goal (and I have most of the stock), I really do want to build a Rudy Kouhoupt Marine Compound

 

[PEU]

made me look: http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/kouhoupt.htm nice machines!


Pablo

 

[BVH]

For $238, I got the below at Industrial Metal Supply, North Hollywood CA: Didn't seem bad at all to me.

6061 Aluminum Tubing $1.69 lb Remnant

12' - 5/8 ID x 1 1/4 OD
3 1/2' - 1 1/32 ID x 1 5/15" OD
2' - 1 1/2" ID x 2"
3' - 1 1/4" ID x 2" OD


6061 Solid Aluminum bar - 2.79 lb Remnant

2' - 1 1/4"
3' - 1 5/16"
3' - 2"
14" - 2 1/8"
2' - 2 3/16"
3 1/2' - 2 1/2"
9" - 3"


Cold Roll bar

3' - 1 3/8"


Misc steel

7" - .5" x 2" bar


Solid Copper bar - $58 by itself!

25" - 1 1/2"

 

[Th232]

A supplier of mine down here in Aus sent me their latest price list a few days ago. 6061 in 1" round bar is $7.70 per foot, 1" square bar is $9.90 per foot. Pity their steel stocks aren't as extensive.

On the other hand, titanium is best bought from an offcuts place. $100 for a foot in 1" round bar from that first supplier.

And it's damn near impossible to find 316 or 304 stainless in anything other than round bar. Have no idea why...

 

[PEU]

you guys are spoiled

There is no online dealers here in Argentina, but you can find within one hour drive or less a lot of shops selling almost any kind of metal.


Pablo

 

[gt40]

For $238, I got the below at Industrial Metal Supply, North Hollywood CA: Didn't seem bad at all to me.

6061 Aluminum Tubing $1.69 lb Remnant

12' - 5/8 ID x 1 1/4 OD
3 1/2' - 1 1/32 ID x 1 5/15" OD
2' - 1 1/2" ID x 2"
3' - 1 1/4" ID x 2" OD


6061 Solid Aluminum bar - 2.79 lb Remnant

2' - 1 1/4"
3' - 1 5/16"
3' - 2"
14" - 2 1/8"
2' - 2 3/16"
3 1/2' - 2 1/2"
9" - 3"


Cold Roll bar

3' - 1 3/8"


Misc steel

7" - .5" x 2" bar


Solid Copper bar - $58 by itself!

25" - 1 1/2"

I have been going to Industrial metal supply for over 10 years and it is all about the remnants. If you have any metal supply stores in driving distance, Remnants can be 3 feet long in flashlight sizes and much much cheaper than new stock. The other thing is if you order a piece at some stores, they charge you for the full price even if you don't take the full length. Rems are priced by the pound + no shipping cost= cheaper.