consumable prices

[MMW]

Just visited lws yesterday (northern NJ) and prices are still rising. Paid $195.00 for a #5-330cf acetylene swap (.5898 per cf) and $50.53 for a 12lb spool of .035 70s6 (4.2112 per pound). In February the same wire was $44.53. Good news was oxygen has been staying the same, $15.85 for a 120cuft and $28.15 for a 250cuft. I'm hoping things will level off soon. Is everyone else seeing this in other parts of the country?

[griff01]

I just got a K bottle of oxygen. It was 27.50.
Southern Oklahoma


Edited to correct information

[ryanjones2150]

Prices still climbing here in southeast Texas. Just bought a 4x8 sheet of 1/4” steel day before yesterday and it was $330.

Property taxes on my shop went up 94% too. That should be criminal.

[Weld dr]

I Repair welders for a LWS in Milwaukee Wi. and we just bumped pricing 30% we have no choice. Miller/Lincoln/Esab all raised pricing twice in the last year.

[Mickey(not so fine)]

I'm in central east Georgia, and everything has gone up 2-3 times in price...except customers willingness to pay! Most everyone thinks prices should be what they were 5 years ago and get a bit uppity when they find out differently.

Mickey

[ryanjones2150]

Yup. I’ve lost out on jobs because of materials prices. The little jobs keep me going here since I have a full time job. So these are mostly wants and not needs. I’m not charging any more for my labor, but the cost of materials has put me out several times in the last year.

[Bushytails]

I'm in central east Georgia, and everything has gone up 2-3 times in price...except customers willingness to pay! Most everyone thinks prices should be what they were 5 years ago and get a bit uppity when they find out differently.

Mickey

That's probably because most of our paychecks haven't gone up in 5 years...

[Mickey(not so fine)]

I'm sure that has a good bit to do with it. Another issue is there's a bunch of welders looking for work as the local nuclear power plant project finishes up. All the union fellas have had it pretty good here for the last 8-10 years and now they don't. I've had a pile of engine drive machines that've obiviously been sitting in a field for 5+ years before being dragged in for repair...complete with vines and trees growing out of them. Almost every single one is a complete basket case of problems with a repair limitation of $200 that they need up and running immediately. Even worse are the fellas that want me to stop everything I'm doing and work on their machine while they watch/help and then telling me shortcuts and "creative engineering" they want me to do. I've been having to run those folks off pretty regular like.

I understand their perspective to a certain degree, but unfortunately, I have to live in reality. I buy my groceries and fuel from the same places they do and its been hurting myself just as much as its hurt them.

Mickey

[Weld dr]

I'm sure that has a good bit to do with it. Another issue is there's a bunch of welders looking for work as the local nuclear power plant project finishes up. All the union fellas have had it pretty good here for the last 8-10 years and now they don't. I've had a pile of engine drive machines that've obiviously been sitting in a field for 5+ years before being dragged in for repair...complete with vines and trees growing out of them. Almost every single one is a complete basket case of problems with a repair limitation of $200 that they need up and running immediately. Even worse are the fellas that want me to stop everything I'm doing and work on their machine while they watch/help and then telling me shortcuts and "creative engineering" they want me to do. I've been having to run those folks off pretty regular like.

I understand their perspective to a certain degree, but unfortunately, I have to live in reality. I buy my groceries and fuel from the same places they do and its been hurting myself just as much as its hurt them.

Mickey

FJB

[ryanjones2150]

Agreed.

[Mickey(not so fine)]

FJB?

Mickey

[Mickey(not so fine)]

Ha! Nevermind, I was a little slow there but figured it out. Ya, I can get on board with that.

Mickey

[ryanjones2150]

Prices are just stupid. I went to order some heavy wall tubing on Friday from one of my typical suppliers, 1.25” OD, 1/4” wall, $2.50 per INCH!! I can’t make any money like this.

[Tinker Joe 2]

American business that supply us with thing we need are making a killing and all use the same excuse, prices went up, **** yes they did and you have double your prices, there day is coming for pay back, I repair mower, saw and trimmers, not as much tractor work, I tell the customer what is wrong and tell them what parts I need to get the parts, so you the customer can realize that you are getting robbed, talked to a person that owns a mower shop and he admitted that they are making more money than ever, telling the customer the same lie we all hear, look at the stock market price of Lowes, Home Depot, they are making more money now than ever, I know that I don't hurt them but since the last Hurricane I have not bought a single Item from the big boys, I hope they crash someday, I am done going on like a mad American, Joe

[ryanjones2150]

Ran out of .035 solid wire, of course it was on a Saturday, so it was .035 DS to for the finish. But went a picked up a new 44# roll.....$158.

Geez.