TOTW, $ going NUTS

[Two Feathers]

I just placed an order with Track for what I always buy. 3 months ago (last order) was $39.00. This time it was $63.00???
What the heck is going on over there? I could see if the shipping went up, but that stayed the same, it's the parts that's getting out of hand! I couldn't stay in business if I kept raising my prices like that?
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[smokepolehall]

They are all doing it, when they go too high to buy i stop buying. Almost 90% of their products are from other Companies.

 

[Sean E Bug]

because they are a business and need to make a profit. if you haven't noticed the prices for just about everything have been going up the last couple of years. At least they don't scam people or price gouge when there are shortages.

 

[oldwood]

There's many ways to cut corners , and make some parts from scratch. Learn this, and stay in business. Though I had bought basic parts at bargain prices years ago , the few projects I do now, I find it enjoyable to make certain parts from scratch.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

The last time I spent money for forging steel it was $65. Now this last order it was almost $125. I'll make do with what I have now as the steel prices have gotten stupid. Mostly to blame is China, Russia and especially Ukraine. These issues have driven up the prices of everything .... food, gas steel, etc.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[64Springer]

"Welcome to the party, Pal".

 

[azmntman]

I just placed an order with Track for what I always buy. 3 months ago (last order) was $39.00. This time it was $63.00???
What the heck is going on over there? I could see if the shipping went up, but that stayed the same, it's the parts that's getting out of hand! I couldn't stay in business if I kept raising my prices like that?
God bless:
Two Feathers

Might not stay in business if you dont! Cycle, inflation and more pay. Stupid. I will not hold it agin ya if you have to bump here and there. Your products speak for themselves.

 

[appalichian hunter]

The last time I spent money for forging steel it was $65. Now this last order it was almost $125. I'll make do with what I have now as the steel prices have gotten stupid. Mostly to blame is China, Russia and especially Ukraine. These issues have driven up the prices of everything .... food, gas steel, etc.
Ohio Rusty ><>

Haunt old junk yards, especially ones with old farm machinery. I have two knives made by Herschal House they were made out of hay rake tines, hold an edge sharp enough to shave with. The older the machinery the better the steel. Now of days for most projects I do I become a scrounger first.

 

[TDM]

Glad I’m well stocked for now.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

Haunt old junk yards, especially ones with old farm machinery. I have two knives made by Herschal House they were made out of hay rake tines, hold an edge sharp enough to shave with. The older the machinery the better the steel. Now of days for most projects I do I become a scrounger first.

Your are so lucky to have several Hershel House knives .... Treasure them like they are gold. I was very fortunate to have been in a knife class taught by Hershel and John House.
Ohio Rusty ><><

 

[ArmorerRoy]

They have bess bayonets on close out.

 

[Two Feathers]

Glad I’m well stocked for now.

Might not stay in business if you dont! Cycle, inflation and more pay. Stupid. I will not hold it agin ya if you have to bump here and there. Your products speak for themselves.

azmntman:

Thank you or your kind words. Yeah inflation is killing all of us crafters. The big box stores are feeling the crunch too, but they just pass it on to us.
If I tried to do that, I'll be forced to give up. I've tried not to change my prices, but at the very least I have to up my shipping charges due to the USPS playing games. That doesn't help me at all when my supply costs go up by 5% every 6 months from inflation. I barely break even on shipping these days? I'm not going to start using cheap, inferior parts just because they cost less. That's not fair to my customers OR my reputation.
If you need anything email me. You have my email address.
God bless and thank you for your business:
Two Feathers

 

[flconch53]

As a blacksmith and all around metal worker I find myself taking less and less stuff to the scrap yard these days. Never know when I can make a widget out of some something I have in a bucket somewhere. Also the increased cost of metal has not been reflected in scrap prices

 

[Two Feathers]

As a blacksmith and all around metal worker I find myself taking less and less stuff to the scrap yard these days. Never know when I can make a widget out of some something I have in a bucket somewhere. Also the increased cost of metal has not been reflected in scrap prices

flconch53:
Yeah....funny how THAT works...huh? The scrap dealers want to give you $0.10 a pound for scrap iron, but they want you to pay $0.40 a pound for new steel that the the mills made out of YOUR $0.10 a pound scrap?? I don't deal in scrap, so I don't know if these prices are accurate, just a guess.
I'm a machinist by trade and I've been seeing that for 3 years. My school has been paying top dollar for junk steel for their welding shop since 2021.
The Machine shop class has cut back on their budget for buying good steel??
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[64Springer]

As a blacksmith and all around metal worker I find myself taking less and less stuff to the scrap yard these days. Never know when I can make a widget out of some something I have in a bucket somewhere. Also the increased cost of metal has not been reflected in scrap prices

Hell yes.

I throw nothing away.

 

[Flintlock Whiskey]

The last time I spent money for forging steel it was $65. Now this last order it was almost $125. I'll make do with what I have now as the steel prices have gotten stupid. Mostly to blame is China, Russia and especially Ukraine. These issues have driven up the prices of everything .... food, gas steel, etc.
Ohio Rusty ><>

I mostly use 5160 steel which is getting stupid expensive. I have found that later model Jeep Cherokee or Wagoneer leafs to be my goto source for 1/4" flat stock. Other than that, sometimes you can find unused springs on Craigs list and such. May just need to be hammered out a bit.

 

[Beaverman2]

Leather prices have shot through the roof!, I have been sitting on a dozen half hides that I bought 10 years ago,and a couple hundred polished horns, maybe time to sell them or get busy and start making bags, powder horns and such again!

 

[Two Feathers]

I mostly use 5160 steel which is getting stupid expensive. I have found that later model Jeep Cherokee or Wagoneer leafs to be my goto source for 1/4" flat stock. Other than that, sometimes you can find unused springs on Craigs list and such. May just need to be hammered out a bit.

Flintlock Whiskey:
I can't afford 5160 spring. I only use 1095 and that stuff went up 10% in the last year. Try Admiral Steel in Alsip, Ill. They aren't too bad on price. I buy al lot of my steel there. NJ Steel Barons ain't bad for small quantities.
Good luck.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Two Feathers]

Leather prices have shot through the roof!, I have been sitting on a dozen half hides that I bought 10 years ago,and a couple hundred polished horns, maybe time to sell them or get busy and start making bags, powder horns and such again!

Yup...get back in the game brother. I'm collecting single and double shoulders. My recording studio looks like a leather warehouse, smells like one too.:~))) Those horns will sell.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[vintovka]

Not just ML stuff but the whole economy. Hobby stuff is in the lead and essentials like food and housing not far behind. Barely finished last 2 ML rescue projects due to these extreme price increases and now very wary of any new ML projects.

FWIW One extreme example is classic cars. Most parts are now like 100% more than 2019 and climbing impacting sales. Incomplete vehicle projects have almost lost all value as builders cannot afford to complete them.. Projects get shelved or parted out. Beware of bargains that are not! Add that gas is up over .50 here and you have a perfect storm.