Steel prices through the roof it seems.

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Been a while since I've priced heavy plate, but here's my project--Family member's boyfriend heats the house with a combination of a simple wood firebox boiler in the garage plumbed in tandem with a propane furnace to keep the propane bill down.  Stuff was getting behind the wall firebrick for years, and eventually rusted right through.  Small patch would work, but the sides of the unit are all bowed out from the previous owner running the thing too hot, etc.Plan of attack is to cut out 22x30 hole, replace firebrick and clean up everything, and weld 3/8" 24x32 plate over hole, with 1" overlap all around, and 3/8" spacers welded on back side to space the firebrick, along with 1.5"x1/4 angle welded to plate to cover firebrick on the walls to prevent debris from going behind the brick over time (something the original design lacked).I was really tempted to bevel this thing up and make it fit, but the overlap idea is a lot easier to fit up and weld, especially with the firebrick behind it.  The water coil is in front of the firebrick, so the brick can't readily be stacked into place without disconnecting that or placing it in before welding up the new wall.  In any case, my main gripe is the price of the steel.  Holy smokes... went down to a steel supplier and priced it up... original price was $178 for the two plates, but he let me out the door for $150 cash.Not going to lie... I thought I was in for about $40 per plate.  When the hell did steel get so expensive?  I've not priced it in a while because the last few jobs I had steel supplied to the job.
Reply:Prices are up all over.  I can hardy afford to make a scrap run and the steel supplier is selling steel like it is silver plated gold!$40 for 2 2x4 foot sheets of 18 ga!!!
Reply:60' round, single-gated, 4-rail round pen. 12', 1-7/8" galv. panels and clam shells. Nov 01, 2012 - $660. Nov 01, 2013 - $995
Reply:I priced a 4x8 sheet of 14ga. $70.00tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Wow... y'all just made me sad.
Reply:I priced  a five foot length, 5" diameter "pipe" that was 18ga mild steel.  The steel yard wanted $44.00!!  Screw that!  I found what I needed as "scrap" at a different steel yard  with same dimensions for $16.00.  It had a small dent that I hammered out. "Hey I didn't come to look and learn, I came to turn and burn.... If I can't light up, I'm gonna light out!"-JodyIdealarc 250 "Fatman"MM 252MM 211 "Little boy" Victor Torches
Reply:Makes me sick that I hauled in over a thousand pounds of sheet metal a few weeks ago.  Barely made out on gas.
Reply:Originally Posted by brucerI priced a 4x8 sheet of 14ga. $70.00
Reply:I don't buy much gauge materials but steel plate dropped. I'm paying $45 cwt... down from $55.
Reply:There is local submarine base, use to be. Mare island, Vallejo, CA.Steel place is next door to steel recycling building.Have got my steel there, for .50 to .55 a pound.Charl
Reply:High steel prices...?Look to China and India
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseHigh steel prices...?Look to China and India
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseHigh steel prices...?Look to China and India
Reply:Yep the one I used to get used steel from.  Will not sell it anymore to individuals.  I think it all goes to the ports. Richey
Reply:Originally Posted by brucerI priced a 4x8 sheet of 14ga. $70.00
Reply:4 X 8 16ga here is $80The main thing is not to panic or get excited Bobcat 250, X-Treme 12VS,  MM211Meltabo, Milwaukee,Porter Cable,Dewalt,MakitaVictor O/A, Ingersoll-RandEvolution Rage2, 40 amp PlasmaLincoln 225 AC/DC
Reply:like Brucer I paid $70 for a sheet of 14 Ga. it was marked Netherlands 1/4" was $200.  Is there anything made here.  The scrape yards here (norht Fla) will not sell out of the yard just buy.DIY CNC Plasma table USB BOB Price THCHypertherm 65Everlast PowerTig 255 EXTMiler 180 Mig13" metal latheMill/ DrillECT, ECT,
Reply:Folks I was wondering what you are having to pay for 8x8 and 6x6x 3/16 and 1/4 inch square tubing?  Didn't mean to get off the plate I need a piece of  a36 2 inches thick 24 x73 if anyone in Alabama has one reasonable. Richey
Reply:Originally Posted by Renagade4 X 8 16ga here is $80
Reply:Originally Posted by BurpeeI bought a 4 x 8, 16 ga Friday for $53. Guatemalan import.
Reply:Noop. Costa Rican colon or Chilean peso.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Not just steel boys, the price of everything has increased dramatically over the last five years.  I did the grocery shopping this weekend for my pregnant wife and had a WTF afternoon. I spent $200 at a wholesale club and didn't bring home much.  Real CPI is somewhere north of 5%, not the virtually nonexistent levels Barry and his crew are reporting.  The cost of EVERYTHING is through the roof and going to get worse.
Reply:That is what we are seeing here too. Seems like things are compounding on the price increases. Was talking to another retired guy in Texas last night. He had to have some metal for a repair on his ranch .  Said when he figured out what he actually paid per lb. was close to 75 cents. Richey
Reply:Originally Posted by isaaccarlsonPrices are up all over.  I can hardy afford to make a scrap run and the steel supplier is selling steel like it is silver plated gold!$40 for 2 2x4 foot sheets of 18 ga!!!
Reply:Just bought a 4X8 sheet of expanded metal for $78.00!! I about fainted. Scrap is going for .45 a pound.Hobart 125 EZHobart Handler 140Everlast STH 160Generic 210 Amp Welder/GeneratorHobart Air Force 500i plasma cutterChinese 50 amp plasma cutter! Youtube Channel : Henrymac100I just bought a 4'x8' sheet of #9 expanded for $55.00. It was the raised and not the smooth. Bought 600lbs of box and angle a couple of months ago that was $400.00 plus. Not bad actually. It has been higher."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:If I tell you what I pay for my steel, I would have to kill you, lol. Lets just say working for a steel fabricator that has a steel warehouse sure helps
Reply:The one majorly disappointing thing moving down to this area is steel prices are through the roof at the local supplier.  I talk to the other shops and they say they order through the steel suppliers supplier down in Greeley.  Call them and the guy on the phone says they won't sell to me I have to go through the local supplier.  I said every other welding shop here gets it from you.  He says he was going to send me an application and informs me that there is a 1500lb minimum order, I told him I didn't have a problem with that, the one project I had that I needed to order a large amount of steel for was over 2300lbs I needed to order.  Never heard from him again.  I need to call back and talk to a gal there.Sheets, solid stock, and flats are running about .68 a lb, tubing, c channel, and angel runs anywhere from .73/lb to the highest I've had is .93/lb, and of course the that .93/lb was the biggest and thickest tubing I've had to buy so far.And maybe I wouldn't complain about the price if they were consistent on it, not jacking the price up the bigger and thicker you go.  Maybe I wouldn't complain if I ever got a sheet of steel that was cut square, or tubing that didn't lose two inches of on both ends because they are crushed, and tubing that doesn't have a huge twist in it.  I shouldn't have to treat a steel like I do lumber, having to pick out the best pieces.
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseMeaning....scrap is being sold to the overseas market, creating a shortage here in the US.  Try to buy or go into a scrap yard these days; they'll run you out.  Just about anybody having scrap where you used to be able to go and pick around, or buy drops at the steel shops are contracting out and selling it all to scrap dealers who in turn sell it overseas....