steel shortage's effect on filler metal supply/demand?

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Anybody heard anything? I thought I saw an article on the subject a while back, but I can't seem to find it. Any links to articels or industry reports/forcasts would be greatly recieved. Afterall this is our bread and butter.Martin MC Weld TechAWS-CWIAWS-CWEwww.linkedin.com/pub/martin-cramer/20/b36/940/
Reply:There is no "shortage" of steel. There is only a rising of demand causing a rising price.Economic shortages happen when it is impossible to raise the price of a good to maintain equilibrium. Therefore, by definition, the rising price of steel means there is no economic shortage of steel.That being said, as steel is a commodity, it's rising cost will cause the production cost of any item that uses it ti increase, including filler metals.Visit Tensaiteki.com
Reply:The only thing that has caused me a problem getting filler metals is that ESAB had a strike going for awhile and I couldn't get one wire that I use. Compared to gas, diesel and steel the price hasn't even risen very much.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I know the cost of filler rod went up accross the board by most of the mfgs, within the last couple of months. What really for us that has effected the price is the freight, my LWS will no longer eat the freight, so its the cost of the rod plus freight, even if its in stock allready, you have to pay the freight cost. I bought some Allstate 275S Super maintenance rod, being it has a high nickel content, we have to pay the alloy surcharge, with the rod, freight, sales tax and the surcharge, pushed the rod up to about $30/lb, last year I bought it for $22/lb.Jack
Reply:I'm actually paying less for electrodes than I was a year ago. Showed the LWS something about them that makes them money and even though I am a small customer as far as shops go I now get the same rate as the big guys. In the last year the wire I use has gone up about 10 dollars per 25lb spool when buying single spools. Gas and diesel are still hitting me harder than anything.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerI'm actually paying less for electrodes than I was a year ago. Showed the LWS something about them that makes them money and even though I am a small customer as far as shops go I now get the same rate as the big guys. In the last year the wire I use has gone up about 10 dollars per 25lb spool when buying single spools. Gas and diesel are still hitting me harder than anything.
Reply:I'm just a lowly hobby welder so whenever I have the misfortune to visit one of the three local LWS's, they make it a memorable occasion. They squeeze me until my eyes bug out. If they could triple the prices for me, I'd bet they would. So, I just buy shielding gas and O-A from them. I'm getting nailed for that but I won't buy anything else from them anymore. I've asked for better pricing and they just shake their heads no. So, it's the internet for me. I always check the prices from the LWS's first on the phone and then I let my fingers do the shopping. Too bad it has to be that way. I guess it's only because I don't have a resale number and a company name. Heck with them. When I bought my Lincoln MIG, their best price was $850 plus tax for an SP175+! I got one on the internet for $600 delivered. Do the math. If I really needed some filler rod I would go to the LWS in a pinch but otherwise, I'd buy it online. Even with shipping I can save money. To answer the basic quesiton, I do think prices will rise but I doubt that there will be a shortage of filler rod.
Reply:Originally Posted by TensaitekiThere is no "shortage" of steel. There is only a rising of demand causing a rising price...
Reply:Of course it doesn't help when you've got companies like Mittal that purposely pull back production in order to drive the price up, and then go back into full production as the price peaks.  But that's all the opinion I'm going to give on that subject.
Reply:I have a closet full of coat hangers... I'm good Miller Syncrowave 180SDMillermatic 175
Reply:I gave 115 for the box before this one late last year (sometimes it takes a while to go through 50 lbs depending on what I am doing). This box came in on the same pallet (last box from that order) and I gave 98 for it.Shortage means you can't get something or have to wait an extended time to get it. The longest wait I have had to get any steel I have needed has been overnight, and that was only because it was a non-stocked size or a large quantity. A whole lot of the increase in steel costs is directly related to the increase in fuel prices, and there is no shortage of that either.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I really have not seen any diffrence..I don't pay the bills..I just tell Tommy I need to go shopping and thats that."Make sure you get the reciept" is all I hear.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Yeah zap, it's a lot easier when you don't have to pay the bills. Sometimes I miss those days and then I remember all the stuff I used to have to put up with.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Of course it doesn't help when you've got companies like Mittal that purposely pull back production in order to drive the price up, and then go back into full production as the price peaks.
Reply:The price is up across the board on ALL natural resources.  Just look at the price of corn, we're making so much ethanol it's making all our food more expensive.  I work in the Coal Industry and I know metallurgical grade/coking/steel making coal is selling for over $200 a ton on the railcar right now.  Less than a year ago most folks were getting around 90 bucks per ton for it. Figure that with the price of iron ore...yuck.Miller Maxstar S modelVictor Journeyman torchB&D 4 1/2 and 7" Grinders"You want me to weld that?  I thought you said I wasn't safe with a Caulking Gun?"
Reply:Originally Posted by Smoky.JoeThe price is up across the board on ALL natural resources.  Just look at the price of corn, we're making so much ethanol it's making all our food more expensive.  I work in the Coal Industry and I know metallurgical grade/coking/steel making coal is selling for over $200 a ton on the railcar right now.  Less than a year ago most folks were getting around 90 bucks per ton for it. Figure that with the price of iron ore...yuck.