Aluminum Tubing

I'd like to see that .25 OD tube with a .58 thick wall.

The Olympics is to blame, among other things. China bought all the steel, concrete, aluminum etc it could get for their games. Al cans are selling for 1/3 as much as they were a year ago.

If you can wait about another year prices may be down some.

Oops. Yeah,, all the wall thicknesses should be 0.058 wall,

even there is a size like 0.049 also? anyway they make nice telescopeing sizes

Joe

Job estimating is a more difficult task now than ever.

Copper (wire) quotes are good for 3 days only Al is the same it is just a mess. Last year we saw 2 price increases for our petroleum based products. One in Feb (5%) and another in Sep (7%). The first for increase cost of production the second for cost of prod and a distr transportation increase.

Now that oil is back to ~$40USD no decreases have followed. Price locking is a thing of the past I am afraid.

All markets. Gotta love global economics. I would like to try a few months of hardcore nationalism to set our domestic market in line with our domestic needs.

Yeah it's Crazy out there.

But just lookimng for alternate sources. where i can get small quantities for prototyping. I don't need to get tons yet but don't want to pay for a ton either for a small amount.

Joe

I would contact someone who is consuming larger quanities for their manufacturing process.

I dont know where you are located but chances are someone nearby (subjective) is bending or welding some tube. See if you can secure some footage from them either in the form of drop or piggy back some footage on their next order. They will have better pricing than you.

Oddly enough, trying to purchase scrap material back from a recycling plant is freaking impossible (my experience).

The pricing on roofing products was just as insane. Every month they would add 10% to the pricing.

MSC, is an industrial supply company. They have 3003-H14, and 6061-T6 tubing available in limited sizes. You can contact them at 1 800 645 7270, or www.mscdirect.com Good luck.