The Price of Steel

A

Aldo Bruno

Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
805
The price of steel is going up....a lot. It seems that Iran is building there infrastructure and need rebar. Turkey and others have taken on the task of making it.

They are buying up so much scrap that the $$ has gone to $381.55 per metric ton(2240#) which will have a direct effect on the cost of anything you buy. It is double the rate it was at back in December.

It also effects ones ability to find good loads of old stock because companies will scrap it rather than trying to sell it.

Steel is now being sold freight delivered or they set a price and add a scrap surcharge. Problem is nobody really knows anything until the day of the Melt.

Along with Iran is China's never ending need for steel which has kept prices up for over 4 years.

Aldo
 
Hmmmmm sounds just like a conversation I had Sunday at Batson's with someone from NJ :D

BTW, Aldo, did you get my email?
 
The cost of everything is going up, especially steel. I think it is supposed to peak sometime this month. I haven't directly seen a price increase, though. My supplier is still going by the same prices they had a year ago. I expect that to change any day now.
 
5 or 6 years ago, I kept hearing that steel prices were going to go through the roof. I also heard from more than one source, that the manufacture of simple carbon steels was declining fast here in the US.

With industry wanting air hardening steels, because they're easier for mass production heat treating and steel mills closing across this country. It doesn't look pretty for us knife makers who use simple high carbon steels.
 
Tool steels are just the tip of it. Mild plate has gone from $.23 a lb to about $.85. It is not just the closed mills, but the huge consumption of China, India and Indonesia
 
Everything is gong up except our pay checks. As far as cost of things goes. I don't think there is a thing to look forward to any time soon. This country and the world are going downhill at a fast pace.
 
Scrap metal is 200/ton over here.I have never seen the scrap yard so busy,people are scrapping EVERYTHING!!!This is not good because people like me who buy used tractors and stuff are getting shut out.Not to mention all the wrought that is probably getting scrapped by some dummies.It is even getting hard for someone who works with iron all day to get anything off the job.

Precious metals are through the roof,that is the driving force.All us little guys can do is hoard what we can so we can build our presses and have our fun.I am glad I have the small stock pile that I do.

Dont panic....prepare!
 
In the process of organizing all my steel. Wrapped up about 700lbs of 15N20 in 5lb bundles. Only about 1/2 way done. This way I can keep track of what I have and help keep it dry. Stored inside but still gets damp. Also thats why I have purchase so much of the W-2. Might need to pick up some more 1095 though. Hows your stock Aldo?? Unfortunately I will have to wait until after Blade to buy any more steel. Just paid for my Airline tickets, 2X what I paid for them in 2004. Oh well life will still go on.
 
This is gonna hurt. I'm set for 5160 for a while (80 pounds, anyway), the 1084 I'm getting should hold me out on the specific knives I like to do with it for a while (I hope) and I've got enough 15n20 for.... a bit. But that's my main working steel and I haven't found a really good source for it in 3/32 and 1/8 where I can stock up.

Guess I should email dan and see what he has right now in recycled stuff.
 
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