Supply troubles for stainless Steel....Updated

I ask Paul for approval to let you know the situation that is unfolding with my business.

Well, I guess I'm out of the death ray business! Not only has some stainless more than doubled, there is a couple pieces of tubing, they are talking about early next year for delivery. I ask him how are people suposed to run a business that way. He said, "I haven't a clue"! The prices he gave me, is going to raise the price a hundred dollars on both sizes, and no guarantee that that will hold two to six months from now! One of the pieces of tubing that I can't get, I can build a roller to be able to build that part. The other, I can perhaps have the shop that builds a few parts for me, build the part I normally cut out of tubing. Never thought I'd experience anything like this, so as of now, I won't be taking anymore orders untill I get all caught up, prolly at some point after coyote days. Once I get caught up on outstanding orders, I will see which way to go, and if I start building them agian, will have a better handle on pricing. Thanks for understanding, we are in troubling times!

Lee Steinmeyer

Now to make matters worse, no caulking guns! I found the stainless I needed, now the HD gun that I used for so long is non existent!

Lee, I have worked in the steel business for many years and have seen the same thing with stainless. The last 3 or 4 years are the worst. Alro Steel is our primary supplier but they are outsourcing anywhere they can get it. I have seen tubing marked Finland, India, and a few others but none from the US.
The funny thing is that stainless scrap prices are not in step with the huge increases.

I should add that the only knife that may be effected by this at presant, would be the Mini. I have lots of blanks out ahead for both the Parallel and Standard knives. The Death Ray is the only thing effected by the crazy pricing at this time. Thanks again.

Exactly. I cannot for the love of me figure out what is driving this nonsense. It must come down to greed or mills not producing enough product. I guess you just chose one and go with it! lol

Let’s hope it comes back down I see lumber here is back down to earth priced again. Treated 2X4X8 are on sale at Menards under $5 bought some 2X6X8 just over $8 good looking wood even, not take what you can get stuff.

A construction company owned by my inlaws is buying sheetrock mud by the tractor-trailer load. The latex which is part of the mud is in short supply. Their subcontractor who does the commercial drywall draws his mud from the construction company's inventory.

The steel supplier used by the construction company cannot take any more orders for 2020. The building industry here is wide open.

Passed a Ford dealership in a small town east of Charlotte on Saturday. The lot had 12 new vehicles of which most were F150 trucks. They appeared to be closed on Saturday. Sad.

Wow! I sure feel lucky to have got my death ray already!! Thanks for the update Sir.

It's all sitting in huge piles in China!

There's a local (to me) tubing manufacturer, American Stainless Tubing, Inc. I have no affiliation with them, other than just knowing where the factory is. Might be worth checking to see if they have something that might work.. I'll see if I can find some contact info for them if you want to give it a shot.

Lee, I have no idea what gauge stainless steel you need, but if you have the ability to fabricate it, right now stainless steel restaurant equipment is selling for almost nothing. You can buy stainless steel tables, shelves, bins, refrigerators, freezers, splash guards and ovens for just a few dollars at auctions that liquidate restaurant's assets. Covid restrictions killed thousands of restaurants in the US and their stainless steel bones are there for the picking.

Due to Covid, there's lots of cheap items right now.The one auction i use has been selling pallets of PPE. Last week, 5 pallets of hand sanitizer sold for as low as $6.00, $1.20 per full pallet.

Here's yesterday's PPE auction.

https://auctionohio.com/lots#YXVjdG...b25dPWFsbCZsb3Rbc3RhdHVzXT1hbGwmcGFnZT0x

Keith

Good thing my deathray is built like a tank.
Hopefully the market gets in line soon Lee
Guess you'll have more time to focus on wine making!
These are troubled times but we will persevere

It's likely to get even worse with the passage of this latest boondoggle infrastructure bill. The demand for steel will most likely increase as will the price

Yes Gary, if you can find a phone number for them, I will gladly check it out. Thank you!
Keith, I use several different sizes in several gauge sizes. The two inch is in 18 ga, in 304 stainless, that is outside dia. I had a lot of restaurant equipment around my old shop, and used a lot of sheet out of them. The problem is, most of it is 16 ga or heavier. 18 ga is only .043, which is a tad light for the abuse that restaurent equipment takes! Good idea though! Thanks.

Troubling times indeed, Dale!

Why does something posted here each day seem as though it was lifted directly from the pages of Wesley Mouch's playbook?

Lee, it might be worthwhile to take a look at:

https://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/index.php?p=home

They sell all sorts of useful stuff for a small farm like mine and frequently have huge loads of sheet metal and pipe available, often in stainless.

Keith

LOL !!!!!!!!!! You're right !! I wonder what it says about someone when they have such a visceral reaction to a fictional character ?

PM sent with contact info for American Stainless. Hope they can help.

Lee, can I get two more lol.

Angela, I'm right there with you! Too many mooches in this world! I always thought of that as mooch, not Mouch!
Keith, I added that to my fav, I'll keep an eye on it!

For a price....at coyote dayz! lol.

Save me one, I could use another.

How many silver quarters would it take?

Would aluminum work Lee? I have no idea on its availability or cost but just wondered if it would be a viable option?

You may have to step up production on the pelters with your free time.

When are you getting there, Steve? I'm gonna have to keep some back to fill orders here at home. They will prolly go like hot cakes!


Jayme, To keep a small barrell I'm scared it wouldn't be strong enough. I'm also afraid that the supply for that may be in jeopardy, the way things are now! Everything would have to be, as a rough estimate, twice as thick as steel to accomplish the same job. That would be a problem!

Maybe powder coated steel? I don't know anything about that either but just trying to help.

Lee, I'm hoping to be there by noon or 1 on Friday.

I understand, and thank you for brainstormimg! Wouldn't be as durable, but lets see what others think about it. This is my biggest customer base, and it's all about taking care of customers! Right now, the most desparate piece is the 18 Ga tubing. Just got off the phone to NC, and he said next year. He said there is none to be had. I can roll that piece myself, but need to tool up to do it. Just another step.....in a long line of steps it takes to build that thing!

I'll keep one for you Steve!

Lee, this will give you some time to perfect your ( Pelter Puller Prototype ) the one on your table at the NTA in Spenser.

Try multiple suppliers. A few months ago we were looking for 1600 feet of 3" SS tubing. One supplier said 3-4 months and another said they had it in a couple of different warehouse locations and could get it to us in about a week with normal shipping. Dillon Supply was the one that was able to deliver.

JT, I have, and so has the people that have been my main supplier for over 40 years. Everyone says the same thing, next year! I wonder why they think next year will help the supply, when there is none to be had, at any price!

Wornout.....that outta be my handle! lol. That knife was one built the same as a guy in Ohio had used for thirty years. Got tired of blisters, so built him that one so he don't beat up his hands so much. The one he used before had no handles. He said you couldn't believe the callouses he had by end of season!

We deal with Schimberg pipe company and they have a really good supply mainly because they maintain such a large inventory but they said they were starting to have trouble getting some stuff, they may be able to help you but you have to remember they mainly deal in fluid pipe not structural tube which is measured different.

Lee want me to see what I can find out around here since I'm laid up for awhile?

Bob, I'll call tomorrow and check, can you give me a phone number? Nothing came up for me on a search.

Rodney, how did it go? Been wondering about you! Yes, wouldn't hurt to check. It's gonna take a bit of work to tool up to make it!

Sorry for not posting a website I’m slipping with age and this heat we’re having.

https://www.schimberg.com/

Not greed. LABOR is the problem. It is all over this country and around the world. Pay people to stay home. It is time to get everyone back to work. Enjoy this Covid work environment like the rest of us working stiffs

I see they’re in Kansas now I usually go through Cedar Rapids.

Lee it went ok. Don't care to have to do that again. Had tears all around the eye.

I bet it sucked, Rodney! Glad the procedure went okay.

Bob, thank you for the webpage. I'll try Omaha as it is an hour closer than Wichita. I can keep my fingers crossed!

No aurgument from me, stinkypete. Dumbocrats are trying to break this country on purpose, so we fall in line with their agenda. I am not a socialist. Say that three times and click yer heels......maybe we can get rid of the marxists! lol

Lee if you can roll your own tubing. Would you be able to use coiled 18 g ss? If so what would the width need to be?

Lee I feel your pain. The steel for my tool just went up $2.20 a pair with an 8 week wait,

Ron, the worst part is what about the next order! It may be three times that, you just don't know. Good luck bud, it's a free for all out there!

Capt Scott, a coil raises all kinds of other problems! I'm small enough, I can use sheets and will work better for me. The supply don't seem to be effecting the supply of sheets. Price is higher, seems like every week!

Chip Davis of Expandapan had a good show on trapping radio a fewweeks before the NTA about his struggles trying to get material.

It's a great testament to our industry that a lot of companies like yours and other niche companies in a niche industry are still going.

We all just keep plugging along! None of us are getting rich, by a long shot! Everyone just trying to survive at this point. Thanks sniper!

Not only steel in short supply.....plastic pints are non available for the most part especially the ones I prefer.....had to order containers from one source and lids from another ....meant double shipping charges.....then decided I better order additional containers now they are unavailable and your have to prepay for a extremely maybe delivery date....may have to sell in zip lock bags LOL

It was for funny looking at some of the lure makers booths at the convention that had all kinds of mismatched bottles and lids and nonstandard versions of same because bottles and lids are short supply. Of course lure demand was crazy last year for some odd reason....

Clete, the polititions made hay off this pandemic crapolla! Now ya can't get them off their butts to go back to work. I don't know what I would be doing, if I was still trying to run my old welding shop. 20 Scout said the other night, he couldn't get 1/4 inch cold roll, AND was four weeks out! Guess we all might as well fold and live on the .gov's teat!

Lee I struck out. I called several local suppliers and no luck finding what you need. I think someone, maybe a small rinky dink shop in the boonies, has it laying on a shelf somewhere, but not around here I guess.

I do a fair bit of aluminum work on jon boats and things and have a supplier that I go through that's always been good to me. I sent them an email two weeks ago about buying some stainless steel....no response. Aluminum doesn't seem hard to get but steel is a different story for some reason

Thanks for trying, Jayme. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Bob, I struck out at Shimberg too. They had 16 ga but not 18.

You are correct, coondagger.

Lee I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble finding material. I just bought a couple small pieces of SS sheet off E-Bay. They have some SS tubing. I have no idea how it compares in price or what you are looking for. I would guess it would be too high priced as listed. But I would contact the seller and tell them what you want, you never know. It could be left over ends for a contract someone did too and be reasonable.

I can't get pint size urine bottles that have become our trade mark now since last year. I have had to buy some plastics on line like never before just to keep going.

We use to drive to a distrubutor about an hour away and pick up a load every other month as to what we needed. A big out fit we have been using for many years.

Many of us will be selling lures and baits in cosmetic cream and lotion bottles. They will be stylish no doubt and very pretty colors.LOL As long as they work so be it.

Not good inflation + unrealistic or unknown delivery times going on right now. I deal in purchasing for the trapping and aerospace industries way to much fun right now. Suppose I can figure it for a couple more years. I'm just afraid some of the price increase are every one panicking and speculating. Very glad I never believed to much in just in time delivery they were pushing when I was in school. But healthy inventories can only last so long in this environment.

Oh ya my 1 oz Bottles the excuse for none is Covid Vaccines needed them. Bob were do you get the fancy cosmetic cream bottles?

Ever since the advent of computers taking over book keeping, you have seen just about everybody's inventory shrink to nothing. Go into napa, say I need a ? and they will say almost every time, it'll be here in the morning. When I was just out of high school, most of those stores had multiples, and if you needed to order something, it was usually a week to ten days. Most stores (except grocery) now have one of each item, and if they sold it earlier in the day, see ya in. the morning. People using computers for inventory purposes, at first I thought was pretty neat, now....not so much!

Bit of a catch 22 with brick and mortars these days. Accounting wise, your books look better as you can keep more liquidity and overhead costs lower because you don't need as big of a building. But you get hurt with prices of stuff go up and it costs more to buy the parts when you could of gotten it cheaper and horded.

I'm afraid we are only seeing the beginning of supply shortages. Took us 3 months to get a mile and a half of woven wire this spring. Barely got it in time to get it up before it was time to get cows to grass. Just got the rest of the fence panels for a catch pen we ordered last spring. Brother in law is a salesman for a tire distributor, he claims tires are going to get expensive fast if you can find what u want. Some standard tractor tires already aren't available. Between covid were they make the tires and no labor to unload the ships its not looking good.

Just called another supplier in NJ, and they had it! Sending a quote in the morning, so we will see. If it isn't ten grand to buy it now, maybe I'll be back in business!

Mcnielus steel, Dodge Center, Minnesota handles stainless. They have an online catalog. Might be worth a try if you havn't already.

Sweet. Have them cut it down to fit in my truck I'll go get it and deliver it to ya for the low cost of $10,000 ... if you throw in a couple 2' death rays ... and a Steinmeyer pelter.

It’s a shame schimberg couldn’t help but at least you found some hopefully it’s reasonable enough for you to utilize.

My feelings too Bob. I found two places (incorrect. ADC found one of them) today that had 16 ga, but only the place in NJ that had 18 ga.

Lol Jayme, how bought I give ya ten thousand of my nonexsistent pelters? lol lol. Nice try any way!

I'm looking forward to seeing your new bottles.

Lee try this place https://www.chicagotube.com/
We get two inch 16 Ga from them.
If 16ga would work I could collect scrap pieces from the drops. Sometimes they throw out foot size and bigger pieces

Who would have thought shutting the country would have negative consequences

The
I would be interested it getting some drop to try! I'm not willing to spring for 1 or ore full sticks to try, because the inner dia is fairly close tolerances. I found 16 ga still avalible at several places, but struck out in NJ where the lady believed her computer. Got the quote and it said they were out of stock on 18 ga.

I looked through the thread, and found that I kinda left everyone hanging. The place in NJ fell through, but My bud, Rodney aka East Tx trapper found a place in Houston, and had four sticks delivered about two weeks ago. I was on my last two dozen caulk guns, and went looking. None, nada in existence. Keep an eye on the website if you were thinking of ordering a DR. It is open for a bit here yet, but prices have increased terribly, and with the caulking gun fiasco, I may still have to quit for awhile. Be sure to call before ordering, and I can't guarantee I'll have much if any for the Ne and Ks shows that I'm planning on going to yet this year. I will do what I can is all I can say at this point! Thank you, Lee

The price of iron ore is in free fall. One would hope that eventually the price and supply of SS will improve

ttt

Is there a certain type of caulk gun you need? Seems there are plenty on Amazon from as low as $8.

Yes Ang, It takes a top of the line gun. Been using HD 656-157 gun since I started, but they say that they have discontinued that gun. By far their biggest seller, why don't they just tell the truth that they are in a container, waiting to be unloaded! Either way, if I can find a replacement, they have lost a good customer!

They were made from Reardon Metal. Thanks to the National Science Institute they were declared unusable and a safety hazard in order to prop up Oren Boyles' Caulk gun business.

I read that book, Dirt! Sounds just about what is happening today, names have been changed so they won't get prosecuted! lol

And I was just going to say I figured me, Dirt and White were the only ones who would know what that meant.

I'm still trying find the part in the book where they ban the fully vaccinated germ infested swiss fishermen to save America.

One of my favorites. Darn long read tho!

It reads better the second and third times.

It should be required reading for high school juniors.

I agree, Mike! They could at least learn something from that book!