Is this true, steel trebles in price in 6 mths?

[eSteve]

Hi,

just updating a steel quote from Parker's steel:

In Sept they quoted £45.58 for:

36m 25 x 25 x 1.5 RHS ERW
12m 50 x 24 x 1.5 RHS ERW

(yes I know I forgot the 19 x 19! and have over spec'd the 50 x 25 but I have another small project to do)

I've just updated the quote today and it's £134.92

Also got a few other quotes for other suppliers any they are similar on a £/m basis.

What's happened? Anyone else noticed this or bought steel recently and can confirm this?

What about your prices' Saturn Andy have you seen a big cost increase?

If not I might be buying a flat pack from you!

[AshG]

steel has gone up by £50 per tonne in the last month or two. they reckon its going to go up another £50 by the end of the year. lack of demand is being blamed for the price increase.

[HandyAndy]

Hi Steve,

We at Saturn do seem to get a good rate, but that is probably due to the amount of steel we buy,

The cost for the steel to fully supply a Flat pack kit is alot less than the price you have been quoted on your recent enquiry,

Without trying to be "hard sell" , the price for the Flat pack that we supply is a very good deal indeed, when you factor in the cost of the steel & the time it takes to cut it into a fully cut/angled & marked up kit etc....£230 plus delivery is as was intended a fair price to all.

The kits are proving rather popular too which helps keep the cost to a realistic level.

cheers
andy

[eSteve]

Andy,

yes I agree. When the price was a lot cheaper my intention was to buy the steel and cut it myself. I know the cutting will be a devil of a job, but I already have the tools and time. The reason being not strictly for the cost saving (although that's nice) but for the kudos of saying 'I bought the steel and built the chassis'.

However, now, as you say, the cost of buying a flat pack from you would appear cheaper than buying the un-cut steel, I'm feeling I would be a masochistic, financially inept, buffoon to pursue sourcing the un-cut steel.

What is you current price on a flat pack? I am building a 'vanilla' book based car (i.e. type 9 g'box and Pinto).

eSteve

[eSteve]

Opps...

"appear cheaper than buying the un-cut steel"

this isn't true but they are now a lot closer than they used to be.

[AshG]

tbh with the current steel prices the flat pack is a disgustingly good deal. basically works out at £100 to have the steel cut for you. i know for a fact that it takes andy 2 solid days to cut out a flat pack and he has got it down to a fine art. personally i think £50 a day for his labour is too cheep as he is holding off the suppliers price increases for as long as he can.

personally if i was having a flat pack again i would order it straight away before the price inevitably has to go up.

[HandyAndy]

I totally understand your reasons for wanting to cut your own chassis, i really do understand that,
The price for a Flat pack kit which includes the following....

All square tubing to fabricate the main frame of the chassis (25mm & 20mm)

All angles cut & each end marked with the angle of the cut ( to allow easy orientation of the tube when using the book build info), also each tube has its I.D code ( TR1 TR2 etc)

The Front Frame is supplied jigged & fully welded.(saves making the jig)

Also in the kit is a paper template for your build table ( shows the position of the bottom rails)

All the above is £230 plus £40 delivery (tho you are welcome to arrange your own courier or collect in person etc)

Again, I,m not trying to "Hard sell", just trying to offer a good product at a fair price.

cheers
andy

[Enoch]

There is no wastage if you buy from Saturn either. If you make a mistake it invariably means some scrap steel. If Andy makes a mistake he cuts another bit and does not charge you any extra. He does a bloody good job too - well worth the money in my opinion.
Enoch

[RAYLEE29]

Hi, the price of steel has definately gone up loads over the last month and will probably continue to go up
this is possibly to do with Corus shutting theyre steel plants in england
does this make my almost complete chassis worth more ? lol
Ray

[HandyAndy]

Thanks Ash & Enoch....

right oh then.... prices go up at 6pm tonight ....only kidding

i do take pride in the kits i supply, but i,m only human & so if i do make a mistake i will replace the offending part at my expense, I,d rather have a happy customer ( Forum member /builder) than the cost of a piece of steel.

thanks for your kind comments guys, its very much appreciated

cheers
andy