[TheForge] Price of steel

[John Husvar]

Phil Rosche wrote:
> So, what's everyone paying for steel these days?
> 

2
2 much.

Just now waiting for a call from a customer to tell him his new order is 
probably going to cost about twice as much as his previous ones for the 
same items. :(

Had about the same experience you just did, but maybe a little higher 
for square tubing. I make clothing racks for his reenactor costuming 
business. Swage down the tubing and weld on forged hooks, ground spikes, 
etc. to keep weight down.

Suppliers say it's because of a construction boom in China. The Chinese 
are supposedly buying up any steel they can, even scrap; maybe 
especially scrap because they can recycle it in their own mills.