Does this price seem right?

[Chotu]

This is a pair of 3/4” thick, 10” long 316 stainless rods and some 3/16” thick tubing to kind of (loosely) slip fit the rod.

These are for my composite chain plates.

They were $605.00

I’ve never bought something like this in the current economy. The only other 316 I bought was the tube for my rudder posts.

Is that the right price? Did I get a bad deal? A good deal? Going rate?

[ttex]

That is how much it cost for me to change the pump motor on a swimming pool, labor and parts.

Your thing sounds more important. I'd pay it. But what do I know.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by ttex

That is how much it cost for me to change the pump motor on a swimming pool, labor and parts.

Your thing sounds more important. I'd pay it. But what do I know.

Yeah. These hold the mast up, or hold the boat up when you lift it with a crane. One of the most important parts of the boat.

I felt like I was buying jewelry. Ha ha ha. Very pretty.

But I’m unsure what the going rate for something like this is.

[s/v Jedi]

$105.- from my supplier, see attachments

Edit: looks like they charged you exactly $500 to cut it to size.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

$105.- from my supplier, see attachments

Edit: looks like they charged you exactly $500 to cut it to size.

Yikes.

They did the cuts. They polished the rods. They drilled 4 holes for cotter pins.

So I got ripped off you think?

I really need help with this stuff. I’m in way over my head with this metal stuff.

I saw similar prices on McMaster car that you are showing. Of course, it wasn’t cut, it wasn’t finished. The holes for the cotter pins weren’t drilled. But $500 for that? Is that normal? Is that a five hour job? Do they make $100 an hour?

Some jerk on some other thread was saying that I only give them $40 an hour so I’m not sure how much they make exactly.

[rslifkin]

It's probably a little on the expensive side, but I'd bet that the cheapest sources for material like that aren't the ones that can or will provide it with that extra finish work you wanted.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

It's probably a little on the expensive side, but I'd bet that the cheapest sources for material like that aren't the ones that can or will provide it with that extra finish work you wanted.

Or even do the work at all. LOL

At least these people are doing something.

I’m just trying to understand how badly I’m getting ripped off, or if this is pretty standard. It’s good to at least have a general idea of the market. I have absolutely no idea.

[s/v Jedi]

Okay, custom cut rod 2 x 10”

Edit: these guys deliver in a flash.

They charged you $500 for the work. They probably used a lathe to finish the faces to exact length: 30 minutes for all 4 pieces.

Then they drilled 4 holes? Another 30 minutes.

Then they polished the rod…. Another 30 minutes.

They got you; it’s the reason I rather buy or rent a tool and do it all myself. There’s these maker spaces where you can use a lathe.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Okay, custom cut rod 2 x 10”

Edit: these guys deliver in a flash.

They charged you $500 for the work. They probably used a lathe to finish the faces to exact length: 30 minutes for all 4 pieces.

Then they drilled 4 holes? Another 30 minutes.

Then they polished the rod…. Another 30 minutes.

They got you; it’s the reason I rather buy or rent a tool and do it all myself. There’s these maker spaces where you can use a lathe.

Is that McMaster Carr you’re screenshotting? Looks similar to what I saw there. Who is it?

And WOW. I had never heard of a makerspace(aka hackerspace) before. These are incredible! They should have these for car repair too. I’ve got to join one. I could have definitely done this myself at a maker space in very little time.

Cut, polish, drill press. Outstanding!!

Thanks for sharing

[s/v Jedi]

I buy here: https://www.onlinemetals.com/

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Chotu

This is a pair of 3/4” thick, 10” long 316 stainless rods and some 3/16” thick tubing to kind of (loosely) slip fit the rod.

These are for my composite chain plates.

They were $605.00

I’ve never bought something like this in the current economy. The only other 316 I bought was the tube for my rudder posts.

Is that the right price? Did I get a bad deal? A good deal? Going rate?

I own a machine shop. My quote would be a little under $100 for the material. Not sure what the tolerance would be on the fit of shaft to tube but if it was relatively open, then there is only two hours max of machine time. I suppose they could have done some polishing to make it boat pretty. Maybe another hours worth. Most shops around here are $110-$150 an hour which IMHO is outrages. So if that shop was around $100@hr X 3hrs=$300 plus materials, $100. So maybe $400 plus tax?

If you had the slightest hesitation, you should have got other quotes.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

$105.- from my supplier, see attachments

Edit: looks like they charged you exactly $500 to cut it to size.

Scheduale 80 is a pipe usually with a seam. If it is is meant for the 3/4" to rotate, inside the tubing, there would be galling. As Chotu indicated the O.D. of the tubing was polished.

[seandepagnier]

I got titanium rod 36 inches long 5/8" diameter for $35 last week.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I own a machine shop. My quote would be a little under $100 for the material. Not sure what the tolerance would be on the fit of shaft to tube but if it was relatively open, then there is only two hours max of machine time. I suppose they could have done some polishing to make it boat pretty. Maybe another hours worth. Most shops around here are $110-$150 an hour which IMHO is outrages. So if that shop was around $100@hr X 3hrs=$300 plus materials, $100. So maybe $400 plus tax?

If you had the slightest hesitation, you should have got other quotes.

Thank you. This is really helpful actually. Having a frame of reference is good.

The tolerance is awful. 1/8”. It rattles around. However, since it’ll be under massive tension, I was going to glass the bushings in with the bushing seam facing away from the side the pin will be pressed hard against.

It won’t be rotating. What it does is something like the attached pic. The bushings go in the fiberglass and the pin passes through the bushings. You clip the shrouds on to the very center of these and that’s how the shroud load is transferred to the fiberglass - or how you can also lift the boat with a crane.

I’d have got another quote but talking to 4 other places, no one would do the work.

Question: Would you consider doing the metal work? I’m trying to get the bow tube/beam done in t6061-t6 and 316. There are several parts to make. I have all measurements and proper engineered drawings, including actual life size drawings.

Also looking for someone locally to visit onsite to do a splice on my mast using aluminum sheet and a brake. It’s even possible to do that remotely because I have the exact profile of the mast I can send. If done remotely, it could be done using lots of screws that I install here.

This has been SUCH a battle. I was supposed to finally sail this thing this winter and I can’t now because it’s taken months to get these metal things. Been trying to get this done for 4 months now with no one willing to work on it. 5 fabricators contacted. There are no more places around here. The one that actually did the work (and I guess overcharged me) is 5 hours of driving to go visit.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Chotu

.............

I’d have got another quote but talking to 4 other places, no one would do the work.

..............

There is your answer ^^^

No one wanted to bother with the job (for whatever reasons) but one guy thought - Hey I'll add 50% (or 100%) the price and see if the customer is really willing to pay that much. You did and he is happy. He probably figured he wasn't interested in any repeat business.