Finally, a rant about high prices but not about lumber!

[Thomas Colson]

Good grief, we all know that lumber prices are obnoxiously high. Went to buy some planer blades today, had to take blood pressure pills:

Name price paid approx year ago/price now if ordered today (AMZ)

Freud 15" x 1" x 1/8" High Speed Steel Industrial Planer and Jointer Knives (C045) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004RK63/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 57.73/76.65
Freud 10" x 24T Heavy-Duty Rip Blade (LM72R010) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000225UD/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 53.16/54.99
SawStop RT-C27 27" x 16" Cast Iron Table For R 290.84/485.00POWERTEC HSS Knives, 6-1/8" x 11/16" x 1/8", for Ridgid 6-1/8" Jointer (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DA80RK/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 16.99/19.99
West System 105-B Epoxy Resin (.98 gal) with 205-B Fast Epoxy Hardener (.86 qt) and Mini Epoxy Metering Pump Set (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JKYCV8G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 152.95/161.12
General Finishes Water Based Dye, 1 Quart, Ebony (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ELFJZ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 20.95/24.28
Johnson Level & Tool B85 8-Inch Hardwood Sliding T-Bevel (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002NBKK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 13.45/14.26
AMMEX Gloveworks HD Industrial Orange Nitrile Gloves with Diamond Texture Grip, Box of 100, 8 mil, Size XLarge, Latex Free, Powder Free, Textured, Disposable, GWON48100-BX (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MGSGN46/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 17.95/36.99
General Finishes Enduro-Var Satin Gallon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L4ZD4Y/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 87.51/99.99
Lead Free Brass Pipe Fitting, Union, Class 125, 1" NPT Female (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003OYJGP4/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 15.50/26.23


Now to be fair, some things in my order history have gone down, but not a lot and not by much (e.g 80 grit sand belts 15 cents cheaper). I've already switched to a cheaper epoxy, but its not that much cheaper, and with cheap planer blades, you get what you pay for (bow like a banana after 10 uses and can't be sharpened). I feel like I'm scraping the bottom of the quality barrel with the freud planer blades.

Between lumber prices, tool prices, and consumable prices, I don't think I'm going to be able to stay in the hobby much longer. I just can't justify not making a house payment or groceries so I can make that farm table, which is where prices are now. I can no longer afford it on my disposable income. ***** it I picked wood working because it was cheaper than women and fishing! Guess I'll have to fall back to collecting old hand planes, heard that was cheap.....

[Richard Coers]

I usually don't read a post with "rant" in the title. But it's lunch time, so..... Haven't you heard about steel and cast iron prices going way up? Have you ever had a hobby that isn't expensive? Around me the price of used furniture is at an all time low. You can pick up an entire wall unit for $50 if it's dark wood and out of style. If you absolutely must have that farm table design to live, you might want to examine your priorities. NO ONE should have an expensive hobby if it gets down to groceries and house payments, vs tools. My Father taught that to me 65 years ago. He would have told me to pick up a second job if I had too much idle time and not enough money. Idle time was a never discussed subject on our farm. If it was, I was then scooping hog manure the next day.

[johnny means]

Picked this up a few days back. Owner still had all the original paperwork. Check out that price. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get that much for it today, for a thirty year old machine.

[Frederick Skelly]

Between lumber prices, tool prices, and consumable prices, I don't think I'm going to be able to stay in the hobby much longer. I just can't justify not making a house payment or groceries so I can make that farm table, which is where prices are now. I can no longer afford it on my disposable income. ***** it I picked wood working because it was cheaper than women and fishing! Guess I'll have to fall back to collecting old hand planes, heard that was cheap.....

You dont have to give up woodworking. But it sounds like you might have to set it aside until prices come down to a level you can afford. Or make smaller projects than you'd prefer. Or learn to refurbish and use old hand tools to build (smaller) projects.

But if woodworking is now more expensive than "women", I'd go find a nice girlfriend and put up my tools for a while. :)

[glenn bradley]

Still cheaper than golfing of fishing :D. The problem with opportunism in emergent situations is that if the rules (the president signed an executive order in March of 2020 aimed at preventing price gouging) is not enforced strictly and promptly the higher price tiers are very difficult to bring back into the old reality. We failed miserably and now the general population gets to pay the price. I assume just like the coffee skyrocket in price due to drought and the baltic birch price near-doubling due to supply problems, all escalated prices blamed on COVID-19 will return to near-normal any minute now :D:D:D.

Every time I pass my lumber hoard I picture it as my own Scrooge McDuck's swimming pool full of money getting bigger and bigger. I have tools I picked up due to a good price rather than an immediate need at the time that I might otherwise never own due to the current asking price.

[Charles Coolidge]

Ditto rant for nitrile gloves, double the price come on that's scalping.

[Jacob Mac]

I'm not so sure we've seen the worst of it yet. And even if we have, prices rocket up but float down.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I'm not so sure we've seen the worst of it yet. And even if we have, prices rocket up but float down.


Ever hear of a government agency say "We need less money this year than last year?" For me it's property taxes. Been in our house for forty one years. Already paid twice more than what house cost in taxes, with no relief in sight. Each year, they jump up 5 -10%, but my retirement doesn't. Need to do some things around the house, but riding out the crest in lumber prices. If it's leaking, or on fire, it WILL get fixed, but everything else can wait.

[Mike Kees]

Hey Thomas ,I will check at my shop here tonight to be sure. I may have a set of planer knives the size you listed. Will let you know.

[Scott Winners]

I have gone through an insane amount of gloves doing patient care under the pandemic rules last year compared to years previous, that one is supply v- demand; but the sawstop cast iron thing I got nothing.

[John Jardin]

I'm not so sure we've seen the worst of it yet. And even if we have, prices rocket up but float down.
I agree with Jacob!
But why has this inflation coincided with other alarming trends over the past 6 months?
It's no mystery to me.

[Charles Coolidge]

Shopped for Bessey 24" clamps today, prices from $41 to $62. The 24 (2) 40 (2) four clamp set price ranged from $209 to $314.

[Clarence Martinn]

Here is a rant !!!


Hardware store has their yearly Midnight Madness Sale. EVERY YEAR!! , they had the Roulette Wheel that you could spin . Depending on the number it landed on, you could get anywhere from 5% to 50 % off on WHATEVER YOU BOUGHT !!! So, I head on down to the store, to buy a new Makita Planer:D I get there , and check out the Planer, $750.00 I look around and get ready to spin the wheel ...

:confused:

Huh.. I ask the owner of the store " Hey , where did you put the Roulette Wheel ?"

His answer: " WE KNEW YOU WERE COMING TO THE SALE. THE WHEEL IS IN THE BASEMENT, NEVER TO BE USED AGAIN !!"

Still confused, I asked why...


:confused:

" BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU SPIN THAT WHEEL, YOU END UP SPINNING IT SO THAT IT STOPS ON 30 , 40 OR 50 % off !! "

Not my fault I knew how to spin the wheel!!! LOL

[andrew whicker]

How is this woodworking related? This is the entire global economy right now.

[Stan Calow]

According to Wall Street Journal, wholesale lumber prices have recently taken a steep drop.

[Thomas Crawford]

Woodworking is cheaper than fishing?

[Richard Coers]

Woodworking is cheaper than fishing?
Absolutely. Consider the price of a bass boat with two 150 hp engines on it, and the trailer. $78,695 for this one. https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2021-ranger-z521l-7687299/

[Ron Citerone]

I have fished and woodworked most of my life. There are cheap and expensive ways to do both. If you are in a spot in life that financially allows it, spend some money and enjoy it. If there isn't any extra money, be creative and go dirt cheap. Sometimes the rewards and learning during the "tough" times are the most interesting.

I am retired and am able to do most things. I also have a health condition that does set limitations somewhat. Something for young guys to consider. When it doubt......DO IT WHILE YOU CAN!