writes:
It's bad news for the hobby, but I fear it is true.
I have talked to one of my long-time suppliers in the trade this week, and casting metal across the board has spiked alarmingly high in just the last few months.
Many manufacturers and casters who have not made any bulk purchases lately are in for a huge shock. What was $3.80 USD - $4.20 USD a pound a few short years ago has soared to over $8.50 USD and higher this month. There are deeply embedded pricing structures in place throughout the metal trade, which means these much higher prices will be with us for quite a while.
One casting house I deal with reports that talk within the metal trade is anticipating as much as $10.00 USD a pound alloy.
I do not know why prices have spiked so quickly, and so sharply of late and I'll try to report more when I learn anything new.