The cost of materials...

[PJ1]

Today I called my normal steel supplier and priced out some 1" square mild steel .095 wall tubing, $1.29 per ft. Just 2 months ago I bought .083 wall for
.60 cents a foot. I'm really kinda bummed, I hoped to get started on a new project but the cost just jumped and I really can't over extend the budget right now. It's not just the 1" but everything has jumped in price
It's hard to make stuff anymore for less than buying cheap overseas crap

[MicroZone]

Yep, material is expensive. We can thank the rising cost of gas, President Bush and the Taco Bell dog.

[Farmboy]

I'm quite lucky to have a scrap yard not far from me. It's in an industrial estate so all the big companies throw out their off-cuts. It's decent metal but just means I have to join bits together to get a decent length. I just give a few pounds to the foreman for beer money and we both win.