Hemingway Kits (US alternative)

[mmcmdl]

A small FRB used to be $4 . Now $15 . I find it easier just to have a yard sale . Pretty hard to sell a $5 item and have to charge $15 to ship it.

 

[cjtoombs]

You have to factor in the cost of the materials (and shipping for them) even if you just buy the plans. If you have an extensive stock pile to pick from, then the shipping for the materials is going to seem exorbitant. If you have to order materials from Speedy Metals or Online Metals or one of their ilk, shipping costs for the materials can quickly eat up any savings over having the kit shipped. Local metal dealers are an option if you have them, but may have minimum buy quantities or cutting fees that quickly eat up any savings. I have a 100 mile drive to the nearest metal dealer, so fuel costs will run at a minimum ~$40. I've paid more in shipping than for the item more times than I can count. No matter how you aquire the materials, there will be a cost.

 

[twhite]

I am fortunate that I have a metal place that sell drops of all sizes. CRS and Aluminum 10 minutes away. I actually scrounged enough 2” dia to make the tailstock die holder. So I will be giving that a go in the near future.


Cutting oil is my blood.

 

[ChazzC]

China subsidizes export shipping... Great Britain and the US do not, to my knowledge. Not going to say it's fair, but shipping and everything else have gone way up.

Everything I’ve purchased from China has come into the US via consolidated loads: a bunch of shipments loaded into aircraft containers then broken down at the port of entry, a new label slapped on and delivered to my post office through a chain of common carriers. Kind of like the UPS to USPS service.

I remember buying two chargers from Apple probably 25 years ago: ordered online on Saturday, they shipped from China and I had them Monday.

Stuff from India has shipped via FedEx (2-Day!).

From the UK via Royal Mail.

Anything you can do in bulk, using reliable, low cost resources, costs less.

 

[wachuko]

Metal Lathe Accessories in PA. The owner is sometimes a bit slow to respond, but his products are really nice.

Metal Lathe

Metal Lathe Accessories in the Pine Grove Mills, PA area.

mlatoolbox.com

I don't think Andy is doing well... I was happy to hear his voice the other day when I called him... but I think he is struggling with health issues. I have tried to order several times in the last 6 months and it is always the same.... I will email him, call, email him again.... and nothing. He forgets to follow up.

When I last spoke with him he told me that he had some friends that were helping him with the business, but I have not been able to place an order with him...

If we have folks that know him and live close by to stop by and see him, it would be great to have an update on how he is doing and if he is getting help to continue his business. I would love to buy several of his kits.

 

[JPMacG]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I spoke with Andy several times by phone late last year. He seems like a really nice guy. But I did have to remind him to ship my order - he had misplaced it or forgotten or something.

 

[cjtoombs]

I hope Andy is doing well. I see him every year at the NAMES expo, except the last three of course as they were canceled. I hope that if he's not able to continue the business that he's able to find someone to take it over. His casting kits are both interesting an useful, I have 3 of them.

 

[JPMacG]

I'll look for him in January at the Cabin Fever Expo.

 

[wachuko]

I'll look for him in January at the Cabin Fever Expo.

Thank you.

 

[JPMacG]

I did not find Andy at Cabin Fever Expo 2023. I spoke with another supplier of castings at CFE who knew Andy, but did not have any new information on Andy or his company.