Tool prices?

[Philipintexas]

Wow, I must have been in a coma the last 10 years. I found both my slitting saws were cutting crooked so off to the internet to buy some replacements. I happen to have a MSC tool catalog from 2002 and the prices seemed reasonable until I got the current prices. Two representative items, 4" HSS import blades, 2002 price- $14.60, 2013 price $49.44! Another item, $31 jumped to $82! These are comparing the same item numbers. I know we're subject to inflation but this seems crazy... I guess I missed the tripling of my income during that same time period!

 

[lennardhme]

Incentive for resharpening them ?

 

[portlandron]

Check out e-bay you can find great prices on tooling. Check to see that the seller has a good feedback record and using paypal gives you recourse if something goes wrong.

 

[Wizard69]

Wow, I must have been in a coma the last 10 years. I found both my slitting saws were cutting crooked so off to the internet to buy some replacements. I happen to have a MSC tool catalog from 2002 and the prices seemed reasonable until I got the current prices. Two representative items, 4" HSS import blades, 2002 price- $14.60, 2013 price $49.44! Another item, $31 jumped to $82! These are comparing the same item numbers. I know we're subject to inflation but this seems crazy... I guess I missed the tripling of my income during that same time period!

Unfortunately MSC set its sights on big business. They have a sister company in ENCO that is often more reasonable. Beyond that if you live in a reasonably large city look for a small shop tool supplier, resharpening service or other retailer of machining tooling. Locally we have a resharpening service that is actually quite large that also supplies some machining tooling. Often the same products that you buy from MSC can be had much cheaper. Of course the selection is limited but who really needs the endless MSC selection.

 

[Philipintexas]

I've done a lot of business with Enco but on this item they weren't much better. At least triple what they used to be. I found some on Ebay, U.S. Made for $5 ea. Since I needed the blades now, I sharpened mine and the results were perfect. I posted a tip on a simple jig I used to accomplish that. I'm still amazed that some items like lathes and other items are about the same price they were 10 years ago.

 

[vederstein]

Have you tried Shars? Import stuff, but usually less expensive.

 

[Wizard69]

I've done a lot of business with Enco but on this item they weren't much better. At least triple what they used to be. I found some on Ebay, U.S. Made for $5 ea. Since I needed the blades now, I sharpened mine and the results were perfect. I posted a tip on a simple jig I used to accomplish that. I'm still amazed that some items like lathes and other items are about the same price they were 10 years ago.

It is probably that razor blade and handle mentality. Sell the handles cheap and make your profits on the blades that wear out regularly.

Ah who knows I'm guessing there, but when you look at blades for woodworking you see a wide array of prices. Even so serviceable blades can be has cheap. So I suspect MSC has its eyes on huge profits. If you need to go to a catalog vendor the only thing I can recommend is to consider all the vendors out there including the likes of Travers, McMaster-Carr and the lesser known vendors. You can still find American made tooling at reasonable prices but it isn't easy these days. It doesn't help that everyone buys from the big on line vendors because it is quick and easy.

 

[Philipintexas]

"Travers, McMaster-Carr and the lesser known vendors."
I've never heard of them, it might be helpful to have a list of tool vendors that could be updated by knowledgable people so we know who/where to look.

 

[mcostello]

Enco, Victor Machine, CDCO, Little Machine Shop Reid Tool,KBC, Tools for Cheap. Can't think of any more at the moment.