Originally Posted by
rpenmanparker
Do you know how fast the automated machinery runs out that tubing. At least hundreds of feet/minute I would guess. The machinery is expensive, but long ago paid for and depreciated. That is just opportunism on the part of the seller. If you are an individual and want to try your hand at building a frame at home, what choice do you have. They gotcha.
No, I don't know the process that makes butted or hydroformed tubing, how many feet per minute would they be running variable walled tubing? After it's drawn and formed there will be some heat treating I'd assume, it's going to be somewhat flexible. Straight out of the forming heat I'd bet it's pretty brittle or really soft. There has to be some heat treating, isn't CM air cooled? Some of the A2 we heat treat my have to air cool for 4-5 hours after being in the over for 2, then we'll draw it and that another 2 hours. And on top of all that, if it's being made in the US the SWU is going to have to be paid. Then the trucks hauling those heavy loads have to pay the extra DOT fees or haul under 80K and 80K of steel isn't that much. I've seen DOM run, that's maybe 150'/minute but then there is hours and hours to finish it before it's ready to make race chassis.
The jest of it is if you don't like the price, don't pay it. It's not bread and milk, you can live without it. But as long as they can price something a $1500 and sale them, they are going to cost that much and more.