getting spares and stuff--Pricey?

[ggggr]

I recently mislaid the rear cylinder pin from the G25 that Ulverston gave me. Going through my box of bits I saw a Meteor barrel pivot pin and tried it---It fitted. I rang Chambers to order a couple (after checking the website) and asked for the Diana ones. He didnt have any so I asked about the Meteor pivot ones. They have the same part number at Chambers and must be in the same draw so he didnt have any of them. He said he would have to see about getting some made up as its difficult with imperial sizes now. I then asked for Mercury ones to cut down and got them for about £3 a piece. I still think that is a bit over the top as are "0" rings at £2 a pop when they obviously buy bags of them at around 15p? each. Stock screws £4 each!!! They are usually something like 2Ba cheese head or pan head (metric screws are coppers). Im sure some of the engineers on here could knock up these and some of the other fasteners at a reasonable price? How about the front stock screws for a Bsa cadet? If somebody sold them for £2 or £2-50 each, we would probably all buy some to keep in on spec.
I know its business but some of this is taking the P-ss. YOUR THOUGHTS?

[I. J.]

Ive worked 'on the other side of the counter' and can see both sides of the argument. Yes, while seals and screws can be bought in some cases for pence from your local engineering suppliers its the time and effort involved. These parts have to be sourced, sorted and stored. Orders have to be taken, monies processed and goods parcelled and despatched. You could be on the phone talking to a genuine enquiry for 20 to 30 minutes to make a sale of a few pence. You could also be on the phone to someone for 20 to 30 minutes who buys nothing. What price do you put on a spare part which you have had in stock for 20 or 30 years? Shops have overheads and running costs.

I doubt if it would be worth an engineers time and effort to produce one-off screws and fasteners.


ATB
Ian

[SLUGGY]

i can see both sides too but wonder with price justification as described the situation could be reversed by higher turnover if the price was better.over 50%mark up is plain wrong to me but take heart,it makes me smile too source o rings and the like from other places where a sensible mark up is applied(thats why their bits stay in a drawer for 30 years).vintage motorcycle fastener suppliers can be usefull,anyone got any other ideas?

[ggggr]

As I tinker, I use 2ba cheeseheads as stockscrews when the threads have been chewed. About 10p each--much better than paying £4 each. Dont look bad if you blue them. I wont tap out anything that is not stripped though.

[Troubledshooter]

I too have been on both sides of the counter, and if you think a 50% mark up is 'plain wrong', you would have a heart attack if you knew the mark up on many items on sale in the large stores.
A lot of parts remain in drawers for many years due to the retailer having to order a minimum quantity from his wholesaler, just to supply one item to his customer at the time, so the remainder is earning nothing until sold and ties up the retailers cash, sometimes for years.
This is why fewer and fewer retailers carry spares and order as required from their wholesalers. This costs the customer more, but they have a choice whether to buy or shop around for a better price, and retailers cash is not tied up in dead stock.
There are some engineers who are only too happy to run off the odd spare for a pittance, but you try going to a small engineering company and ask for a price on a one off small component such as a specialised machine screw. You might get another shock.

[edbear2]

There are some engineers who are only too happy to run off the odd spare for a pittance, but you try going to a small engineering company and ask for a price on a one off small component such as a specialised machine screw. You might get another shock.

Yep......If you consider say a BSA prewar underlever pivot bolt.....3 diameters, radiused head, slotted, screwcut, and then the small end milled to accept the locking screw .I bet you wouldn't see change out of £25-30.....assuming its a 1 off, on manual machines....I can't see anyone even wanting to write a program to do this on a cnc......the price goes down with quantity as it takes as long to set up, and do tooling for 1, as for 50.....I moan about prices a bit, but when I am honest with myself, I know that £3-4 is not bad when you consider that people supply this stuff only get smallish batches made (in engineering terms).....Go to a bike dealer, say one that sells hondas.....and see what a basic 6 x 25 cad plated case screw will cost......and they churn these out by the million!

[SLUGGY]

If suzuki(an example i know of)dont sell a part,usually because a higher quality item is available from another supplier the price goes up every year that no one wants it !!lol. everything thats been said i agree with but still think this is a very strange logic.Anyway as i said ive had usefull fasteners+o rings from vintage bike suppliers,any other sugestions?

[I. J.]

Anyway as i said ive had usefull fasteners+o rings from vintage bike suppliers,any other sugestions?

Good model engineers shops usually hold a good stock of small screws and springs which airgunners might find useful. Dont expect them to be give away prices though.


You could, of course, always place a WANTED advert on here.


ATB
Ian

[gedfinn 2]

I recently mislaid the rear cylinder pin from the G25 that Ulverston gave me. Going through my box of bits I saw a Meteor barrel pivot pin and tried it---It fitted. I rang Chambers to order a couple (after checking the website) and asked for the Diana ones. He didnt have any so I asked about the Meteor pivot ones. They have the same part number at Chambers and must be in the same draw so he didnt have any of them. He said he would have to see about getting some made up as its difficult with imperial sizes now. I then asked for Mercury ones to cut down and got them for about £3 a piece. I still think that is a bit over the top as are "0" rings at £2 a pop when they obviously buy bags of them at around 15p? each. Stock screws £4 each!!! They are usually something like 2Ba cheese head or pan head (metric screws are coppers). Im sure some of the engineers on here could knock up these and some of the other fasteners at a reasonable price? How about the front stock screws for a Bsa cadet? If somebody sold them for £2 or £2-50 each, we would probably all buy some to keep in on spec.
I know its business but some of this is taking the P-ss. YOUR THOUGHTS?

Hiya mate & Yes, ( I was going to reply to the engineering thread on gun parts ) In the " General bit " but as usual, it went off track.

I can make almost any part, I have machining facilities ( Lathe, miller Tig welder Etc ) Being retired I also have the time ! That said, I have made a number of Oddball pistons, Parts etc, A One off piston would take about 4 hours ( If I stay sober )

This would be from solid, IE I have to have the metal ? Bored, Machined, Milled Sear rod made, Drilled & tapped & Silver Soldered in, ( You have to have all these tools to hand ) & finally case hardened ! Put a price on it ?
Pins any size are easy, ( forget the case hardening ) As are machining O ring grooves etc, But size is not the issue as regards complexity.

Another problem is having the material, I have a large stock of Bar ( Brass, Steel, Stainless, ( What a B*########* ) That is to work with, Aluminium & many plastics, Some rather special.
As is some of the very hard bronzes ( I have some I machine )

If you were making 10 Off of an item ( for example the Sharp Innova breeches ) Whilst your set up, Its easy to Turn/Mill Etc whilst in the Jig, Its the same with Silver soldering, IE All at once.

I had to buy a 1.5mm X 400mm stick of silver solder 2 years ago to do a job, It cost £5.65 p + Vat, for one,
I am of course talking about the Home machinist & One Offs, but you get my drift, Chambers & your Man ! are way over the top with prices, ( Although I have seen some VERY Expensive spares on here ) What do you do,
Please form an orderly queue for work to be made, Ha ha,
Cheers, ged

[ggggr]

Im not on about one offs being made, Im on about someone making say 200 2ba pan head screws about 3/4 inch long or the same quantity of cadet stock screws. I accept about 1 offs with anything and I know that there is not much demand for Imperial sizes now but surely if someone can sell a metric screw for 5p and I can get 2ba stainless steel cheese heads from a motorbike spares place for 50p there is something wrong?
Example---a few years back I asked about a new boiler in a house. Id asked my dads mate (retired plumber and gas fitter) to look at it first. He told me after looking at the set up and manifolds etc that it was not that hard of a job. I phoned a bloke and asked him and he gave me a mickey mouse price. I said boiler, manifold etc comes to x amount. He said "yes but Ive got to make a bit on those prices"-----I said "Hang on, I will be paying you this much for a days work, thats for the work, so why do you have to put something on the wholesale prices?"-----I have never earned that amount of money for a days work----It was about £400 and that was 9 years ago. His way he would have made £750 to £800.

[Jenny Dipple]

BA screws are still used in electrical trade, and can also be obtained from good motor factors, as well as o rings, fibre washers can be obtained from the previous and plumbing supplies. Jenny Dipple

[gedfinn 2]

Hi, I have boxes & boxes of these, Bought in car boots, Usually a couple of Quid. Its the sorting out thats the problem. After a few minutes looking , They all look the same Ha ha,

I have found forearm screws for Bsa, Stock bolts for standards & even a Parkerhale silencer.
Even yesterday ( hemswell car boot ) I bought these circlips, He had 4 boxes at £2 Each, I only needed one !
If anyone needs any & knows the sizes post free, Cheers,