Why the cost increase?


I went to buy materials for a speaker project. I also priced some T-111 siding on 8" centers, 5/8 thick, Ship lap.
I hadn’t picked up any sheets or anything in over 18 months.

48" x 96 x 5/8 wood siding was 19-26.00 and on sale 15-20.00 per sheet, NOW 74-84.00 per sheet.

MDF 3/4" 48 x 96" if you can find it. 45-55.00 per sheet it was 22.00 to 27.00 per sheet.

2x4x8 DF stud grade 1.99-3.00 per. Now 4-6.00 per stud,

There is no shortage but there sure is a LOT of price gouging. NOTHING changed. Just the price..

The quality is worse. The workers aren’t paid worth a crap...Why the increase?

I’m getting ready to finish my home out. WOW.. I might have to rethink this a bit..

The price all most tripled in 12-18 months.. This kind of stuff is NOT cool at ALL.

Just my opinion of course. Any projects you’re doing get put on hold or STOPED?

YES I’m very frugal. Money never came easy, and it leaves the same way..

oldhvymec
And I just wanted to fix my house and build a pair of new speakers.

I'll haul it in my 1996 F150 5.0, Eddie Bower. 24 mpg PICK UP.

The drivers I just picked up from Parts Express are from Taiwan.

I think the Baltic Birch is from Russia. The best price I found was 91.00 a sheet and 9.75% sales tax. Over 100.00 a sheet. A/A ply is 129.00 a sheet.

White veneer 3/4 ply (lot of voids) 75.00

100% mark up..

My first real speaker project was 2 Jensen Imperial Horns and 2 Jensen Imperial sub. 11 sheets of 1" marine plywood. One of the subs was a for buddy.

The guy at the lumber yard/John Deere/Cat/International Dealer/fruit packing shed/, had cut specs for builds in his lumber yard.
The lumber was Naval Surplus.

The guy at the Western Auto/5 and dime/pharmacy/Veterinarian/feed store, sold the drivers.

The radio/appliance/mono/stereo/ham radio/TV repair/tube supply/ military surplus guy, made the crossovers.

It all cost me 1/2 of my summer wages (with a 50% employee discount). I got the 2 MC20, Mac 30 Kit and a C20 from a retro fit at the local Masonic Lodge. They reinstalled Marantz SS gear. They kept their Imperials though.. I don't blame them.. Weighed a ton.. 2 trips in a 51 Chevy PU (short bed).

BTW I worked at all 4 places and my fathers Gas station at any given time.. No I didn't have a paper rout, my brother did, he had a rural route.
Tule Fog route..

1.00-1.75 dollar usd per hour when I started.. 1968-74

Regards
@stereo5 ...had the same experience....I chalk it up to the 'lightning experience', whereas you're 'just sitting there, and *pow*'....

I don't take it personally, just a bad 'phraseology'....;)
@nonoise ....*wry G*...when everyone's free, we've got to expect a whole tushfull of 'variables' (yeah, me too)...and boy howdy,  ain't there...

In NC, the CV19D infect rate has gone up 5X, sig other & I have already 'month-ed' when we should go booster...finding relief and amuse in calling chickens 'dinosaurs'...

...one looks at strangers as a potential threat....
...parts of our government as another....
...the next chapter of the Afgan....(words fail)....(miserably)...
...a planet turning to Bite...

"May we live in Interesting Times...."

OK, got IT....wake up tomorrow for the latest outrageous...."WTF, over..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa1JR-TgPfU&list=RDMM&index=7

LA county, myself...but closer to what Frank has to say about it....just more of similar but mostly trouble of other sorts, unimagined and undreamt of.....*no emoji can infer or begin to*
oldhvymec

I've read where Baltic Birch is a fantastic material for speakers ,
my Thiels used 17 layers of birch veneer to form the curved sides .
Good luck with your  audio project .