[Spliffdaddy]

OK, so not many months ago I was buying copper pipe (plumbing) for $2.79 for a 1/2 inch diameter 10 foot length.

Today, I went to Lowe's and noticed that 5 foot pieces were, get this, $28.59

I've never seen a price increase on that scale - for anything.

The house I'm remodeling needed central air & heat. So I get charged an additional $200 because I decided to move the condenser (outside unit) about 10 feet from where it was going to be. I asked why it cost $200 and the contractor said it was gonna cost *him* that much for the copper tubing that moves the refrigerant between the inside and outside unit.

This is insane.

Anybody else notice huge increases in the costs of products that use copper?

[Dino-Rider]

Francisco D'Anconia blew up his mines.

[Dino-Rider]

Equinox Minerals

"The present cyclical uptrend can be attributed in large measure to the rapid industrial growth of China, India, Russia and Brazil. There is typically an inverse relationship between copper prices and copper stockpiles or inventories for sale in the metal warehouses such as the LME and Comex. These inventories continue to be at record lows as global consumption continues to remain strong."

[Spliffdaddy]

So 3rd world countries have just discovered indoor plumbing?

dammit.

[Dino-Rider]

Yeah. Sucks.

[Rev-O]

Heh. Try buying 2" soft copper. Several feet of that and toss in a 2" brass saddle, 2" brass corp stop, 2" isolator, and 2" curb stop and the final bill was pushing a grand. That's at city government pricing as well. Insane.
No wonder backflow devices, brass plaques and wiring is being stolen all over the place. Easy money for the drunks and druggies at the recycle joints.

[Spliffdaddy]

Well, there's an upside to all this.

My 'Deliverance' machine is finally worth something. Besides just being the fastest peecee in the world a few years ago.

[Dino-Rider]

Yeah that thing was nutty.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

OK, so not many months ago I was buying copper pipe (plumbing) for $2.79 for a 1/2 inch diameter 10 foot length.

Today, I went to Lowe's and noticed that 5 foot pieces were, get this, $28.59

I've never seen a price increase on that scale - for anything.

There ya go:
BBC NEWS | Business | Chilean copper mine hit by strike (8/8/2006)

A strike at the world's largest privately-owned copper mine has cut production by almost two-thirds.

[nonhuman]

Why not just use PVC?

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

So 3rd world countries have just discovered indoor plumbing?

dammit.

Your mod must be worth a fortune now

[scottiB]

Originally Posted by Dino-Rider

Francisco D'Anconia blew up his mines.

Heh.

First thing that popped into my head, too.