Thread: End of an era as Toowoomba Foundry closes..

Originally Posted by Jayson

Well I post this somewhat hesitantly...

I have an idea of what went wrong here.

On the 23rd of April this year I received a quotation from this foundry as our local foundry could not handle the length I required and stated that they believed Toowoomba foundry was one of the last left that could.
I had planned on getting some blanks cast to make some straight edges for those scrapers amongst us. A very simple design, a Cast SG Iron "I" beam about 100 mm wide and 770 mm long, with a few lightening holes.
Nothing too complex at all, and I had planned on having 10 of these made. Heres the kicker, I was quoted $3550 tooling cost and $795 each for the beams if I got 10. Oh and a 10 week wait from date of order, which coincidently would have been in a few days time. Sorry but $11,500 + GST + freight was a little too steep for me so I guess I may have contributed to this companies downfall.

**Rant on**
If this is really the cost of manufacturing in Australia then we should all be ashamed that we have let it get to this stage.
We all want safer work environments, shorter work hours, higher pays and cheaper products but complain about local industry shutting down.
Manufacturing in this company is going to come to an end as no one wants to compromise their way of life.

Most of us have seen the nicely cast straight edges from the USA. Yes they are only 18" long but they are also only $75 each.

Nothing we can do about it except start waving goodbye as it wont be much longer before there is nothing left to wave to
**Rant Off**

Sorry about that. I apologize in advance if this post offends anyone...

Jayson out.

You are dead right, but kind of ironically if we were living like we were 30 or 40 or more years ago, none of us would be able to afford the workshop equipment we all have..

I think we will stagnate for awhile now until the rest of the world catches up...

...were cast in Ohio. $75 for 18", a 36" was also cheap. Unfortunately the seller isn't interested in casting any more I'm told. Which pretty much leaves China or India. I asked a Melbourne foundry two years ago: not interested.

For basic spotting flats I wonder if the granite folks wouldn't be cheaper on a group buy?

Sorry to see an iconic foundation capability melt away after so many years. I suspect that history will one day judge the invention of the MBA degree as the beginning of the end of the western world.

Greg.

Originally Posted by Greg Q

...were cast in Ohio. $75 for 18", a 36" was also cheap. Unfortunately the seller isn't interested in casting any more I'm told. Which pretty much leaves China or India. I asked a Melbourne foundry two years ago: not interested.

For basic spotting flats I wonder if the granite folks wouldn't be cheaper on a group buy?

Sorry to see an iconic foundation capability melt away after so many years. I suspect that history will one day judge the invention of the MBA degree as the beginning of the end of the western world.

Greg.

I can get them done in Hobart. Only holdup is my making the pattern, which *might* get to the top of the list shortly after I get back home in August or September. As I have a boat to build and software to maintain, metrology gear takes its place in the priority queue a fair way down.

Guesstimated price for a 750mm I beam type was ~$100 each.

PDW

Pete, we shpuld talk about the pattern specifics...I may be able to have one ready for your return. This would make an intetesting group project. I imagine that a bevel edge one for dovetails an a longer flat one would be perfect for all the scraper class students plus lurkers.

Camel back or I-beam type?

Greg

Abso-freakin-lutely Greg. I'll be in that one. No backing out this time. In fact I have already started saving. Probably 'I' beam but not really fussed

Phil

Originally Posted by Greg Q

...were cast in Ohio. $75 for 18", a 36" was also cheap. Unfortunately the seller isn't interested in casting any more I'm told. Which pretty much leaves China or India. I asked a Melbourne foundry two years ago: not interested.

For basic spotting flats I wonder if the granite folks wouldn't be cheaper on a group buy?

Sorry to see an iconic foundation capability melt away after so many years. I suspect that history will one day judge the invention of the MBA degree as the beginning of the end of the western world.

Greg.

Greg, before you go too far down the Group Buy track, have a read of Ubeauts (Neil) post on this here

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f12/gr...mation-137571/

Listen: I am aware of the group buy thing. I am also aware that what I am contemplating is more in the line of a group conspiracy to comission an Australian to custom manufacture for us an otherwise unobtainable item. This in no way violates the spirit nor the letter of the group buy policy.

Anything else?

Originally Posted by Greg Q

Listen: I am aware of the group buy thing. I am also aware that what I am contemplating is more in the line of a group conspiracy to comission an Australian to custom manufacture for us an otherwise unobtainable item. This in no way violates the spirit nor the letter of the group buy policy.

Anything else?

I simply directed your attention to Neils' policy on Group Buys on this forum, there is no need to shoot the messenger Greg.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Greg, before you go too far down the Group Buy track, have a read of Ubeauts (Neil) post on this here

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f12/gr...mation-137571/

I just had a quick read of that information, I'd expect a lot of the concerns such as bypassing distributors and importation/tax hassles don't apply to this situation, you could easily call it a "group project" rather than than a group buy. I'm not suggesting this allows bypassing of the forum administrators but possibly relaxed conditions might apply. FWIW at this stage I wouldn't be interested as I have waaaay too many projects that need wrapping up before starting another one.

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Abso-freakin-lutely Greg. I'll be in that one. No backing out this time. In fact I have already started saving. Probably 'I' beam but not really fussed

Phil

+1 on that!

Originally Posted by Big Shed

I simply directed your attention to Neils' policy on Group Buys on this forum, there is no need to shoot the messenger Greg.

Yeah, fair enough. i apologise for being an asshole.

Greg

Pete,

Count me in. See my PM. Also before anyone tells me off, I sent the PM before we were directed to the Forums position on group buys. Won't do it again!

You can have my email address if you want.....

Simon

Originally Posted by Greg Q

Yeah, fair enough. i apologise for being an asshole.

Greg

No worries

I would also be interested. It's funny how talk of toowoomba foundry closing turned to talk of casting straight edges.