Rant: I just found out how much color bar actually costs per pound and my jaw dropped

I was ordering some new color from a supplier in Seattle and saw the price for a pound of silver amber striking bar was over $400. I always knew it was pricey, but seeing that number for a single pound of raw material really hit me. That's more than I spend on a full tank of propane for my glory hole for a month of work. It makes me way more careful about how much I melt off the rod now, and I cringe thinking about the times I've dropped a hot bit on the floor. Has anyone else had a moment like this that changed how you handle your materials?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_olivia21d ago

That price shock is real, it makes you treat every gram like gold. I read a forum post once where a guy said he started thinking of his color bar as cash, not just glass, and that stuck with me. Simonw41 has the right idea with the scale and tray, as even saving the crumbs adds up fast.

simonw4121d ago

Started weighing my color pulls on a small gram scale before I even start working. Seeing the exact amount I'm about to use makes me way more deliberate. I also keep a metal tray under my bench to catch any drops, so I can at least remelt the crumbs.