ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Aluminum too

With the price of steel up as high as it is, I thought that I had a brainstorm.
We checked into the price of aluminum EMT (available in sizes 2-1/2" to 4"). Guess what?
It's doubled in price also.

Has the price of aluminum wire gone through the roof, too? (we never use it)...S

I think the aluminum has gone up simply
because the steel has gone through the roof.
I have been in the electrical business since
1992 and i dont think i have ever seen the
prices that we now face.

Aluminum is still very cheap the last time I checked, at least AL wire.

From eveything I have read in the paper, high prices on gasoline, CU wire and conduit are here to stay. The only thing we can do is get used to it.

Peter

Last week my purchase price for 3/4" EMT a ft was about .24 this week it was .526 In cents it doesn't look like much, but it is more than double!
Have to closely watch your bills and charge accordingly.

within the next couple of weeks
1/2" emt will be in the 30.00c range

Electure,
Ever "rippled" a piece of Al conduit when bending it?.
We used this stuff when I first started my time, I hate it.
Oddly enough at the time, I remember thinking that someone in the Industry here must have had an Aluminium fetish, everything was made of it, glad we won't be using that stuff again!.

I used a good bit of Aluminum rigid conduit years ago, I don't remember having any trouble threading it or bending it. Maybe the contractor I was working for had special shoes for the bender.

I was quoted $.30 ft for 1/2" EMT this week, price was good that day only, 12 THHN stranded was quoted at $76/M

Now if I could only double my labor charge...

Tom

Oh yes, Trumpy,
I've "rippled" (more like kinked) aluminum.
I've also had some turn out good too, even with the Al EMT.

Sorry Electure, what is EMT made from?.
Steel?.
I've bent Galvanised Steel, Aluminium, and Pyrotenax(pyro)and Copper Refrigeration tubing, both soft and Hard-Drawn, 1/2", 3/8",5/8", 3/4" and 1 inch plus 1 1/2".
I'm just a Boy as far as Refrigeration systems go though!.

Trumpy,
EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) is also some times called thinwall conduit.
It is made from steel in 1/2" through 4" trade sizes.
It's also available in aluminum in 2-1/2" through 4" sizes.
The aluminum is much lighter and is easier to install in the larger sizes.
The downside is that there's a lot more surface friction with the aluminum, so pulling wire in takes a lot more lube, power, or both...S