Ebonite/vulcanite buy?

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Fri May 23, 2008 12:54 pm

Anyone currently need ebonite/vulcanite? It's about that time for me again, and I'm starting the process of finding prices and crap.

Anyone else looking, or also in the process? Want to get a group buy going?

--Kurt

kkendall · Post by **kkendall** » Fri May 23, 2008 2:24 pm

I'm in. Going to include cumberland, too?

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Fri May 23, 2008 3:17 pm

I'm in.

kbadkar · Post by **kbadkar** » Fri May 23, 2008 4:04 pm

Are you thinking about SEM? I'm in, but the falling/fallen dollar worries me. I might have to back out if the price indications are high. I haven't tried ABS yet (I cancelled an order with Industrial Plastic Supply because the sales guy was a total ass who acted like I was wasting his time with my questions), but if, like gas, the ebonite prices are unjust, I'll just have to walk down that ABS road.

Tano · Post by **Tano** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:56 pm

I'm interested but lets discuss size and cost first. The only source I can compare to is PME.

sethile · Post by **sethile** » Fri May 23, 2008 11:23 pm

I may be interested in getting several 22 and 25mm rods depending on the price per rod.

I think it's going to be difficult to nail down the variables to come up with a firm buy in price in advance for a group buy because shipping costs are hard to nail down, and as mentioned, the ever increasing cost of the Euro.

Let me know what it looks like once you explore the possibilities.

I don't think SEM has Cumberland ready yet if your thinking of them for this.

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Mon May 26, 2008 7:23 pm

I'm interested but need an idea of cost before I can totally commit. I'm super low on ebonite but have yet to re-up because the per-rod cost lately from PME is so high. If I can get better prices from a group buy, that would be most excellent!

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:41 pm

I'm currently in communication with SEM regarding pricing. They do appear to have cumberland ready. They sent me a couple photos and, while it looks good, it isn't the traditional pattern. I'll probably get some anyway, just to be different.

I don't have any pricing info yet. I will, however, let everyone know. I really just wanted to see if anyone else was interested, so that I could set the expectation with the manufacturer (SEM or otherwise) that there might be a significant order - if for no other reason than to have the inquiry be taken seriously.

I expect to have some details nailed down in the next few weeks, and will let everyone know. Stay tuned!

wdteipen · Post by **wdteipen** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:48 pm

Like others here, I may be interested depending on price. I've been primarily working with ABS and turning out some decent stems for a newbie but it's a pain to rough sand compared to ebonite, IMO.

flix · Post by **flix** » Mon May 26, 2008 11:10 pm

Count me in for some German ebonite...

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Tue May 27, 2008 7:56 am

CORRECTION:
SEM's cumberland is not yet ready. It does, however, look very good IMO. I just got the price list for the the plain black, and they completely blow all other suppliers out of the water. I'll post the full price list later today.

I also got pricing from Holbourne Industrial Plastics Ltd in the UK. While they're primarily a "made to order" outfit for ebonite, they do have some in stock. Anyone used their product? They're quite reasonable on a per-rod basis, but I get the feeling that, if there isn't any in stock, the minimum order is way up there.

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:41 pm

I'm interested! Keep us posted...

Danskpibemager · Post by **Danskpibemager** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:50 pm

I'm with the other guys, count me in if the price is reasonable. I'm also interested in the logistics of getting everyone together on this deal if it works out. Thanks for checking into it Kurt and I know you'll keep us posted.

pierredekat · Post by **pierredekat** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:41 am

I could go for about $200-300 worth of whatever everybody else is getting.

Yeah, I contacted Holbourne Industrial Plastics Ltd, myself, about six months ago, and this is what they sent me:

HOLBOURNE INDUSTRIAL PLASTICS LTD
UNIT 10 RUMER HILL BUS. ESTATE, CANNOCK, STAFFS. WS11 0ET
TEL: 01543 570011 FAX: 01543 570647
E-MAIL:SALES@HOLBOURNE.CO.UK
WWW.HOLBOURNE.CO.UK

MATERIALS FABRICATED AND STOCKED

LAMINATES (Trade Names: Tufnol, Paxolin, Bakelite)

PAPER (SRBP) Phenolic and Epoxy
COTTON (SRBF) Phenolic and Epoxy
GLASS Epoxy, Silicone, Phenolic, Polyimide and Polyester (PGM)
SPECIALS Low Smoke, Halogen Free materials

THERMOPLASTICS

ABS Black, White, Embossed, Flame Retardant & Acrylic Capped
ACETAL Natural, Black and Glass Filled
ACRYLIC Clear, Coloured (Transparent & Translucent)
HIPS (STYRENE) Clear, Coloured & Embossed
KAPTON Polyimide Film
NYLON (Cast & Ext) Grades 6, 66, MOS2 Filled, Oil Filled & Heat Stabilised
PEEK Beige (Natural), Black & Glass Filled
POLYCARBONATE Clear, Tinted & Glass Filled
POLYETHYLENE LDPE, HDPE (300 Grade), HMWPE (500 Gr) & UHMWPE (1000 Gr)
POLYPROPYLENE Natural, Coloured, Flame Retardant & Embossed
PTFE Virgin, Glass Filled, Carbon Filled, Bronze Filled & Etched
PVC Rigid, Flexible & Foamed - White, Grey, Clear & Coloured

ELECTRICAL INSULATION MATERIALS

DENSIFIED WOOD Electrical and Mechanical Grades
EBONITE Black and Red/Black (Pigmented)
MELINEX Polyester Film
NOMEX Nomex 410, Nomex/Polyester/Nomex, Nomex/Kapton/Nomex
PRESSPAHN Grade K (Buff) & Grade 4
MICA/MICANITE Spotted, Ruby, Amber, Moulding, Commutator & Silicone Bonded
PGM Polyester Glass Sheet, GPO1, GPO3, Class H & Flexible Class H
PULTRUSIONS Round, Angle, Channel, Dog-Bone, Top-Hat & custom profiles
SINDANYO Electrical and Mechanical Grades
SLEEVINGS PVC, Heatshrink, Acrylic Glass & Silicone Glass
STANDOFF INSULATORS 440 Volt, 600 Volt, 2KV, 3.3KV, 6.6KV and 11KV
TAPES Adhesive and Non-Adhesive: Glass, Polyester, Silicone & Kapton

FLEXIBLE GASKET MATERIALS

CORK Plain, Neoprene Bonded & Nitrile Bonded
FELT Soft, Medium and Hard Grades
FIBRE Leatheroid, Vulcanised & Synthetic fibre
JOINTING Commercial, Oil, Graphited and WRC Approved
LEATHER Vegetable Tan, Chrome & Pin Shoulders
NOMEX Grades 410, 411 and Nomex Laminates (IE Nomex/Polyester/Nomex)
RUBBER Commercial, Insertion, Neoprene, Nitrile, EPDM, Butyl,, Silicone & Viton
SPONGES Neoprene, PVC, Polyethylene (Plastazote) & Nitrile

The above are just some of the materials (too numerous to list all) we supply either in standard sheet/rod/tube/profile form (subject to material/grade) and fully machined or stamped to customer’s own individual requirements.

and

Many thanks for your recent enquiry for which we are pleased to offer the
following -

Ebonite Rod

22 mm dia x 1mtr long @ £39.61/per mtr
27mm dia x 1mtr long @ £73.51/per mtr

We currently have 11 mtrs of each dia in stock.
Carriage - Chargeable.
Payment - Pro-Forma.

If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards
Craig Pope

But I have a hunch that Holbourne is the company supplying Cumberland to Dunhill, and perhaps to everybody else, as well.

hollywood · Post by **hollywood** » Thu May 29, 2008 5:25 pm

I'm in; depending on what our minimums will be. I could use a few rods.

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Thu May 29, 2008 8:10 pm

Here's the price list from SEM:

Code: Select all

	diameter	raw		smoothed
	∅ 6 mm		€ 13,-		€ 17,-
	∅ 8 mm		€ 14,-		€ 18,-
	∅ 10 mm		€ 15,-		€ 19,-
	∅ 12 mm		€ 18,-		€ 22,-
	∅ 14 mm		€ 20,-		€ 24,-
	∅ 16 mm		€ 21,-		€ 25,-
	∅ 18 mm		€ 22,-		€ 26,-
	∅ 20 mm		€ 24,-		€ 28,-
	∅ 22 mm		€ 27,-		€ 31,-
	∅ 24 mm		€ 29,-		€ 33,-
	∅ 26 mm		€ 32,-		€ 36,-
	∅ 28 mm		€ 34,-		€ 38,-
	∅ 30 mm		€ 36,-		€ 40,-
	∅ 32 mm		€ 38,-		€ 42,-
	∅ 34 mm		€ 42,-		€ 46,-
	∅ 36 mm		€ 46,-		€ 50,-
	∅ 38 mm		€ 50,-		€ 55,-
	∅ 40 mm		€ 54,-		€ 60,-
	∅ 50 mm		€ 70,-		€ 80,-

Thjey also sent me some pics of colored rod - as in solid colors, not swirled. There's blue, green, and gold. These also are still in development, but that news is *very* exciting indeed. I can just imagine what our favorite twisted expat pipemaker might do with solid green ebonite (are you reading this, Trever?

). The swirled colors are also still in development. There's traditional red, but in addition they're developing green, blue, and yellow swirl - and all are rather stunning IMO. I'll post pics later, but my wife is yelling that dinner is ready, and I must heed the call of the steak sangwich.

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Thu May 29, 2008 9:26 pm

Are the prices in Dollars or Euro? Is the cost per metre length? Are you saving me a bite of that steak sammich?

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Fri May 30, 2008 7:25 am

Prices are per 1-meter rod, and are in Euro. Where 1-meter = a hair under 40". So given today's (2008/05/30) exchange rate, the 20mm rod would be just under USD 37.50 per each.

What I do not yet know, is if that price will decrease at all if there's a larger sized order. I will ask, and let everyone know.

Frank wrote:Are you saving me a bite of that steak sammich?

*burp* There was some left over, but I ate it for breakfast. Now *THAT* is the breakfast of chamions.

kbadkar · Post by **kbadkar** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:34 pm

The prices sound reasonable enough. Shipping international then domestic would probably add, what, $10 per rod roughly? It's a shame the colored rods aren't ready yet. I've been holding back on ordering, hoping they get it together before I run out of ebonite, but, there's no time like the present if there's a group buy. Pencil me in for 4 rods @ 22mm.

kkendall · Post by **kkendall** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:51 pm

I'll probably want 5 rods of 20mm... maybe a few more. I will check with some local folks here and maybe make a sub-group buy for Phoenix.