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| Posted on 5/14/08 at 07:51 AM | |
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Yes, locking strip has always been expensive. Its very hard to make. Its also very precise because the slot it fits into is very precise. Its a combination (alloy) of several plastics. It has to be waterproof, chemical proof and structurally stable to several thousand psi. It has had to go through numerous generations and reformulations over the years to keep up with the chemical changes in the industry. The locking strip cost can be a significant part of the very smallest frames, but its generally insignificant compared to what tehse frames cost to make. On the other hand it usually lasts for years unless its used incorrectly or abused. If you need a known length (you say 345 ft) you "might" be able to contact Stretch Devices and see if they can reel you off a continuous length and maybe cut it yourself. So from the sound of it....your frames are about 30"x40"? yes/no? $90 per 75 foot roll is $1.20 per inch and the $13 you listed works out to about a 30" x 40" frame. You bought those on e-bay for just a hair more than $13? What a shopper! Those frames are easily close to or over $100 each new...including new locking strip. If using a mid-level graphic mesh for about $30 a yard (in bolt quantity), you have about $25 of mesh per frame. The fact that you are now using retensionable frames and do not have to re-mesh them every other month (normal with graphic mesh counts)....every re-mesh you don't have to do because you are no longer using stretch and glue.....will save you enough $ to pay for two sets of locking strip on each frame. Just a different way to think about it. A standard textile 23 x 31 frame at the $90 per roll cost of locking strip has $6.30 of locking strip in it. those frames in quantity of 1 start around $72. I think $90 a roll is a bargain. Ray | ||
 
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