a good watch !!

[cabnet636]

and a list i wanna be on

http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_04vzdsr5/uiconf_id/5590821

got this from a botter!!

[sneakers]

Jim

We heard about her story about american made last month. In our gallery we tell everyone that absolutely everything is americam made and nothing is imported from anywhere. We started a big campaign to have all of our customers and everyone in our over 10,000 contact database all contact Diane Sawyer and tell her of an art gallery in Georgia that has only "American Made" items in it. So far thousands of people have contacted her and we have heard nothing. I guess only the building trades has any pull with her story.

Gary

[harryball]

I would dearly love to source everything in America. It's great and all but... it's almost impossible to buy from some of these places. I just called Potlatch in the off chance I could actually find, buy and afford Made in America ACX material. While friendly, if you can't afford to buy and need an entire truckload of ply they can only try to refer you to distributors. Of course, those distributors only sell to dealers and dealers buy the cheapest stuff they can find. Even if I'm willing to pay a little more for "Made in America" most others are not.

I've never understood the sometimes MUCH higher cost and the seeming lack of ability to move American Made Product around the country. One common argument I hear is that it is not economically feasible to ship XYZ from across the country. Yet, my plywood comes from Brazil, Cedar comes from Canada and screws come from China. You're telling me it is cheaper to make and ship a unit of plywood from Brazil than it is to make and ship a unit from Idaho? Something is really broken.

FYI, I'm not saying anything bad about Potlatch. They are not to blame, they are just as frustrated as we are and I'm sure would love to have their product sitting in the big box stores instead of some of that substandard cheap carp sitting there now.

/RB

BTW, great story, thanks for the list. I'm searching through it for as much as I can find.

[cabnet636]

it is the trying that will keep us on this !! a teacher friend of mine just came in (cabinetry/HS) they are on break),, he told me a principle is wanting to shut down all technology courses in the high school and replace it with culinary arts, while this is my background (don't tell anyone this) i am going to the hearing to ask what on earth are you thinking !!

[myxpykalix]

sounds likehe is wanting to make the next generation of mcdonalds employees!

I am still using the basics that i learned in machine shop and wood shop. Even if you don't take that up as a trade it will help you in life when you become a homeowner.

[CNYDWW]

Honestly, if someone developed a "Made In America" only distribution network, things could be a lot cheaper. Problem is, it's all about what the corporations want. If the american plywood companies could ship on a low cost bulk network like the distribution of "carp" used to supply the big box stores. It would still be more expensive but it would be affordable. I've had customers come to me and want real american made product but laughed at the prices. Another part of it is the notion that having something made by hand or made locally is cheaper and we all know what that's like.

[CNYDWW]

sounds likehe is wanting to make the next generation of mcdonalds employees!

I am still using the basics that i learned in machine shop and wood shop. Even if you don't take that up as a trade it will help you in life when you become a homeowner.

Sounds like someone wants a cheap labor force (as stated above) and to keep the women in the kitchen. I'm a better cook then my woman but it doesn't bother me in the least.

[bleeth]

Since I'm not a home builder I can't talk about products like ACX with any authority but I know cabinet ply. Right now all my distributors sell chinese cabinet ply for anywhere from 16 to 22 bucks a sheet. US (Georgia Pacific) is sold by my local distributor for 40 bucks a sheet. The difference in price is easy to understand. Shipping means nothing if the ships are run by near slave labor and insured by the government that owns them. The only equalizer is the cost of the oil to run them and the government is subsidizing it. The loggers, truckers, plywood mill workers, etc, all get a buck or two a day. The latest is I am now able to get FSC certified no added formaldehyde plywood from China for 40 bucks a sheet with the US product costing much more as well. The margin for commercial casework is minimal and if I used only US I would be closing my doors in two months.
Frankly, this sucks.

[kevin]

I hope your not banning Canadian made

Its politcal look at fish here it sent to china to be prossed I kid you not.There closing fish plants here the Goverment say nothing because just up the coast in Labrador there building the biggest iron ore mine in the world guess whos the biggest customer China

The problem is North America is losing

[CNYDWW]

I was working as a mold technician and pattern maker before my brain damage. We made molten aluminum processing equipment, a small international company. Our small part casting department went to mexico along with about 12 jobs. On the other hand they moved the mold shop and large casting to a new plant further down state 100lbs-20ton planning on increasing capacity to 35ton casts. We did cast 30ton before but that wasn't pretty. It also required modifying a kiln to dry the refractory casting after it was poured. They estimated that they'd have to add three people and even put that in the paper but failed to mention the loss of 12. Oddly enough, china was one of our biggest customers besides G.E. and Alcoa. Even had a 15ton bed filter rebuild to go to russia. None of our equpment even went to the big three automakers, gm ford or dodge. or their suppliers. They couldn't afford our equipment providing parts for them.