Shawn25854
Well Known Member
You're right. On further searching, I found that the sites offering them in the $100-130 range here in North America all offer that they can be made in custom stroke lengths and with custom end-fittings.
I suspect some of the cost will be in getting a custom length, and some will be in arranging for a small run that come with a threaded hole in the end to take an eye bolt, rather than a cross-hole for a pin.
The rest will be markup, which I don't begrudge someone running a business to charge. I may go look for the source parts and do it myself, but I suspect at the end of the day I would waste more than $150 in my time while doing it.
Agreed, you could buy it in the states and pay another middleman if you like. There are suppliers all over the web and yes overseas (where they are all made anyway) that offer up just about any inch length and any quantity in the standard configuration with the crosshole. If it's a "whole inch" length it's not considered "custom" meaning 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc. It could still be used with the crosshole and custom brackets without being modded. Being that this site is filled with builders with many talents a simple mod of the actuator is child's play for most.
I just like to provide any and all sources and info that I know of so that others can make their own informed decision on which way to go, buy it or build it. Some will buy it to save time and others will build it to save money.
I also dont begrudge anyone for trying to make a profit. There are many owners/builders who dont want yet another task on their plate and will buy it from Pat all day long to save them the time.