Parts sources

[Leigh]

(I hope the mods will make this a sticky, and that others will contribute to the thread.)
People who build stuff typically need small parts that they can't find at the local big-box home improvement store.

General industrial parts and supplies, adhesives, fasteners, everything:
McMaster-Carr Supply Co (super company) http://www.mcmaster.com

Small gears, shafts, racks and pinions, both English and metric:
Stock Drive Products (excellent vendor) http://www.sdp-si.com

Knobs, fasteners, and many other parts (some not small):
Reid Supply http://www.reidsupply.com/

Optical stuff... A bewildering assortment, and a lousy website:
Edmund Optics http://www.edmundoptics.com

There used to be a company that specialized in small parts, but it's apparently been bought out and I won't recommend it.

- Leigh

[Steven Tribe]

Excellent idea!

We additional for:

Short length Brass tubing.

0.5 - 1mm leather.

Small quantities of Walnut, Real spanish mahogany and Cherry.

[Jim Michael]

Electronics http://digikey.com

High quality structural wood and metal (aircraft grade) http://www.aircraftspruce.com/index.html

Anyone use this vendor or have a recommendation for online parts fabrication? http://www.emachineshop.com/

[Leigh]

Digi-Key is an excellent vendor, with a broad selection of electronic products.
They do apply a service charge ($5 IIRC) on orders < $25 (my orders are never < $25).

Mouser carries basically the same products, with better prices: http://www.mouser.com
No minimum order.

- Leigh

[Heroique]

We could use a scientific supply/parts source for, say, thermometers and other instruments of fine precision. Whoops, I mean accuracy. Wait, I mean precision...

Leigh, I think you once offered a good link from on old “best thermometer” thread?

[Leigh]

McMaster-Carr (above) has a broad selection of thermometers and similar instruments.
That's probably what I gave, since I order from them weekly.

- Leigh

[Heroique]

Here’s a related link for lab parts, equipment & supplies: Novatech ( http://www.novatech-usa.com/).

(Thanks to a remembered link from Cyrus.)

[BrianShaw]

http://www.amazonsupply.com

the site once known as www.smallparts.com

[domaz]

For wood and metal CNC, 3d printing and laser cutting Ponoko (http://www.ponoko.com/) is easy to use and reasonable prices.
Radio Control oriented shops like Hobby-Lobby (http://www.hobby-lobby.com/brass_tubing_422_ctg.htm) are a good source for brass tubing, hobby wood (balsa etc..) and even small quantities of carbon fiber.

[DKirk]

(I hope the mods will make this a sticky, and that others will contribute to the thread.)
People who build stuff typically need small parts that they can't find at the local big-box home improvement store.

General industrial parts and supplies, adhesives, fasteners, everything:
McMaster-Carr Supply Co (super company) http://www.mcmaster.com

Small gears, shafts, racks and pinions, both English and metric:
Stock Drive Products (excellent vendor) http://www.sdp-si.com

Knobs, fasteners, and many other parts (some not small):
Reid Supply http://www.reidsupply.com/

Optical stuff... A bewildering assortment, and a lousy website:
Edmund Optics http://www.edmundoptics.com

There used to be a company that specialized in small parts, but it's apparently been bought out and I won't recommend it.

- Leigh

+1 vote to make this sticky

Could also add;

http://www.micro-tools.com/store/ite...x?ItemCode=LV1

http://people.rit.edu/andpph/text-ding-repair.html

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/filterringtool.html

from Peter J. De Smidt's reply to my earlier question on repairing dings on filter rings.

And http://www.protostar.biz/flock.htm

[ROL]

McMaster-Carr would certainly be at the top of my list. All Canham cameras small parts (according to Canham) are from McMaster-Carr.

[John Jarosz]

Here is an excellent source for Cuban Mahogany.

Blue Moon Exotic Wood (http://www.bluemoonexoticwood.com/index.html)

I've used their wood for my 8x20 conversion and a solid body electric guitar. Good stuff.

John

[Heroique]

Here’s a Link (http://www.classic-enlargers.com/) for Harry Taylor, the Connecticut-based “Omega Man.”

His “Classic Enlargers” site is an excellent source for refurbished Omega D-series & Omega B-series enlargers, plus all the various Omega parts that are getting scarcer over time. Harry also supplies miscellaneous darkroom equipment, lenses, and cameras. Prices for common items may be higher than the “stack-em-deep-&-sell-em-cheap” online stores, but his vast, practical knowledge about Omega parts will always win the day.

Plus he’s a real friendly guy. :^)

[Barry Kirsten]

I've been using Macc Model Engineers Supplies https://www.maccmodels.co.uk/ for small screws and drill bits etc. They have a huge range of metal stocks and other items more related to model building (even steam engines, if you're interested). They're in the UK, but when you live in Australia you get used to searching the world for stuff you can't get here.

Barry.