nuff said.

Gooder than McMaster?

http://www.mcmaster.com

Jason

I patronize the local Fastenal store, but their website is just as painful to use as McMaster's. It's time for those guys to realize that the old PC-XT is not an adequate web server with umpteen bazillion part numbers to search

I've quit bothering to waste the gas on a futile trip to Lowe's or Ace looking for hardware. If Fastenal doesn't have it, I order from McMaster. It's easy to blow an entire Saturday driving around that I could spend in much better ways

There was an olf fashioned hardware store about 2 miles from my house that had a nice selection of fastners of all sorts. but Big Orange and Big Blue put them out of business.

I walked in there a couple weeks ago to get a key made and saw the sign that said "50% off everything".

I bought all the aluminum strap and angle stock they had, all their 1 3/4" bi-metal hole saws, 3 and 4 inch cut off wheels, 1 gallon of Round-up, 2 20lb bags of Amdro and a 2/3 roll of 2/0 welding lead.

Denise made my keys for free ...

It's kind of sad, seeing mom and pop shops getting squeezed out ....

I love McMaster's website. I just love how I can search for an item like a fastener and narrow it down based upon individual specs. Of course I have the catalog too. My favorite thing about McMaster is that they charge realistic shipping fees. Jeg's would get a LOT more of my business if I didn't have to spend $10 to ship even the smallest order.

I'm lucky enough to have one old fashioned hardware store left that has a decent selection of grade 8 bolts. There's something nostalgic about being able to buy fastener's individually and label the bags. It reminds me of buying nails by the pound like fruit and vegetables at the old local home improvement store. When I walk into Home Depot now I feel like I'm usually choking on the cologne smell from pretty boys working on faux wall finishes with their girlfriends. /rant

Those of us in certain areas of SoCal and I think there is one in Vegas are also lucky enough to have a great industrial hardware store called McFadden-Dale. Home Improvement stores are useless unless you want a ceiling fan, just as most autoparts stores are useless unless you're looking for a pine tree air freshener and chrome spinner hub caps.

Jason S.

yep....I used to have SEVERAL sources of REAL hardware....alas....like Mitch said...every time I need something...it seems as if another one is closed...

I will have to try the web stores you refer to.....unfortunately, I have a VERY short attention span, and if the web sites are as cumbersome as you let on....I may be stymied...

Go to mcmaster.com and type "bolts" in the search box and rejoice in the ease.

And to the upper 10 (i.e. Canada), they charge that *on top of* shipping. It's insane! I've bought from them and Summit many times in the past, but now I just go to my local parts store and I usually get a better deal.

There's also a Cascade store up here--they have *all* the metric fasteners I've ever needed, complete with reputable manufacturer markings. Plus boxes of green nitrile rubber gloves at a good price (way thicker than blue).

For metal, Metal Supermarkets is great, because they sell by the inch and not by the foot. Good when the stuff you're buying is worth more than your left nut. ;-)

I agree with what robz71lm7 said about the search on McMaster.com. They spent some time on their search to allow you to drill down to the thing you want, e.g. small springs, heatshielding, or any number of other things I can't get locally. They ship fast, too!

The only problem is the amount of money you can spend on fasteners and other odds and ends...

Nik

--
Black [-----] twin turbo (dripping oil at the moment)

The McMaster search is good, but the web site is always glacial when I'm on it. Maybe I'm just picking the wrong time of day.

I've always liked mcmaster's site. glad we have a local fastenal but for weird stuff there nothing like mcmaster.

hehe, I found mcmaster when i was bored in between jobs a few summers ago and got myself info building a pneumatic potato cannon. BTW, don't try that, its way more addicting than you would think, and since most of us have access to a compressor..... anyway, They are great when you need grade 8. Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson are suck with 5 and lower.

I'm dreading that day too. Luckily, the Mom & Pop is 20 minutes southeast of me in an older neighborhood, so hopefully that'll keep it around for a while.

Nothing like going there (on a SUNDAY) for 3rd gen strut-to-spindle grade 12.9 bolts (CRS on the size) and deformed thread lock nuts and not only do they have them, but he asks if you want them in zinc or black oxide

I have just about everything with in 10 mile's 2 bolt house's(everything) 2 Fastenal, but i have never been in one! And all the other crappy home improvment store's But I shop at my local OSH, its 1 mile away and it has every bolt i've needed