Where do you "projecteers" get your stuff - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: gooseEL34
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 04:29:10 pm
content: Hey all.I build vaccuum tube guitar amps. I have done it since 1993 or so, and while I have no EE degree, I can read schematics, understand most EE concepts vis-a-vis audio signal amplification and processing, and to boot, my soldering technique is passableI have recently started up a company here in Nashville to build a EL34, EL84, 6V6, and 6L6 based tube amps.Here is my question for the forum:Is there a "go to" place for a good price on the following:10% tolerance carbon comp resistorsHigher voltage (450-550vDC) electrolytic caps (usually in the 16uF to 70uF range)Octal and 9-pin mini tube socketsNon-electrolytic caps (I like the Sprague "Orange Drops") -- higher voltage, 0.022 to 0.1Fuses, fuseholders, pilot lights, carling spst switches, AC cords etc...Just wondering if people had suggestions. I am aware of Mouser. I am a Tennessee corporation (albeit small) with a tax #, so I may qualify for quantity/wholesale pricing.ThanksTim

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 04:39:14 pm
content: Where do you typically source your parts from?I usually source from Mouser or Digikey. I think that's where most people, atleast in the US, get their stuff.Mouser is sometimes cheaper than Digikey in certain product areas, while Digikey is cheaper in others. Really depends.

author: ben_r_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 04:47:34 pm
content: Same here. Mouser and Digi-Key.

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 05:03:24 pm
content: Mouser if Imust(hate their site), Digikey usually. If I need something simple immediately without waiting for my order to reach $100 I'll use Elfa, but that's only relevant because I'm in Norway.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 05:21:19 pm
content: Quote from: ovnr on August 07, 2013, 05:03:24 pmI feel just a little bit bad to admit that I use DigiKey's part search to select components, then plug the numbers into Mouser because they have better prices for what I usually buy....

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 05:58:30 pm
content: There's a place about 30 mins drive from me that has all that except the tube related stuff.

author: geekbot2000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:10:13 pm
content: I use the usual suspects, as well as eBay. I don't use eBay for ICs or Passives, but for stuff like switches/headers/connectors the Chinese/Thai shops usually have far lower prices than the stateside stores.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:20:02 pm
content: RS in the UK for me, you got to get quality, and there only 15 miles from my home .

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:24:48 pm
content: I've recently started buying from Jameco, cause they take Paypal. Perhaps some of the others have followed by now, donno.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:27:00 pm
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on August 07, 2013, 07:24:48 pmYouchooseto use PayPal when you could use a perfectly good debit card?

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:29:27 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on August 07, 2013, 05:21:19 pmOnce you have a part number, might as well stick it in findchips.com and see what prices come up.OP, your problem is that of the parts you mention, only the capacitors and maybe a few carbon comps are current production/distributor items. The other stuff will have to be scrounged NOS, China, or Russia sourced (either directly or through a middleman like AES).

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:30:59 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on August 07, 2013, 07:27:00 pmYes, cause you only have a password to enter when making a purchase. No CC number, no exp date, no code on the back.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:36:59 pm
content: I've memorized mine, same as my bank account number. Takes me two seconds to type it in. PayPal sadly gets money from me when I use eBay. Other than that, they can go sodomize each other with a hot soldering iron

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:42:22 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on August 07, 2013, 07:36:59 pmHa ha. My card # gets stolen every ~6 months or so, I've quite memorizing it! (Mmmm, it's been almost a year now I think, I'd better to checking)

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 07:56:16 pm
content: Well then quit writing it on pieces of paper and tossing them out your car window!Seriously, how does that even happen?

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 08:02:53 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on August 07, 2013, 07:56:16 pmThe last time was from a vendor of WISP gear, their web store was hacked and I bought 12 plane tickets from Cali to Mexico City. This actually happens all the time, which is why I don't use debit cards, slightly more of a hassle getting your money back.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 08:04:26 pm
content: Ah. Well, I don't use mine at little places like that. Iwilluse PayPal (goddammit.....) in those cases. But a big company like Mouser? All the time.

author: tld
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 08:58:52 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on August 07, 2013, 07:29:27 pmThere's also octopart.com.tld

author: lewis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 09:37:34 pm
content: You can get old-skool looking carbon comp resistors from here:http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Resistors/Carbon-CompositionBig ass polypropylene and non-polar electrolytics from here (as well as custom wound audio inductors and loads of other goodies):http://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/alcap-claritycap-solen-audio-capacitors.htmlHigh voltage polyester caps from here:http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Vishay-Polyester-Capacitor-368-Series-62514Various valve bases here:http://www.rapidonline.com/Electronic-Components/Valve-bases-and-accessories-35368All other sundries here:http://www.rapidonline.com/Rapid and Falcon are UK based companies, but they ship worldwide.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 09:53:10 pm
content: Ooh, nice. Bookmarked"ClarityCap" is registering a bit on my bullshit meter, though....

author: ben_r_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2013, 09:56:23 pm
content: I do use Jameco.com too once in a while. I can usually find most things they have there cheaper at mouser.com.I use TubeDepot.com for pretty much all my tube based stuff.

author: gooseEL34
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2013, 08:20:30 pm
content: Thanks guys!

author: ElectroIrradiator
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2013, 09:10:38 pm
content: I'd advise buying a small sampling of valve bases first, before committing to a large order from a given supplier. Many of the currently manufactured valve/tube bases/sockets haveextremelypoor metal pins, as they are frequently made from some very soft metal.

author: ampdoctor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2013, 02:40:28 am
content: Oh boy Goose....been there done that got the t-shirt. hang on to your ass it's gonna be a bumpy ride! But anyway, having a tax id isn't going to help you much with wholesale parts. Mouser and digikey have their prices marked down to the bone so even if you swing a wholesale acct with another distributor you'll still likely pay more than what they're selling for. On the up side you may be able to establish a net 30 account there which may help somewhat. The market you're entering is fully saturated these days which is going to make things really difficult so be prepared to work every angle you can think of to keep your head above water. I don't mean to sound negative....I'm just sayin'!Quoteyea, the product quality is pretty dismal for sockets these days. bout the best ones going are from belton in Korea, and they're not great. If the metal was just soft I wouldn't have an issue with them. Problem is that it's very thin, poorly tinned, and doesn't take solder well. Worse off it's brittle! If you don't handle them very gingerly, they can snap right off! Be prepared to bin about 1 in 10 sockets, possibly more no matter who manufactures them. And don't even get me going on shields and bases! LOLI used to have a stash of NOS mil-spec amphenol and mcmurdo phosphor bronze octal sockets but I've gone thru them and I'm having a hell of a time finding acceptable replacements in any workable quantity.