Where do you buy your nuts? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Apothus
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 02:39:23 am
content: ... and bolts, washers etc?Bunnings are useless and I haven't had much luck with industrial suppliers. Am I the only one that gets frustrated with this?

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 03:07:27 am
content: It is highly location specific, I guess.I personally go for the Olander -https://www.olander.com/.They are in the Bay Area, so locally it is extremely convenient. US shipping is also works, but I don't know if they ship internationally.

author: johnh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 03:16:48 am
content: I have usedhttps://www.classicfasteners.com.au/in South AustraliaWhen I wanted some M2x10mm Pan Philips Stainless screws last yearI have to agree Bunnings is useless if you want small bolts/screws and nuts

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 03:55:55 am
content: You will have several local bolt/fastener shops that sell little else, like bearing shops, the trade is brisk enough they don't advertise or try to find customers, customers find them. Its an industrial supply so wherever you have some light industrial estates...As its such a common business even google maps has a specific category of "fastener supplier"

author: Apothus
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 04:49:29 am
content: Quote from: johnh on February 20, 2022, 03:16:48 amnice tip, their online store feels a bit clunky though. Actually it seems to be a trend where it takes forever to drill through the categories and bad search results.Quote from: Someone on February 20, 2022, 03:55:55 amI find they're not often open outside of normal hours and they're difficult to order and ship from. Maybe I've been spoilt by mouser/digikey search tools and variety

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 05:19:28 am
content: Quote from: Apothus on February 20, 2022, 02:39:23 amBunnings for hardware is cancer.I get all my stuff from a couple of places in QLD off ebay. I pick what I want. And it comes to the house. Fuck bunnings.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 05:57:30 am
content: Quote from: Apothus on February 20, 2022, 04:49:29 amThe industrial suppliers don't need your business, they do fine without the hassle of tiny online orders (if you do find such a shop selling online the prices are massively inflated to cover the expenses). Its nice most of them open on weekends for people who cant make it during business hours. You want a very specific xyz fastener, then suck it up and go through the channels available. Walk up to the counter and have a chat with them, you might be surprised with how knowledgeable and helpful they are providing value add. Electronic parts is one of the few industries that has simplified the distribution chain, almost everything else is still:contract manufacturer -> brand "manufacturer" -> importer/wholesaler -> retailer -> customerIf its such a great market, open your own fastener retailer with wide range, long opening hours, and online sales.Thats sure to be a profitable enterprise. If you like digikey then they already have a range of fasteners and mechanical parts through their shop (1st party, not just through the partners/platform).

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 06:36:07 am
content: Quote from: Apothus on February 20, 2022, 02:39:23 amBunnings is pretty much a middleman between China and landfill. I'm between Toowoomba and Brisbane and usehttps://nutzandboltz.com.au/.It's like going back to the 70s in their store, but they have it all.For online seehttps://www.boltandnut.com.au/

author: Apothus
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 10:13:58 am
content: Quote from: johnboxall on February 20, 2022, 06:36:07 amThat is a nice store, I'm disappointed I hadn't heard of them before. Some of their single unit prices are a little steep though :SHow long have they been around?Quote from: Someone on February 20, 2022, 05:57:30 amSounds like someone is talking with industry experience? Surely its not pure altruism that they open on weekends, such a rare thing for a company to do these days. Although bunnings seems to be making good money.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 12:20:16 pm
content: It looks like the prices include freight, which might explain the single unit high prices.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 02:37:02 pm
content: I have a brilliant shop about a 5 minute drive for anything recent (metric-sae), and for pre-war British I can drive 20 minutes. Both take walk ins with a moq of 1. Whereabouts are you in the large land mass we call home? A bit of refinement will find someone close who knows “how to get things”.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 04:35:37 pm
content: Since the question is worded "where doyoubuy...", I always go to McMaster-Carr.https://www.mcmaster.com/If you can't find it there (Unified-national or ISO-metric), you probably don't need it.I have placed orders from their Chicago-area warehouse at noon and received the order the next day (usually by UPS) in Chicago.Unfortunately for those outside the US, they do not do business outside of the country.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 10:15:34 pm
content: Quote from: Apothus on February 20, 2022, 10:13:58 amA few years, only learned of them last year. There's a cost to pick a bolt for an order, it could take someone a minute or two to find the bolt, then another minute or two to package it ready for shipment. Five minutes at minimum wage is at least $2.

author: Apothus
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 03:21:55 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on February 20, 2022, 04:35:37 pmEven I've heard of them here on the west coast of Aus. They're the only place I've heard of that provides anything close to scale and efficiency for industrial supply. Since ive been poking this rabbit hole I've been curious why no one else has tried something similar elsehwereQuote from: johnboxall on February 20, 2022, 10:15:34 pmThat makes sense, I spent 40 minutes waiting for an other to be picked the other day. It especially makes sense if they provide free shipping on any quantity, I wonder why they didnt go with a $20 minimum for free shipping?

author: uer166
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 03:30:59 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on February 20, 2022, 03:07:27 amHow does it compare to mcMasterCarr in terms of pricing, and do they have a store-front? I see they have a Sunnyvale office but not clear if it's a store of just a shipping center.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 03:37:42 am
content: Quote from: uer166 on February 21, 2022, 03:30:59 amI have not compared them to McMaster, as I don't naturally think of McMaster for small stuff like nuts. I mostly use them for raw materials and tools.Quote from: uer166 on February 21, 2022, 03:30:59 amIt is not a store front as such, they don't have everything on display. It is mostly an order pickup room, but if you go there with a sample or can name the part number, they will go back to the warehouse and bring that stuff out fo you. So, it is a retail location, but not a huge self service one.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 03:39:26 am
content: If you are ib Brisbane, I've found these guys quite goodhttps://www.brisbanefasteners.com.au/

author: alpher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 03:43:06 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on February 20, 2022, 04:35:37 pmThat's nonsense! I've been buying from them for years and I get next day delivery 99% of the time, obviously i'm outside of USA.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 04:31:41 am
content: I'm glad to hear that. Someone here had posted that they were unwilling to ship to non-corporate buyers in Canada.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 04:32:51 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on February 21, 2022, 03:37:42 amMcMaster has a huge section on screw fasteners of all types.

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 04:32:46 pm
content: McMaster because it is so easy to find what you need, and the quality usually very good. Price is probably a little higher than other suppliers.

author: alpher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 05:00:37 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on February 21, 2022, 04:31:41 amJust to clarify, I do buy as a company ~2K$ monthly.

author: compostpotato
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 27, 2022, 03:30:38 am
content: In australia i findhttps://www.scrooz.com.au/tend to carry a good range of metric coarse nuts down to M3 but if i want imperial or an odd size i'll use the bolt and nut guys above they seem to carry all the other sizes

author: Selectech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2022, 02:12:10 pm
content: I'm in Canada and gave up on McMaster-Carr years ago. They don't bother with small companies / small orders. They cancelled my last orders and I never went back.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2022, 03:25:31 pm
content: Quote from: Selectech on June 27, 2022, 02:12:10 pmSince I live in Chicago, I get excellent fast service from McMaster-Carr, but they announced a policy not to handle out-of-country orders.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2022, 04:39:57 pm
content: Quote from: Selectech on June 27, 2022, 02:12:10 pmSorry to hear that, I've always had great experience with them. Want to order one $5 thing as a brand new customer with them? Sure, place the order by 6pm and it'll be there next day. Want to order that $5 item as a brand new customer on NET30? Sure, just check that box when you order and they'll invoice you, no questions asked, and it'll still be there tomorrow. Have a question? Someone will pick up the phone instantly and if necessary get someone with the part you want and a pair of calipers to give you that dimension you need to know. Need to return something? Just send it back, no RMA needed, they'll figure it out and issue you a credit.But given the breadth of their selection and their speed at processing orders of all sizes it's not entirely surprising that they aren't doing international orders. Trying to do export compliance for such a variety of things without bogging down the whole process would be expensive and difficult, unfortunately, and given that it seems like they've been expanding they can't be hurting for domestic business.

author: nvmR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2022, 05:09:29 pm
content: I have found good prices on LCSC if they have what you need in stock.

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2022, 12:46:57 am
content: This likely will not work down under but "Tractor Supply" in the USA is great for standard hardware. I find that locally they have better quality than the home centers, sell in bulk and is priced right.If they don't do the job there is McMaster, Fastenal and a bunch of other industrial focused suppliers. You also have a variety of specialized on line stores.