Nuts and bolts suppliers...

[adam_m]

A quick question as to where/who is selling bolts, etc. beside McMaster Carr?

They don't have what I'm looking for - but they have a lot of what I am looking for...

Any other similar dealers?

Thanks.

Adam,

[kling8]

fastenal, MSC, are 2 other companies you could try..

[Zac.Hester]

I'm not sure what you're looking for, exactly, but I've had good experience with http://www.boltdepot.com/

They probably have a smaller selection than McMaster, but I was able to order in smaller quantities without a big difference in price above McMaster's (on the order of 1-5 cents per fastener).

Fastenel is an outfit based in the Midwest that has online shopping, and a bunch of locations: http://www.fastenal.com/

I haven't had first-hand experience with them, but a friend of mine who knows a bit about machining recommended them.

[Al_The_Man]

Spaenaur is hard to beat.
Al.

[adam_m]

Thanks guys I'll look into those other places.

Adam,

[freecncplans]

Wholesale Bolts I ordered from the and it was super fast shipping. I ordered the 3/4" long 5/16" carriage bolts as I had no close suppliers.
Sean

[brtech]

just did a quick comparison on a grade 2, zinc plated, 5/16 - 18 x 1.25 hex head bolt
supplier 1 10 100
McMaster n/a n/a 9.29
MSC .78 n/a 8.66
Bolt Depot .15 n/a 8.17
Wholesalebolts n/a .76 7.72

[ger21]

Bolt depot's shipping is more than double what I pay for shipping from McMaster Carr, so I only use Bolt Depot if buying several items. For a single box, the more expensive McMaster Carr is actually cheaper when you add in the shipping. McMaster Carr is waaay faster, too.

[Aryantes]

I would say it depends on how much you need of each piece.

I don't mind buying 100 of something especially as most of the nuts and screws from mcmaster are between $2 for 100 and $10 for 100.

McMaster's shipping can be as low as 4 dollars for UPS with often same day shipping. No idea how they can ship so cheap but its pretty awesome.

[TarHeelTom]

MCM ships a lot of boxes in a day. High shipping quantities attracks the discounters at FedEx and the brown truck guys like honey does flies.

I've heard, but can't verify, that MCM doesn't call FedEx or the brown truck guys for a pickup. FedEx or UPS (depending on which facility) has a room attached or part of the back of MCM's warehouse. There is a conveyor belt which just rolls downhill from the shipping department into FedEx or UPS.

I also suspect that MCM builds a little bit of the shipping costs into the cost of the item.

Tom

[CarveOne]

Originally Posted by Zac.Hester I'm not sure what you're looking for, exactly, but I've had good experience with http://www.boltdepot.com/ They probably have a smaller selection than McMaster, but I was able to order in smaller quantities without a big difference in price above McMaster's (on the order of 1-5 cents per fastener). Fastenel is an outfit based in the Midwest that has online shopping, and a bunch of locations: http://www.fastenal.com/ I haven't had first-hand experience with them, but a friend of mine who knows a bit about machining recommended them.

Fastenal sells to anyone and gives commercial accounts to businesses. Nearly all of the bolts and screws on my two machines came from the local Fastenal store. If they don't have a particular size I need in stock they will get it for me in two days, sometimes less if the call-in timing is right.
They don't charge me any shipping on these orders. They love it when I bring in Fastenal web page print(s) to point them directly to the part without them using their time looking up the part(s) I want.

For parts I know I will use again I buy in 25, 50, or 100 paks. Usually, $9 or $10 will get me at least double the number of parts I would get at the two other local consumer stores and are a better grade.

For metal, the local Fastenal store beats Lowes and Tractor Supply prices and has more choices in stock. More are available.

The local store is closed on Saturday and Sunday, so I go to Lowes or Tractor supply if it can't wait until Monday.

They have been known to drop a sizable discount or two on me due to the amount that I was buying at one period during the second CNC build and the fact that I don't expect them to help me figure out which part I need to use.

CarveOne

[louieatienza]

They opened up a Festenal about 10 blocks from my house. I've been there quite a bit lately...

I also rummage through the old hardware store when I need small quantities. I know everyone there, and it makes shopping almost pleasurable. Decent selection too.

I built some outdoor stuff a while back, and a marine supply store is a good place to source out stainless steel and chrome plated fasteners; they even have some left-hand thread stuff.

You could almost build an entire machine with just McMaster-Carr stuff...