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SwarfMule

New Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2024
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Location
Texas
Hey y'all, Im Pete. Im a recently retired model builder/aircraft mechanic and am currently building some simple wobbler engines.
Im sure I'll have many questions going forward, some possibly quite specific, but for now I'll only ask for recommendations for suppliers of hardware such as bolts, nuts, tube, and pipe. Im curious about plumbing techniques as well.
Anyway, back to forum surfin, thanks for havin me
 
I generally look on ebay for small quantities of fasteners, and other small quantity items.
For larger quantities, or specialty items like gears, I use McMaster-Carr.

Welcome Pete, glad to have you.
Post some pictures for us so we can follow along with what you are going.

Pat J.
.
 
For screws I'm likely to need a good quantity of, I use Bolt Depot and typically get 100. They've gotten better at shipping costs, but that's the problem with buying screws and standard hardware - it's heavy compared to sending mail. I was just looking for some odd screws for a home repair and the local True Value hardware store beat them in price, even with shipping and guesstimating my gas cost to drive to the store.

For tubing and pipe, either Speedy Metals or Online Metals.
 
Not sure what you are looking for in the way of pipe and plumbing, but if it is stuff like this IMG_3960.jpeg
Look at PM Research. Lots of little fittings and pipes. Also Model Taper Pipe (MTP) taps and dies.
For more scale fasteners, Godshalls
Custom Machine or American Model Engineering.(same place)
Doug
 
Welcome to the forum!

Lately I've bought some of my fasteners on Amazon. Sometimes they come out cheaper than eBay, especially if one has Prime. Quality wise, there seems to be a pretty wide range (reflected by a wide range in price). Unfortunately, I am not at all confident that the hardware available in the local big-box stores is of significantly better quality than much of the cheaper import options - I'd be curious whether others agree, or have had a different experience.
 
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