Subject: FAQ part 10 of 11

From: [email-masked] (Jim Kirkpatrick)
Date: 1 Aug 96 10:16:19 MDT

This is the FAQ for rec.crafts.metalworking.  It is in several pieces
to keep the overall size of each part below the limits imposed by
some news systems.  This is part 10 of 11.

Generally, units below are United States dollars, degrees Fahrenheit,
and all the other silly backwards units we Americans still use.  Sorry.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

99.  Names and addresses of publishers and suppliers.

     Note also that a potential source of manufacturers/suppliers is the
     Thomas Register, found in most public libraries, or now on-line:

         http://www.thomasregister.com/

 --  Special entry:  Not a company or anything, but for more info on
     crafts supplies, send e-mail to [email-masked]
     and put "WANTED:" at the beginning of the subject line.  This is
     a non-profit service of PEI Crafts Council in Charlottetown,
     Price Edward Island, Canada.  They maintain a list of crafts
     suppliers and can answer questions like "give me a list of ceramics
     suppliers East of the Mississippi" or "who sells ConeArt kilns?"
     (per a post 9-Nov-1993)

   -  ah-ha! Design Group, Inc.
      Box 14519
      Minneapolis, MN 55414
      (800) 473-7650, (612) 641-1797, (612) 641-8681 (FAX)
      e-mail [email-masked]

      In the UK, distributed by Eagland Machine Tool, 01420-23830, fax 23804.

      CNC conversion kits for large and small machines.  Free catalog.

   -  Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company
      Fullerton, CA
      (800) 824-1930

      400-page catalog costs $5, but they pay $4.10 to mail it to you
      (at 1994 postage rates).  Airplane kits (real ones), as well as
      parts and raw material such as aluminum stock, composites, epoxies,
      foam, and spruce.  This is not as complete or as universal as
      McMaster-Carr, but it has a number of things you won't find elsewhere.

   -  Alley Supply Company
      P.O. Box 848
      Gardnerville, NV 89410
      (702) 782-3800

      Deals in Jet lathes and accessories.

   -  Allied Devices Corporation
      2365 Milburn Ave
      P.O. Box 502
      Baldwin, New York 11510
      (516) 223-9100, (516) 223-9172 (FAX)

      "Standard Precision Mechanical Components" such as small gears.
      Reputedly not cheap, but Small Parts Inc isn't either.

   -  American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWI)
      P.O. Box 11011
      Cincinnati, OH 45211
      (513) 661-3838, (513) 661-3131 (FAX)

      Membership is around $45 or so per year.  They have an excellent
      magazine, Horological Times.  Their orientation is more towards
      watch/clock repair.  They offer many courses along those lines.
      The "Project Extended" courses are given in Cincinnati, but they
      have many other courses (around 5 days) given around the country.
      They have at least 100 videotapes on various aspects of lathe work
      and clock repair.

   -  Jim Anderson
      1642 Hillridge
      Ann Arbor MI 48103

      There were a few Craftsman lathes that were apparently *not* made by
      Clausing or their predecessors, called AA Products.  Jim has a
      catalog of sorts; send an 8 1/2 x 11 self-addressed-stamped-envelope
      with 2 stamps.   Include the model number in the request and he will
      send a copy of the manual, a list of customers, and a list of parts
      sources.

   -  ARE, Inc.
      Box 8
      Greensboro Bend, VT 05842
      (800)736-4273, (802)533-7007, (802)533-7008 fax

      Tools for jewelry-making, perhaps more.  Catalog is $4.

   -  Argus Books
      P.O. Box 35 Wolsey House
      Wolsey Road, Hemel Hempstead
      Herts HP2 4SS England
      Telephone: Hemel Hempstead (0442)66551

      Former publishers of Model Engineer, in England.  ME is now published
      by a sister company, Nexus.  However, Argus still has interesting books
      that are described elsewhere in this FAQ, and may still be a source
      for back issues of ME.

      The US distributor for some of the Argus/Nexus publications is:
            Wise Owl Worldwide Services
            4314 West 238th Street
            Torrance, CA 90505-4509
            (310) 375-6258, (310) 375-0548 (FAX)
 
   -  Armstrong Tool & Supply Co, Inc.
      31747 W Eight Mile
      Livonia, MI 48152
      (800) 446-9694

      Full range of hand tools & Sherline Products. Catalog $2.00

   -  Bailey Craftsman Supply
      P.O. Box 276
      Fulton, MO 65251-0276
      (314) 642-5998

      Shop videos, Books, EMCO Maier & Sherline Products

   -  W.M. Berg, Inc.
      499 Ocean Avenue
      East Rockaway, NY 11518
      (516) 596-1700, (516) 599-3274 (FAX), (516) 599-5010 customer service

      Very similar to Stock Drive Products (q.v.).  Separate catalogs for
      metric vs. english parts.  They undoubtedly have a few items that
      Stock Drive does not carry, and vice-versa.

   -  Blades & Stuff
      1019 E. Palmer Ave.
      Glendale, CA 91205 

      Catalog $5

   -  Blue Ridge Machinery and Tools, Inc.
      PO Box 536
      2806 Putnam Avenue
      Hurricane, WV  25516
      800-872-6500, (304) 562-3538 in WV, (304) 562-5311 (fax)
      Credit cards, COD's up to $200
      M,W,F 9-5 EST, Tu,Th 9-9 EST

      Lathes, milling machines, presses, brakes, from puny to industrial.
      Accessories and parts for popular machines from Myford, South Bend,
      Atlas, Sherline, Emco-Maier, etc.
      Hand tools and books of interest to hobbyists and professionals.
      Woodworking power tools
      Steel, brass, aluminum, tool steel in small quantities.

      110 page free catalog

   -  J. C. Boegeman
      1464 S. Warner Dr.
      Apache Junction, AZ  85220
      (602) 982-8436

      Discontinued parts for Atlas, Craftsman, Clausing lathes.
      Quadrants, reverse gear boxes, lead screws, half-nuts,
      spindles, steady rests, and so on.  No catalog, so call.

   -  Borel and Frei
      712 S. Olive St., Suite 318
      Los Angeles, CA 90014
      (800)654-9591 (national), (800)252-9392 (CA), (213)689-7007,
      (213)488-0485 fax

      They also have a Kansas City office:

      Jules Tools (Jules Borel & Co.)
      1110 Grand Ave.
      Kansas City, MO 64106
      (800)776-6858 orders, (800)776-6865 customer service, (816)421-6110,
      (800)776-6862 fax

      Jewelers' tools: main 172-page catalog "T" is color, slick paper,
      no prices (separate price list is enclosed).  Also catalog "J" for
      jewelry, "H" for horological (watchmaking) supplies, and "F" of
      jewelry findings.  Specialty tool catalog "T<year>S" is 50 pages
      B&W and does have prices.

   -  Boston Gear
      14 Hayward St.
      Quincy Ma. 02171
      (617) 328-3300

      They have nearly any gear iminaginable,  IN STOCK.  Their prices
      are lower than you might imagine, and delivery is good.

   -  Bourget Bros.
      Lapidary and Jeweler's Supplies
      1636 11th St.
      Santa Monica, CA 90404
      (800)828-3024

   -  Brownells
      Route 2 Box 1
      200 South Front Street
      Montezuma, Iowa, 50171
      (515) 623-5401, (515) 623-3896 (FAX)

      Brownells is a fine firm that specializes in gunsmithing, though
      a lot of their merchandise is great for general-purpose metalworking,
      such as steel, brass, and nickel silver.
      Catalog is $4.00, refundable with first order of $40 or more
      (but if you can convince them you are a dealer, then it is free).
      They have lower prices for gun dealers, "enciphered" in the catalog
      in a manner similar to the following --
         Item: Foo Bar Grips    an9xx20dd      Price: $19.95
      means list price is $19.95, dealer price is $9.20.  However, in
      recent catalogs they have changed the coding on some items.
      While some people have apparently convinced them they are a dealer,
      the usual requirement seems to be an FFL (Federal Firearms License)
      before they sell for the dealer price.

   -  Bryant Laboratory
      1101 Fifth St.
      Berkeley, CA 94710
      (510) 526-3141, (800) 367-3141

      They sell chemicals used in patination, and have recipes as well.

   -  Camden Miniature Steam Services
      Barrow Farm
      Rode
      Bath BA3 6PS
      U.K.
      Tel: (44) 01373 850151
      Fax: (44) 01373 850516   (drop the first zero if outside the UK)

      Have a 56-page list of their books and videos (British PAL 625/50hz)
      available at no cost.  Engineering books and videos; rail, road and
      sea transportation from the USA, UK and France; mining, wireless and
      electrical subjects etc.

   -  Campbell Tools, Inc.
      2100-H Selma Rd.
      Springfield, OH 45505
      (513) 322-8562

      A machine supplier attuned to the hobbyist metalworker.  They carry
      Sherline, Emco, Jet, and other machines.  Also books, hardware,
      raw materials, etc.  Highly recommended by one net reader.  Catalog
      is $1

   -  Cardinal Engineering Inc
      RR #1, Box 163
      Cameron, IL 61423
      (309) 342-7474, (309) 342-3182 (FAX)

      Supplier of various metals, but they also can supply CNC mills
      and/or kits to convert existing milling machines.  Also some CNC
      lathe work.  Several articles in recent years in HSM regarding
      CNC conversions were written by the folks at Cardinal.  Catalog
      is $2.  Also some books, and plans from a company called Wood-Met.

   -  Castings
      PO Box 915001
      Longwood, FL 32791
      (407) 869-6565

      Equipment and materials sized for chess pieces, etc., made in pewter.
      Probably other, related stuff as well.

   -  Caswell Electroplating in Miniature
      (315) 597-5140

      Reportedly has all kinds of small to medium plating supplies and is
      very helpful.

   -  Centaur Forge Ltd.
      P.O. Box 340
      117 N. Spring Street
      Burlington, WI  53105-0340
      (414) 763-9175, (414) 763-8350 (FAX)

      Publications concentrate on forging, blacksmithing, though all aspects of
      metalworking are covered.  A good, well-organized collection.
      They also publish a magazine, Anvil.

      Centaur Forge is the source for blacksmithing supplies from tongs to
      furnaces.  Also a source of horse shoeing supplies.

   -  Century Spring Corporation
      800-237-5225, (213) 749-3802 (FAX)

      A Los Angeles company, they sell a wide range of both extension and
      compression springs, and also some more specialized
      springs like disk springs and rubber-tube springs.  Their catalog is
      free and lists springs sorted by diameter, length, wire diameter,and
      material, and list number of coils, solid height, and calculated spring
      rate.

      The catalog does not include prices, but prices are reasonable, but
      there is a $25 minimum order.

   -  Clausing Industrial Inc.
      Service Center
      P.O. Box 877
      Goshen, Indiana 46527-0877
      (219) 533-0371, (219) 533-0403 (FAX)

      Long ago, Sears sold Craftsman lathes that are still popular.
      These were actually made by Atlas, which was later bought by
      Clausing.  Clausing apparently still has parts and manuals for
      the Craftsman/Atlas lathes, and will provide a free catalog.

   -  Coles Power Models, Inc
      P.O. Box 788
      839 E. Front Street
      Ventura, CA  93002
      (805) 643-7065

      Castings, books, supplies, accessories.  For trains,
      stationary steam, gasoline engines.  The catalog costs $4.

   -  T. E. Conklin Brass & Copper Co.
      345 Hudson St.
      NY. NY 10014
      800-225-5510

      They have every size of hex brass in 12' lengths from 1/8" to 7/16"
      by 1/32" increments, and then it goes up to 3" hex by 1/16" with some
      odd sizes thrown in such as 23/32.  They got it in round, square, flat,
      gauge, strip, dimension plate, wire, rectangular rod, pipe, round tube,
      square tube, rectangular tube, angle, channel.  They state that small
      orders are important.
 
      This is not only brass, but bronze, copper, monel, muntz, nickel silver,
      etc., in several alloys.  I would doubt they have every alloy in every
      size.  Ask for the Conklin Index.  For locals the phone is 212-691-5100.

      (however, it is reported that a minimum first order is $100, and
      subsequently $50)

   -  Condar Co.
      10500 Industrial Drive
      Garrettsville, OH 44231
      (216) 527-4343

      They sell a pyrometer (high-temp thermometer) for gas forges and such,
      Unit 9-85 which comes with a 6-foot 2200-degree probe for $60.  They
      also have a high temp probe (3000 degrees; Unit 14S4-1, $17).  Probably
      lots of other related items, but this came up in discussion on
      low-cost pyrometers around 3/25/93.

   -  Conquest Industries
      Santa Fe Springs, CA.
      (310) 906-1111, (310) 906-1112 (FAX)

      Apparently casting supplies.  They have a free video tape and info
      packet on casting metal in rubber molds.  The rubber can take heat up
      to 840F for zinc alloys.

   -  Cowell's Small Machine Tools Ltd
      The Manor Workshop
      Church Road
      Little Bentley
      Colchester
      Essex
      CO7 8SE
      UK
      tel +44 1206 251792

      Cowells sells two main products: a small lathe (88mm swing,
      200mm between centers) and a small milling machine (200mm by 50mm
      bed).  Also vertical blade jig-saws.  Somewhat similar to Sherlines,
      these are described as being a bit better in quality and considerably
      more powerful.  Cost is roughly double that of a Sherline.
      Their USA connection:

      Cowells USA
      Post Office Box 843
      Richmond, KY 40476-0843
      (606) 624-9269, (606) 625-1191 (FAX)

      There is also a book, "Cowells 90 Lathe" by A. Smith.

   -  Craft Books
      4 Maple Street
      Chester, CT 06412
      (203) 526-9887

      At the very least, books on patinizing such as The Coloring, Bronzing
      and Patinization of Metals.

   -  Cyberlabs: see US Cyberlabs

   -  Dalmar
      (941) 275-6540, (941) 275-1731 (FAX)
      http://www.peganet.com/dalmar/dalmarhm.html
      [email-masked]

      Manufacturer of electroplating equipment.

   -  Darex Corporation
      220 Hersey Street
      Box 277
      Ashland, OR  97520
      (503) 488-2224, (503) 488-2229 (FAX)
      http://www.darex.com

      Precision drill and end-mill sharpening equipment.  Some of their
      complete systems are very expensive and intended for large
      production shops (around $2000).  They also sell fixtures for use
      with existing grinders (about $250) and sharpeners for taps, reamers,
      and countersinks.

   -  Diamond Pacific Tool Corporation
      25647 West Mail Street
      Barstow, CA  92311-9702
      (800) 253-2954, (619) 255-1030

      A complete selection of diamond cutting bits, saws, powders and
      compounds.  Free catalog.

   -  Dillsburg Aeroplane Works
      (717) 432-4589

      Source for aluminum, steel, tubing, bar, sheets, etc.
      Advertises that they supply: machine shop, race car, airplane building,
      etc.  These people are nice and helpful.  They have shipped orders
      same day with no errors.

   -  Eastwood Company
      (800) 345-1178

      Metal fabrication equipment, welding supplies, etc.  Reportedly,
      the prices are rather high.

   -  EMCO Maier (Consumer Products Division)
      2757 Scioto Parkway
      Columbus, OH 43221-2134
      (800) 521-8289, (614) 771-5990 FAX

      Makers (importer?) of the Unimat and Unimat PC lathes, small mills,
      and such.  They will/do sell direct, you can get a discount (5-15%)
      by dealing with Campbell or Blue Ridge on a package.  Good customer
      service and parts department.

   -  Enco Manufacturing Co.
      13 stocking locations, main site in Chicago, IL (addresses not handy now)
      800-860-3400 (24 hr orders, automatically routes to closest location)
      800-860-3500 (fax, also auto routes)
      Credit cards, COD's up to $500, discount for pre-pay by check
      $25 minimum order
      Customer service & Chicago showroom M-F 7-midnight CST,
      Sa 8-4 CST, Su 9-4 CST

      Lathes, milling machines, etc, from small to large NC machines.
      Hand tools, cutting tools, storage cabinets, shop supplies
      Maker (not just distributer) of turret bed lathes.

      However, many net folks have reported that quality and service are
      between awful and terrible (this author included), and that Enco should
      be avoided.  This is not a unanimous opinion, but close.

      230 page catalog (as of 1994)

   -  Far West Materials
      405 Woodland Ave.
      Walla Walla, WA 99362
      (509) 522-0556, (509) 525-7326 (FAX)
      http://ns.bmi.net/farwest, e-mail [email-masked]

      "Specializing in Foundry, Sculpture, & Molding materials"

   -  Gateway Clocks
      7936 Camberly Drive
      Powell, TN  37849

      Gateway Clocks is apparently a one-man business, in the person
      of W. R. Smith, author of several clockmaking books and one on
      clockmaking and model-making (see earlier section in the FAQ).
      Gateway also sells all of John Wilding's books, and John Wilding
      (in England) sells all of Smith's books, through a reciprocal
      agreement.

   -  General Factory Supplies Co., Inc.
      Cincinnati, Ohio
      Dayton, Ohio
      http://www.virtual-adventures.com/gfs/

      A stocking wholesale distributor of industrial
      supplies.  No experience with them.

   -  Gesswein
      255 Hancock Ave.
      Bridgeport, CT 06605
      (800)243-4466, (203)366-5400, (203)366-3953 fax
      e-mail: [email-masked]

      Jewelry-making tools, perhaps more.  On the 800 number, there is
      a voice mail system, and if you just want a catalog you have to
      wait for the last prompt when they let you speak for a longer period
      without being cut off.

   -  Glendo Corporation
      900 Overlander Road
      P.O. Box 1153
      Emporia, KS 66801
      (800) 835-3519, (316) 343-1084, (316) 343-9640 (FAX)

      Their Accu-Finish line of "advanced sharpening equipment"
      includes grinders and fixtures for lathe cutting bits and
      similar tools.  Also, most affordable for the home shop,
      the Grind-R-Table for use with existing grinders.  They often
      run ads in the magazines, or you can call for information.

   -  Grainger
      http://www.grainger.com
      [email-masked]

      Wholesale supplier of industrial and commercial equipment and
      supplies, with branches in all 50 states of the USA, and Puerto
      Rico.  Their web site includes a "terms of access" page that had
      to be written by a team of lawyers working overtime!

   -  Grand Tool Supply Corp.
      U.S. Highway 46 & Huyler St.
      Teterboro, NJ 07608
      (800) 922-0512, (201) 288-7090 FAX

      "80,000 inch/metric cutting tools, measuring instruments & equipment
      for the machine shop."  $50 min/order, free catalog.

   -  Griegers
      Pasadena, CA
      (800) 423-4181

      Lost wax casting supplies for jewelry making.  Silver solder and
      flux, gold solder, nickel silver, etc.  Free catalog on request.
      Apparently not what you'd call low prices, but they do have a good
      selection.

   -  Grizzly Imports, Inc.

      West of Mississippi:
      P.O. Box 2069
      Bellingham, WA 98227
      (800) 541-5537, (800) 225-0021 (FAX)

      East of Mississippi:
      2406 Reach Road
      Williamsport, PA 17701
      (800) 523-4777, (800) 438-5901 (FAX)

      Imports a wide range of power tools and accessories.  Metal lathes,
      milling machines, as well as lots of woodworking tools.  They also
      sell a belt sander called the "Knife Belt Sander/Buffer."  Among
      the importers of Taiwan-made tools, Grizzly seems to rank fairly
      well compared with Enco or Harbor Freight, though some consider Jet
      to be a bit better (at higher cost).

   -  H & H Foundry Machine Company 
      PO Box 605
      Manor, PA   15665
      (412) 863-3251

      They will accept small one-off cast iron jobs (and probably other
      work as well, just don't know their full scope).  They seem to do good
      work and are reasonably priced, according to D. E. Johnson who wrote
      an article in HSM about building a hefty milling machine attachment
      for a lathe.  The pattern for that project is "on file" with them
      and can be requested.

   -  Harbor Freight Tools
      3491 Mission Oaks Blvd.
      Camarillo, CA  93011-6010
      800 423 2567

      They mostly sell cheap tools.  Usually cheap = inexpensive, sometimes
      cheap = junky.  All (or most all) imported.  They are best for items
      which have a lot of metal in them and for which fine/precision is not
      your main objective.  They have really great buys on anvils, cold chisel
      sets, screwdriver sets, tinsnips, crowbars, ... and free shipping (other
      than a $2.95 handling fee) for orders over $50.

   -  Neil Hemingway
      30 Links View
      Half Acre
      Rochdale
      Lancashire OL11 4DD
      England
      +44 01706 45404
      http://www.fotec.co.uk/mehs/hemingway/index.html

      Neil has many lathe accessories and kits, many for Myford lathes, and
      George Thomas kits from Model Engineering.  You might enclose a couple
      of international reply coupons when asking him for a catalog.

   -  M. B. Herman
      9308 N.W. 60th Street
      Tamarac, FL  33321
      (305) 722-0061

      Mentioned as another source of parts for Craftsman/Atlas lathes.

   -  High Quality Tools, Inc.
      1327 E. 289th St.
      Wickliffe, OH  44092
      (216) 944-0144, (216) 585-2265 (FAX)

      Replacement parts for Bridgeport milling machines.  Reputedly the
      quality is excellent.  They have a catalog with exploded views
      of all assemblies.  Cheaper than Bridgeport.  See also Lee's and
      J.R. Machine.

   -  Hobby Hangar
      1862 Petersburg Road
      P.O. Box 417
      Hebron, Kentucky 41048
      (606) 334-4331, (606) 334-4333 (FAX)
      http://www.cforc.com/hangar/

      "Serving All Your Hobby Needs."  Also "The exclusive United States
      importer of Minicraft Precision Power Tools."

   -  Industrial Pipe and Steel Co.
      9936 E. Rush Street
      South El Monte, CA  91733
      800-423-4981, 818-443-9467, 818-579-4602 (fax)
      Credit cards, COD's
      M-F 7:30-4:30 PST, Sa 7:30-1 PST

      Cutting tools, hand tools, air tools, lathes, milling machines, you
      name it.  Shop supplies, tool and die maker supplies, you name it.
      Metal of all sorts, you name it.  New and used press die sets.
      Surplus rounds and plates.  Buy by the foot, buy by the pound.
      Most of their metal stock is not listed in the catalog(s).
      Call and ask what they've got.  Definitely oriented toward professional
      users, not hobbyists.  Full line distributors for most instrument makers,
      Starrett, Mitutoyo, etc.  Quality ranges from ultra-classy, great deals,
      garbage-at-any-price import.

      Small catalog several times a year, 200 page catalog once or
      twice a year, and a 750 page full-line catalog once every five
      years.  They came out with a full-line catalog in 92.  Get one if
      you can.

   -  ISCAR
      http://www.iscar.com

      ISCAR manufactures metal cutting tools for industry.  "Iscar is a
      full-source supplier producing a complete range of innovative turning,
      milling and drilling tool lines. Its cutting inserts are composed of
      advanced, proprietary cutting materials including coated and uncoated
      carbides, cermets, silicon nitrides, sub-micron compositions, and CVD
      and PVD (chemical and physical vapor deposition) layers."

      I don't believe ISCAR sells retail, but instead are carried by
      distributors such as MSC and others (see web pages).

   -  Jax Chemical
      (718) 347-0057

      Patina solutions and chemicals. Available from some jewelry supply
      houses.

   -  Jet Equipment & Tools
      http://www.wolfenet.com/~jet/
      [email-masked]

      Jet sells lathes, milling machines, etcetera.  Usually they do not
      sell directly to a customer, preferring to go through distributors
      such as Alley Supply, Campbell Tools, and others.  Their home page
      includes a list of distributors.  The general consensus suggests Jet
      is somewhat higher in quality and price than Grizzley's products.

   -  Johnson Atelier Sculpture/Casting Supplies
      50 Princeton-Hightstown Road
      Suite L
      Princeton Junction, NJ 08550
      (800) 732-7203 (orders or technical assistance), (609) 936-7206 (FAX)
       
      Aimed at the metalcaster and sculptor.  Clays, modeling tools,
      shellcasting kits, plasters, various kits for making life casts, waxes,
      pyrometers, sandcasting/foundry tools, foundry metal ingots/plate/rod
      (SiBronze, 85-5-5-5, aluminum, copper), patina solutions and raw
      chemicals to make your own, safety equipment, etc.  Looks like they
      target the school foundry and small art studio market.

   -  Lee's Machinery
      4089 N. Ridge Road
      Perry OH 44081
      (216) 259-2222

      Bridgeport and South Bend parts, new and used.  The owner, Lee Zinn,
      does used machinery rebuilding of all kinds and has many new and
      used parts and accessories (chucks etc.).  Will also make parts if
      unavailable, or parts that are better than original if needed
      (e.g. South Bend back gears like to break).  See also High Quality Tools
      and J.R. Machine.

(continued in next part)