FAQ part 10 of 11
Jim Kirkpatrick
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.
The questions being answered in part 1:
0. Where is this FAQ kept, and where are archives of the newsgroup?
1. The original rec.crafts.metalworking charter.
2. The CLOCKS bitnet mailing list, and other related lists.
3. What are some good books and/or video tapes on metalworking?
The questions being answered in part 2:
4. Who makes good lathes/mills/etc?
5. Where do I buy a machine?
6. What are good magazines to subscribe to?
7. Where might one take classes or get instruction?
8. Where can I get raw material for my projects?
9. Where can I get tools, drill bits, etc.?
10. What are some of the related professional/hobby associations?
11. How do I harden/temper metal?
The questions being answered in part 3:
12 How do I wire up this strange motor?
13. How do I deal with mail-order suppliers?
14. How to sharpen knives, chisels, and other tools?
15. Some safety reminders.
16. How do I drill round holes?
17. What's TIG and MIG?
18. MIG welding technique.
The questions being answered in part 4:
19. Which MIG welder should I buy?
20. Books on welding.
21. Soldering/brazing topics.
22. What are bolt grades?
23. What is XYZ made of?
24. How do I build a furnace or forge?
The questions being answered in part 5:
25. What is Damascus steel?
26. How do I repair/replace this old leather belt?
27. Can I use a drill press as a cheap vertical mill?
28. What is involved in building a steam engine?
29. How do I anodize aluminum?
The questions being answered in part 6:
30. Rust! How do I deal with rust?
31. Are there any machinery museums?
The questions being answered in part 7
32. How do I cut metal?
33. What kind of oil should I use on my lathe/mill?
34. What are the various tapers (Morse, JT, R8, etc.)?
35. What is Electric Discharge Machining (EDM)?
The questions being answered in part 8
36. Solvent safety
37. What does "gage" (or "gauge") mean?
38. Leveling a lathe.
The question being answered in part 9
39. Patinas
The question being answered in parts 10 and 11
99. Names and addresses of publishers and suppliers
(OK, so I got tired of re-numbering it every time a new
question was added!)
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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:
-- Special entry: Not a company or anything, but for more info on
crafts supplies, send e-mail to in...@crafts-council.pe.ca
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)
- 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.
- Allcraft Tool & Supply
666 Pacific St.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(800)645-7124, (718)789-2800
Tools for jewelry-making, perhaps more.
- 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.
- 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
(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 (see earlier section).
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.
- 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.
- 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
- Darex Corporation
220 Hersey Street
Box 277
Ashland, OR 97520
(503) 488-2224, (503) 488-2229 (FAX)
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 is
to be avoided. This is not a unanimous opinion, but close.
230 page catalog
- 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.
- Gesswein
255 Hancock Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06605
(800)243-4466, (203)366-5400, (203)366-3953 fax
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.
- 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
According to Guy Lautard in his Machinist's Bedside Reader,
Neil has many lathe accessories and kits, many for Myford lathes.
You might enclose a couple of international reply coupons when asking
him for a catalog.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
(continued in next part)