smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
I think Tractor Supply is in an aggressive expansion right now.
A little bit " Pricey " ! !
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
Got a brand new ACE Hardware here, open about 6-8 moths now. Drive by and the parking lot is always empty. I've been in there twice, first time when they first opened was for an item they ran an ad for in the paper & when I got there I was told they don't stock that item. Went in there again last week on a newspaper ad, nope don't stock it. Did take the time the first time in there to look around & found shocking prices on most things that they did have but over all a poor selection.
There has been another ACE here for years before I moved here and they only survive by being about the largest lumber yard in the area, they do a pretty good business with contractors but for hardware selection or prices not so much.
I would love to have a true old fashioned hardware store here but we have to settle for being a town of 12,000 with only one Lowes, one Home Depot, one Meeks and two Ace Hardware stores.
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There has been another ACE here for years before I moved here and they only survive by being about the largest lumber yard in the area, they do a pretty good business with contractors but for hardware selection or prices not so much.
I would love to have a true old fashioned hardware store here but we have to settle for being a town of 12,000 with only one Lowes, one Home Depot, one Meeks and two Ace Hardware stores.
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9
9.3X62AL
Guest
What Rick said--an old-fashioned hardware store. I miss Carlson's Hardware in Redlands so darn much, started going there with my Dad at age 6.
Ian
Notorious member
This is chronic in a lot of industries these days. As the parts manager it is my job to stock the things we need that are difficult to find or time-critical. I see national sales flyers from at least half a dozen companies on a monthly basis, and almost never is an advertised sale item available at the nearest warehouse. It's been a running joke for a couple of years now how if it wasn't for us, nobody in the US would have a common truck part. Sometimes that's actually true. For certain there are three sizes of commonly used constant-tension intercooler boot clamps which ONLY exist in my parts room and outside the US. I know this because after combing the earth for months I had to order them by the hundred-count case directly from the manufacturer...in Canada.
If you guys have never had the chance to visit a Gibson's Discount Center, you don't know what you're missing. I think there are two stores left in the country, one of which is here where I live. Need an Aladdin lamp wick? No problem, aisle 7. Need .22 ammo or primers? See sporting goods. Need parts for your antique Canon camera? In the photo/watch dept. The store here used to be an Ace, but are now Hillman. I think they have every item Hillman makes.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Just a work of advice, every couple of casting sessions remove the Harbor Freight screws and throw them away. You can not believe how hard they are to remove when they start bending in the interface between blocks and handles. Ask me how I know! Ric
fiver
Well-Known Member
1.89 is really high.
I just bought some allen head screws from my local ace in a weird 6.0x1.0? by 40mm long and they were .85 each, the allen wrench was another 80 cents.
I didn't need the wrench but wanted a spare for where the screws were going without having one missing from a set.
I just bought some allen head screws from my local ace in a weird 6.0x1.0? by 40mm long and they were .85 each, the allen wrench was another 80 cents.
I didn't need the wrench but wanted a spare for where the screws were going without having one missing from a set.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Yep, made out of WWII Budweiser cans from WWII, but with rolled threads. I shouldn't say that, because you batch may be better!
Or not. I bought a gun screw kit I think from Midway a few years back. Made in China and really soft steel. Soft to where I wouldn't use them for scope mounts, the filler screws were fine.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
People ask me why I pay $10 for a tap from Brownell's, when I could buy one from Midway, et. al., for $3.99. I like cutting clean accurate threads, not spending two hours taking a broken tap out, or having to chase threads.
Rally Hess
Well-Known Member
Ben,
Could it be you bought Grade 8 Cap Screws at AH/ They are definately higher priced.
Could it be you bought Grade 8 Cap Screws at AH/ They are definately higher priced.
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
Most of the time, the black oxided allens, caps, button heads and flat heads are "grade 8".
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Allens are hardened, because the head requires that to work at all. This is the primary
benefit, IMO as an ME, for using black oxide allen-headed small screws. Typical yield is
in the 110,000 psi area. Real Grade 8 is 125,000 psi, and only applies to hex head bolts
and the head markings is 8 tic marks. 3 tic marks are Grade 5, pretty decent bolts. No
tic marks are Grade 2......OK for some applications.
Most slotted head small screws are very soft steel. SOME of the SS ones are harder, but there are
some ridiculously soft SS alloys out there. So, of the "ordinary supplier" screws, you are
most likely to get a fairly strong screw (in the # sizes) with an allen head, not because they
are helping you out, but because without a hard head it wouldn't tighten once - the
wrenching hole would round out 1st try, the tougher body is just a side effect -- a very good side effect.
I don't mind paying 10 times a fair price sometimes for two screws that I need NOW. But, if
I need a bunch and not in a big hurry, I'll order a box from one of the online suppliers like
McMaster-Carr. Good stuff, reasonable if you buy 100 screws or nuts, usually. Frequently
pay 2-5% of the onesy price from a hardware store.
Let us know if the Harbor Frt screws are any good......I start out pretty skeptical, but I am
entirely willing to learn. Some of their stuff is abominable, some is pretty decent.
Bill
benefit, IMO as an ME, for using black oxide allen-headed small screws. Typical yield is
in the 110,000 psi area. Real Grade 8 is 125,000 psi, and only applies to hex head bolts
and the head markings is 8 tic marks. 3 tic marks are Grade 5, pretty decent bolts. No
tic marks are Grade 2......OK for some applications.
Most slotted head small screws are very soft steel. SOME of the SS ones are harder, but there are
some ridiculously soft SS alloys out there. So, of the "ordinary supplier" screws, you are
most likely to get a fairly strong screw (in the # sizes) with an allen head, not because they
are helping you out, but because without a hard head it wouldn't tighten once - the
wrenching hole would round out 1st try, the tougher body is just a side effect -- a very good side effect.
I don't mind paying 10 times a fair price sometimes for two screws that I need NOW. But, if
I need a bunch and not in a big hurry, I'll order a box from one of the online suppliers like
McMaster-Carr. Good stuff, reasonable if you buy 100 screws or nuts, usually. Frequently
pay 2-5% of the onesy price from a hardware store.
Let us know if the Harbor Frt screws are any good......I start out pretty skeptical, but I am
entirely willing to learn. Some of their stuff is abominable, some is pretty decent.
Bill
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RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Harbor Freight is luck of the draw, this week. The first thing I every bought was 12" hacksaw blades; they were great! Hard as glass, sharp teeth and fine kerf settings. I used that pack for 2/3 years until I broke the last one. Bought another pack. WOW. Would not cut nails because the teeth rounded over before I could get through one. Never had to worry about breaking a blade, as they bent before they would break. You never know what you are buying.
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
Bill, all info I've seen list SAE "grade 8" bolts identified by 6 tic marks on the head. Could you please direct me to your source material. I've never seen 8 tic marks on the head of a bolt.