Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: McMaster exposed

> Maybe I've just had *really* bad luck with them to this point. Their prices
> seem exorbitant BUT they do have some very odd and unusual things. From what
> I hear, they'll have it to me in just a day or two, if I'm willing to pay
> for it.
>
> Grainger is outlandish too but at least I can walk in there, get what I
> need, walk out and pay for it when the statement comes, when I've got more
> time. $27 for a 5/8-11 tap did REALLY hurt though....

I find McMaster to be a good economical source for raw materials,
unusual tools, belts, chain, etc which I can't get locally or want to
just order from the catalog without wasting time calling some outfit
up to ask if they have it, then wait while they look up the price and
decide if they are willing to sell it to me, then drive wherever to
get it.

What I do not recommend buying from McMaster are cutting tools,
collets, and other shop products that are so common as to be
commodity-like in pricing. This is because they tend to stock only
good domestic or premium import ones. A tap from McMaster is likley
to be much better quality than something you will find in a local
hardware store. (I do like shopping at local harware stores... for
much of what I do the quality is fine and I'd like to see them stay
around).

If you want a side-by-side price comparison on domesitc vs import
cutting tools, get an MSC catalog - they will happily sell you several
grades of either. They also sometimes have lower prices on metal
stock than McMaster but less variety. Sometimes their prices,
particularly on motion stuff, can be a bit higher. I find a I often
receive things from them the next day, wheras from McMaster it is
usually two days after I order.

The other places to consider are Enco and Grizzly, the former of which
is actually owned by MSC. These guys tend to be cheaper, but watch
the shipping and handling, which is figured as a tax on your order
total rather than reflecting actual costs. Also packages from them
can take up to a week, and some of what they sell is minimally useable
junk, or not quite what was described in the catalog (Enco did pay the
shipping for the return of the chuck that had solid jaws rather than
the two-piece jaws they claimed in the catalog, but they keep printing
catalogs with the wrong description for this item)

Truth is, I can waste 4 hours putting together an order by trying to
decide how various outfits prices on the various items make them a
better or worse choice. Sometimes it's best to just spend you money
and get on with the project! But then my current project is at least
in theory supposed to start bringing in some income soon.

Chris