[NRV Rocketry] Rocketry hardware source

[Charles Albright]

Bob,

Likewise, it seems I'm frequently in need of hard to find items for my 
rocketry, microcontroller, and general electronics activities, items often 
just not available in obvious or nearby places.

Here are some examples of things I located after some searching. Lowe's and 
Home Depot have had some things I needed but generally the following were 
better sources.

Closed eyebolts (stronger than "bent around" eyebolts that have that small 
opening at the base)
-----Fastenal and McMaster-Carr  http://www.mcmaster.com

Very small hardware (4-40 and 2-56), steel and 2-56 nylon (from 
McMaster-Carr, I used for shear pins)
-----Fastenal, McMaster-Carr, Heavener Hardware, even Radio Shack sells some 
2-56 machine screws

Nylon insert hex locknuts, threaded rod ("all-thread"), both for ebays; and 
quick links
-----McMaster-Carr, Heavener Hardware

Hobby wood (basswood, plywood) products I used for electronic bay 
construction (e.g. sleds)
-----Adventure Hobbies, Michaels, and Mish Mish (big selection)
-----Note: be sure to check out Mish Mish in Blacksburg; a great art supply 
store with a number of tools and supplies applicable to rocketry (wood, 
brass strips, X-Acto knife accessories, crepe paper which -by law- is flame 
resistant and can be used to help protect recovery parts - try it, it works)

Hard to find cylindrical, nylon-bristle bottle brush, for cleaning inside 
motor casings
-----Heavener Hardware

4F black powder for ejection charges
-----Miller's Gun Shop, 1865 S. Franklin St., Christiansburg

My two favorite sources for electronics parts, both Internet:
-----Mouser Electronics http://www.mouser.com/ ,  Jameco Electronics 
http://www.jameco.com

In my electronics projects, I use Microchip PIC24 (16-bit) microcontrollers 
because of their great documentation and fantastic free development software 
support (C compilers included). And when I need a new microcontroller, I go 
to the Microchip website and request a free sample or two. It's totally 
automated, they have never refused, and shipping has been free so far. 
http://www.microchip.com/

Charley

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bob Schoner
To: calbright at radiantse.com ; tweeks-homework at theweeks.org
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: [NRV Rocketry] Rocketry hardware source


Just curious, what kind of stuff are you looking for or getting from 
Fastenall?  Pat G (TRA Bod Insurance liaison) used to own 2 Fastenall stores 
in TX and NM.  I'm all about finding good stuff that can be applied to 
rocketry.  My Christmas list never has anything that you can get in a store 
in Christiansburg.

Bob


On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 5:06 PM, Thomas Weeks <tweeks at rackspace.com> wrote:

Cool.. Thanks for the links guys. I'll add them to our growing "useful 
links" area we're building up for the web site.

You guys use these sources mainly for mounting hardware like recovery line 
mount points and avionics bay hardware?

Tweeks


"Charles Albright" <calbright at radiantse.com> said:

> Hi,
>
> Bob is correct. The Fastenal store is located at 5 Midway Plaza Drive.
> Driving north on Business 460 (N.Franklin St.), they are on the left side
> just after you pass Corning Glass, to the right of (actually across Midway
> Plaza Dr from) the BP station. You have to go to the light at Merrimac Rd
> and make a U-turn to get there.
>
> Looked at from the other direction, i.e. coming from Blacksburg, you would
> pass the light at Merrimac Rd and then turn right onto Midway Plaza Dr. On
> Midway Plaza Dr. you would see the BP station on your left and Fastenal on
> the right, partially hidden behind a few trees.
>
> I advise using Fastenal judiciously, as a last resort. They are reasonable
> on some items but can be very expensive on other items. I have since found
> two other sources that are better for most hardware items. Locally there 
> is
> Heavener (True Value) Hardware on N. Main St in Blacksburg, on the left 
> just
> past the traffic circle at N. Main and Prices Fork Rd. They are more like
> old-fashioned hardware stores in that they carry many specialized hardware
> items that Lowes and Home Depot don't seem to know about. They are the 
> least
> expensive local source for quick links. Good friendly people.
>
> The second source is McMaster-Carr on the Internet:
> http://www.mcmaster.com/  Large selection, good prices, fast delivery
> without large delivery charges.
>
> Happy shopping!
>
> Charley
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "tweeks" <tweeks at rackspace.com>
> To: <nrvr at nrvr.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 3:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [NRV Rocketry] Rocketry hardware source
>
>
> Hey Charles...
>
> Where is this Fastenal place again?  Google Maps shows it in the space 
> that
> the BP station on N.Franklin. Is it BEHIND that in one of those other
> buildings on Midway Plz?
>
> Tweeks
>
>
>
>



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