Lets face it, all projects require some form of material or consumable. I’ve compiled a list of suppliers I typically use for various items. These items range from chemicals to pieces of stock metal.
Why do I choose the suppliers I buy from? When designing a project one not only has to be creative in solving a problem but finding cost effective materials for the solution sometimes makes/breaks the viability of a solution. If you can’t cost the solution given a certain set of materials, you can’t evaluate the viability and ability of fellow hobbyists to obtain the material. If nobody can get a hold of that special grade Alu or electronic component I used, I am the only person that will build the project. That does seem like a bit of a waste of valuable time and effort to document the plans for other people.
Without further ado, the list:
| Hare & Forbes | Brisbane | Metalwork Tools | About the same price as imports after shipping. No waiting 4 weeks for tools. |
| Ausee | Lathe Tools | Aus supplier of Sieg brand machines and accessories. Shipment faster than overseas but tad bit more expensive. | |
| Early Bird Steel | Brisbane | Metal Stock | AS300 mild steel with some odd bits of Alu and harder steel. Friendly faces (mostly) with Luke and Don being rather helpful. They are a bit far out from my place but the online pricelist is worth it when designing and deciding what stock is a better fit for the project. Open on Saturday mornings is a major boon. |
| Action Aluminium | Brisbane | Metal Stock | Extensive range of Alu and open on a Saturday morning. Pity about the pricelist not being up on the site. |
| Scott Metals | Brisbane | Metal Stock | AS300 only. Closest to my place but more pricier than Early Bird. Why buy from them? Online pricelist and open on a Saturday. Friendly face here and there but only once you’ve had a chat or two. |
| Bolts & Industrial | Brisbane | Nuts & Bolts | They sell other tools and chemicals but a bit pricy for the hobbyist. The price of the nuts and bolts are comparable to imports but obviously available a lot quicker. Over the counter is a no-no for varied orders, rather phone it in and collect when ready. Online pricelist is available. |
| Umart | Brisbane | Computer Hardware | Where I tend to get my PC spares. Nice and close to home and reasonably priced with lots of stock (range and quantity). |
| Pottery Supplies Online | Brisbane | Forging | Nice and close to home but a tad bit pricy. Online pricelist available. |
If anyone has a regular supplier in Brisbane that they use for electronic components, materials and tools, do feel free to add it in the comments. If they see my business I will add them to my list.