EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
My favorite place when buying a lot of building materials because they load it all up for you.
Where do you guys buy hardware.
- Thread starter N80
- Start date
- Views: 19666
John_Mc
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2001
- Messages
- 4,567
- Location
- Monkton, Vermont
- Tractor
- NH TC33D Modified with belly pan, limb risers & FOPS. Honda Pioneer 520 & antique Coot UTV
I use the local hardware store for the easy stuff. One of the tractor dealers in my area stocks a good assortment of the larger sizes of grade 8 bolts - not the cheapest option, but great if I need a couple of things and happen to be in the area.
For much else, I hit up one of the Fastenal stores (two within 10-20 miles of me). WHat they don;t have in stock locally, they can get in a day or two. I also order from their online catalog. They also sell bearings, which have come in handy, though I did have a problem where 8 wheel bearings I ordered for an antique UTV did not quite fit the way they are supposed to. I ground the inner race on one of them out by a few thousandths of an inch to get me by, and returned the rest.
For much else, I hit up one of the Fastenal stores (two within 10-20 miles of me). WHat they don;t have in stock locally, they can get in a day or two. I also order from their online catalog. They also sell bearings, which have come in handy, though I did have a problem where 8 wheel bearings I ordered for an antique UTV did not quite fit the way they are supposed to. I ground the inner race on one of them out by a few thousandths of an inch to get me by, and returned the rest.
Firemanbuck82
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2017
- Messages
- 155
- Location
- Puget City, Washington
- Tractor
- Mahindra Max 26 XL, Yanmar O35 track excavator
T-Screw for the hard to find things. And I totally agree with your sentiment regarding folks who can't be bothered putting their bad pulls back in the correct bin! :drink:
two_bit_score
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2008
- Messages
- 10,983
- Tractor
- John Deere 110 TLB, Diamond C 19LPX GN trailer
dragoneggs
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2013
- Messages
- 13,627
- Location
- Seabeck, Washington
- Tractor
- Kubota BX-25D, Kubota Z122RKW-42
Criminy! Terry, at least you are trying. Now show us you bin of unsorted fasteners? :licking:Don't even get me STARTED
I snapped this pic of my own bolt bin. I myself am guilty of being lazy....View attachment 519379
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 24,332
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
I'm spoiled... found this at a going out of business sale for an old time auto parts store...
PJSprog
Elite Member
Depends on what hardware I need. For bigger stuff, I usually try our local Rural King first. For smaller stuff, Ace Hardware is literally right around the corner from RK. If I can't find it there, I'll drive to Menard's or Lowe's. Beyond that, I go to the internet.
We have a Fastenal in town, too, but they never seem to be open except during Mon-Fri business hours. That doesn't work for me.
We have a Fastenal in town, too, but they never seem to be open except during Mon-Fri business hours. That doesn't work for me.
OP
N80
Super Member
Went to HD out of desperation. I actually found most of what I needed but it was all scattered around and disorganized. Needed a few 7/16-20 nuts. They were loose in a drawer with the bolt. Bolts were in bags.
Got to check out and I told the lady what size the nuts were and what the price was. They were unmarked. She poked around in the computer and then told me that they must be 1/2 inch since they did not sell 7/16-20 nuts (even though they do sell 7/16-20 bolts). I took one of the bolts out of its package and screwed the nut on. I did not do it to be smart but there was a line of people behind me and all I was getting was a couple of nuts and bolts. She got a little huffy and said they were not in the computer. Then she banged on the keys for a minute and gave me my receipt. I never looked to see how much I paid for those 17 cent nuts.
The problem is, this is ALWAYS my experience at Lowes and HD. It is not an exception.
Got to check out and I told the lady what size the nuts were and what the price was. They were unmarked. She poked around in the computer and then told me that they must be 1/2 inch since they did not sell 7/16-20 nuts (even though they do sell 7/16-20 bolts). I took one of the bolts out of its package and screwed the nut on. I did not do it to be smart but there was a line of people behind me and all I was getting was a couple of nuts and bolts. She got a little huffy and said they were not in the computer. Then she banged on the keys for a minute and gave me my receipt. I never looked to see how much I paid for those 17 cent nuts.
The problem is, this is ALWAYS my experience at Lowes and HD. It is not an exception.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 24,332
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
Sounds very much like the Big Box where I live but totally different when I shop big Box in Washington State...
Here the Bay Area the help is always changing and many do not have any experience in hardware or home improvement.
The Depot and Lowes I go to in Olympia have people running the departments that have been in the trade... and many are older... 20 to 30 years older than in the Bay Area...
Not to over emphasize the the difference is night and day...
Here the Bay Area the help is always changing and many do not have any experience in hardware or home improvement.
The Depot and Lowes I go to in Olympia have people running the departments that have been in the trade... and many are older... 20 to 30 years older than in the Bay Area...
Not to over emphasize the the difference is night and day...
fatjay
Veteran Member
For smaller projects, I head to the local mom and pop joint that I've been going to my whole life. I like to support them when ever possible. For big stuff, home depot. Lowes tends to have higher prices and fewer raw materials, which I typically look for in a project. Lowes has nicer finishing/prebuilt and a better selection of cabintry/sinks/faucets. When I am building it from the ground up I go to HD, when I want to make it look fancy, I go to lowes.
Also I have a pro account at HD, which automatically tracks all my purchases and sends me my receipt to my email automatically when I use my registered cards on my account. It's really convenient. If i need a return, I just swipe my card and it automatically finds all receipts so I never have to worry about hanging on to the receipt.
Also I have a pro account at HD, which automatically tracks all my purchases and sends me my receipt to my email automatically when I use my registered cards on my account. It's really convenient. If i need a return, I just swipe my card and it automatically finds all receipts so I never have to worry about hanging on to the receipt.