Subject: FAQ part 8 of 8

From: [email-masked] (Jim Kirkpatrick)
Date: 1 Dec 94 12:50:50 MST

This is the FAQ for rec.crafts.metalworking.  It is in several pieces
to keep the overall size of each part below the limits imposed by
some news systems.  This is part 8 of 8.

Generally, units below are United States dollars, degrees Fahrenheit,
and all the other silly backwards units we Americans still use.  Sorry.

The questions being answered in part 1:

0.  Where is this FAQ kept, and where are archives of the newsgroup?
1.  The original rec.crafts.metalworking charter.
2.  The CLOCKS bitnet mailing list, and other related lists.
3.  What are some good books and/or video tapes on metalworking?
4.  Who makes good lathes/mills/etc?

The questions being answered in part 2:

5.  Where do I buy a machine?
6.  What are good magazines to subscribe to?
7.  Where might one take classes or get instruction?
8.  Where can I get raw material for my projects?
9.  Where can I get tools, drill bits, etc.?
10. What are some of the related professional/hobby associations?
11. How do I harden/temper metal?
12  How do I wire up this strange motor?
13. How do I deal with mail-order suppliers?
14. How to sharpen knives, chisels, and other tools?
15. Some safety reminders.

The questions being answered in part 3:

16. How do I drill round holes?
17. What's TIG and MIG?
18. MIG welding technique.
19. Which MIG welder should I buy?
20. Books on welding.
21. Soldering/brazing topics.

The questions being answered in part 4:

22. What are bolt grades?
23. What is XYZ made of?
24. How do I build a furnace or forge?
25. What is Damascus steel?
26. How do I repair/replace this old leather belt?

The questions being answered in part 5:

27. Can I use a drill press as a cheap vertical mill?
28. What is involved in building a steam engine?
29. How do I anodize aluminum?
30. Rust!  How do I deal with rust?

The questions being answered in part 6:

31. Are there any machinery museums?
32. How do I cut metal?
33. What kind of oil should I use on my lathe/mill?
34. What are the various tapers (Morse, JT, R8, etc.)?

The questions being answered in parts 7 and 8:

35. What is Electric Discharge Machining (EDM)?
36. Solvent safety
99. Names and addresses of publishers and suppliers
    (OK, so I got tired of re-numbering it every time a new
    question was added!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

99.  Continued: names/addresses of publishers and suppliers.

   -  Industrial Pipe and Steel Co.
      9936 E. Rush Street
      South El Monte, CA  91733
      800-423-4981, 818-443-9467, 818-579-4602 (fax)
      Credit cards, COD's
      M-F 7:30-4:30 PST, Sa 7:30-1 PST

      Cutting tools, hand tools, air tools, lathes, milling machines, you
      name it.  Shop supplies, tool and die maker supplies, you name it.
      Metal of all sorts, you name it.  New and used press die sets.
      Surplus rounds and plates.  Buy by the foot, buy by the pound.
      Most of their metal stock is not listed in the catalog(s).
      Call and ask what they've got.  Definitely oriented toward professional
      users, not hobbyists.  Full line distributors for most instrument makers,
      Starrett, Mitutoyo, etc.  Quality ranges from ultra-classy, great deals,
      garbage-at-any-price import.

      Small catalog several times a year, 200 page catalog once or
      twice a year, and a 750 page full-line catalog once every five
      years.  They came out with a full-line catalog in 92.  Get one if
      you can.

   -  Lee's Machinery
      4089 N. Ridge Road
      Perry OH 44081
      (216) 259-2222

      Bridgeport and South Bend parts, new and used.  The owner, Lee Zinn,
      does used machinery rebuilding of all kinds and has many new and
      used parts and accessories (chucks etc.).  Will also make parts if
      unavailable, or parts that are better than original if needed
      (e.g. South Bend back gears like to break).  See also High Quality Tools.

   -  J. I. Morris Company
      394 Elm Street
      Southbridge, MA 01550
      Phone: (508) 764-4394, (508) 764-7350 (FAX)

      Tiny screws, nuts, washers.  Sizes 0000-16 to 2-56 and popular UNM
      sizes stocked in many head styles and lengths in both brass and
      burr-free stainless.  Matching taps, chasers, and gages available.
      Write/FAX for catalog or send for prompt quotation.

   -  J. Malcolm Wild (Clocks)
      12 Norton Green Close
      Sheffield S8 8BP England
      Telephone: 0742 745693

      Supplies and accessories for clockmaking.

   -  The Jeweler's Loupe 1625 Crenshaw Blvd.  
      Torrance, CA 90501 
      (310)320-7005

   -  Kitts Industrial Tools
      22384 Grand River Avenue
      Detroit, MI  48219
      800-521-6579, 313-538-2585 in MI, 313-538-6499 (fax)
      Credit cards, COD's
      $25 minimum order
      M-Sa 9-5 EST

      Cutting tools, hand tools, air tools, supplies
      Quality ranges from ultra-classy, great deals, garbage-at-any-price
      import.

      150 page catalog, but you have to mail a $2 check (won't accept phone
      orders for catalogs!).

   -  Klockit
      P.O. Box 636
      Lake Geneva, WI  53147
      (800) KLOCKIT    (i.e. (800) 556-2548)

      Books, kits, plans, tools, parts for clocks and watches.

   -  Lindsay Publications Inc.
      P. O. Box 538
      Bradley, IL  60915-0538
      (815) 935-5353

      Lindsay publishes books for the home shop, covering casting, forging,
      machining, and a few plans for building engines and such.  It has been
      reported that their catalog is "a bit bizarre" but the service is
      fast.  Their electrical catalog has cross-over projects that include
      light (pun intended?) metalworking.

   -  Little Engines
      13486 Carapace Court
      Manassas, VA 22111
      (703) 791-5322

      Plans, castings, accessories for model rail motive power.

   -  Mason & Sullivan
      210 Wood County Industrial Park
      Parkersburg, WV  26102-1686
      800-225-1153 (orders), 800-535-4486 (technical advice),
      800-535-4482 (customer service), 304-428-8271 (FAX)

      Supplier of clock kits, plans, parts, and tools.  In business since
      1947, they recently went out of business, and have re-appeared
      owned in part by the employees, though they also appear to be
      affiliated with the Woodcraft company (same address!)

   -  McMaster-Carr Supply Company
      PO Box 440
      New Brunswick NJ 08903-0440 USA
      (908) 329-3200 (Sales), (908) 329-6666 (Other Departments),
      (908) 329-3772 (FAX)

      Also has stocking sales centers in Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

      Note that they apparently only deal with companies.  Jim Harres reports
      that they refused to send him a catalog.

      Prints an annual 2600+ page catalog.  Very complete supplier with tools,
      screws, shelving, wheels, lamps, heaters, air conditioners, plumbing, 
      electrical supplies, plastics, metals, pumps, containers, motors, gauges,
      paint brushes, hooks, door hardware, pH testers, microscopes, etc.
      Metric and english threads and sizes, too. Small bits of information,
      reference charts and advice are scattered throughout the catalog.

      No minimum order.  Satisfaction Guaranteed, whatever that means.  
      No problem with returns, but they ask that you get specific return
      instructions before shipping anything back.  All prices subject to
      change.  Visa and MasterCard accepted.  Prices are quoted plus actual
      shipping.

      Experience with McMaster-Carr is very good.  They do update
      (read: raise) their prices frequently, so don't believe catalog prices.
      Get a quote before buying.  Expect the catalog to be 10% low.
      Shipments have been prompt, complete, and accurate.  Prices seem 
      high, but they make up for it with "one-stop" shopping.

   -  Merritt's Antiques, Inc.
      P.O. Box 277
      Douglassville, PA 19518-0277
      (610) 689-9541, (610) 689-4538

      Clocks, clock parts, clock repairing tools, etc.

   -  Metal Buyer's Mart, Ltd. (formerly Metal By Mail)
      N-15 W 22218 Watertown Road, Unit #3
      Waukesha, WI  53186
      (800) 657-0721, (414) 547-3860 (FAX)

      $2 catalog, which contains decent descriptions of what they sell
      (hardness, machinability, etc.).  Ferrous and nonferrous metals,
      fasteners, and a few nonmetallic materials such as nylon and teflon.

   -  Metal Lathe Accessories
      Box 88
      Pine Grove Mills, PA  16868

      Mostly castings and raw-parts kits for common and useful lathe
      accessories, mostly for lathes similar to 9- or 10-inch South
      Bend and Atlas-style units.  A T-slot cross slide, rear mounting
      tool post, faceplate, milling attachment, boring/facing head,
      large steady rest, boring and ball-turning tool post, and others.
      Also a toolpost grinder kit.  You can order kits, or just drawings.

   -  MicroKinetics
      (404) 422-7845

      CNC parts such as software, PC controller boards, amplifiers,
      position sensing, and motors.  Kits to do conversions on Sherline
      lathes and mills, and Bridgeport mills.  Sherline lathes and
      mills pre-converted for CNC.

   -  Micro-Mark
      340 Snyder Avenue
      Berkeleyheights NJ 07922-1595
      (800) 225-1066, (908) 665-9383

      Miniature tools & things, including Sherline lathes and mills.
      "Weensy" nonferrous tube, rod, sheet.  Everything sold in small
      quantities.  Prices not superb, but some of the items can't be
      found elsewhere.

      Sometimes have sale catalogs with some items marked down as much
      as 50%.

   -  Minitech Machinery Corp.
      430 Tenth Street, Northwest Suite N-005
      Atlanta, GA 30318
      (404) 607-7228, (404) 892-6832 FAX, (800) 662-1760

      CNC software; complete small CNC mills (unknown mfg though it
      uses a Sherline headstock and motor; also one based strictly on
      a Sherline), CNC lathe (based on an Emco compact-5 or a Sherline),
      and retrofit kits for Sherline, Emco, and Prazi.

   -  MSC Industrial Supply Co.
      151 Sunnyside Blvd
      Plainview, NY  11803
      (800) 645-7270 (AT&T), (800) 753-7900 (MCI), (800) 255-5067 FAX

      Their 93/94 catalog is 1971 pages, and their selection has been
      described as "dumbfounding".

   -  New Life Video Productions
      P.O. Box 175
      Traverse City, Michigan 49685
      (616) 276-7194 FAX

      Video tapes, as discussed elsewhere in the FAQ.

   -  Nordex, Inc.
      50 Newton Road
      P.O. Box 1956
      Danbury,  CT.  06813
      (800) 243-0986

      Usual range of precision components.  Spur gears down to .25" O.D.

   -  Norm Larson Books
      5426 E. Hwy 246
      Lompoc, CA  93436
      (800) 743-4766, (805) 735-2095

      "... books on just about every subject about metal working there is."

   -  Northern Hydraulic
      P.O. Box 1499
      Burnsville, MN 55337-0499
      (800) 533-5545, (612) 894-0083 (FAX)

      Sort of a hardware store by mail.  Gasoline engines, pressure washers,
      hydraulic pumps and cylinders, air compressors, tools, and so on.

   -  Omega Engineering
      P.O. Box 2669
      Stamford, CT 06906
      (203) 359-1660

      Mentioned as a source for pyrometers and/or materials for making
      thermocouples and other process-measurement stuff.

   -  Penn Tool Company
      1776 Springfield Ave
      Maplewood, NJ 07040
      (800) 526-4956

      A very-well-stocked supplier with a very large selection of
      drills, taps, reamers, and other machining tools.  However,
      in some cases their prices seem outrageous, so check around
      first.  On the other hand, they may be the only source for
      that odd-sized spiral-flute reamer you need, or that #00 tap.
      Their catalogs are free; there is a small (196 pages in 1993)
      one and a large one (410 pages, catalog no. P-912 as of late
      1992), so ask for both (they may only send you the short one
      if you say you're a hobbyist).

   -  PIC Design
      P.O. Box 1004
      Benson Road
      Middlebury,  CT.   06762
      (800) 243-6125

      Usual range of precision components.  Gears down to less than
      3/8" O.D.

   -  Pipe & Tube Supply
      PO Box 2852
      1621 North Cypress
      North Little Rock, AR 72114
      (501) 372-6556, (501) 372-7694 FAX

      (Dave Williams writes:)
      I finally found a place that will sell steel or aluminum stock in small
      quantities.  I'm pretty happy with this place - they're fully
      computerized, know *exactly* what's in inventory, and usually have it
      cut and waiting before I can get from the cashier's to the warehouse.
      I've bought very small quantities of metal with no hassle.  They've
      also special ordered some offbeat sizes for me, no problems, no extra
      charges.

      Since getting small quantities of metal has some up in this group from
      time to time, I asked them if they sold mail order.  They do, and
      they'll take orders by phone, mail, or fax.

   -  Powell's Technical Books
      Portland OR
      (800) 225-6911, (503) 228-0505 (FAX)

      Send a blank email to [email-masked] for an
      automatic response with further instructions.  Significant selection
      of new & used books on machine shop practice, metallurgy, forge work,
      among tens of thousands of other used books.  You can search the new &
      used catalog my email or with Mosaic
      (http://www.technical.powells.portland.or.us).

   -  Power Model Supply
      13260 Summit Drive
      De Soto, MO  63020
      (314) 586-6466

      Similar to Cole's but heavier on the trains.  Detailed engineering
      drawings for about 15 different engines.  They also carry various
      metals.

   -  Prakken Publications, Inc
      P.O. Box 8623
      Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107
      (313) 769-1211, (800) 530-9673, (313) 769-8383 FAX

      Publishes the Machinist's Ready Reference.

   -  Production Tool
      (800) 366-3600
      
      Lathe tooling and such, fair prices, and often have the same item
      at different quality levels (more quality means more money, of
      course).

   -  Reactive Metals Studio
      Box 890
      Clarkdale, AZ 86324
      (800)876-3434, (602)634-3434

      Niobium, mixed metals, for jewelry and perhaps other purposes.

   -  A.J. Reeves & Co (Birmingham) Ltd.
      Holly Lane
      Marston Green
      Birmingham B37 7AW, UK

      Plans and parts for stationary, marine, rail and road steam engines
      and a number of IC engines as well.  Associated parts, materials
      and books (will ship internationally).

   -  Reid Tool Supply Company
      2265 Black Creek Road
      Muskegon, MI  49444-2684
      (800) 253-0421, (616) 777-3951, (616) 773-4485 (FAX)

      Prints a 350+ page catalog twice a year.
      Very complete assortment of knobs, screws, clamps, springs, air hoses
      and couplings, drills, mills, taps, machinist's tooling, and books.
      No minimum order, 30-day return with full refund.
      Offers rework and specialty items with special conditions and terms.
      However, they want a company name before sending a catalog.

   -  River Gems and Findings (formerly Rio Grande)
      Dept T1
      6801 Washington NE
      Albuquerque, NM 87109
      (800)545-6566 orders, (800)533-3299 service, (505)344-9671 fax

      Jewelry-making tools, perhaps more.  Apparently a wholesaler, as
      they want a state tax ID or business license number before sending
      a catalog.

   -  Rutland Tool & Supply
      16700 E. Gale Avenue
      City of Industry, CA.  91745-0587
      (800) 289-4787, (818) 961-7111, (800) 333-3787 (FAX)

      (courtesy of Jon Bork)

      Rutland is a general machine shop supply house, with a good selection
      of tools, machines and accessories.  They primarily deal with
      professionals, but I have dealt with them in person and by phone and
      they have always been helpful and quick.  They send out several
      catalogs yearly including a new safety equipment supply catalog.
      Their prices are reasonable and they stock both top of the line and
      "quality import" selections for most items.

      (Will Martin reports they ask for a company name before sending
      out a catalog)

   -  S. LaRose, Inc.
      234 Commerce Place, P.O. Box 21208
      Greensboro, NC  27420
      (919) 275-0462

      Watch and clock movements, repair parts, supplies, tools, equipment.

   -  Scanlon American Reprints
      P.O. Box 379
      Modesto, CA  95353
      (209) 667-2907

      Scanlon sells many books on clocks.

   -  Secs, Inc.
      520 Homestead Ave.
      Mt. Vernon,   N.Y.  10550
      (914) 667-5600

      General line of precision hardware, gears, pulleys, clutches, etc.

   -  Servo Products Company
      433 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Box 90370
      Pasadena, CA  91109
      (818) 796-2460, (818) 796-3845 (FAX)

      Small precision drill presses and milling machines, including a
      whopping expensive CNC mill ($15,000).  Power feeds for mills.
      CNC small lathe, CNC add-on for large mills.

   -  Small Parts, Inc.
      13980 N.W. 58th Court
      P.O. Box 4650
      Miami Lakes, FL.   33014
      (305) 557-8222, (800) 423-9009 (FAX)

      Nicest line of supplies and hardware for prototype builders.
      Specifically targeted for small quantities.  Catalog includes
      prices. More fun than the Sears catalog.

   -  South Bend Lathe
      400 West Sample Street
      South Bend, IN 46625
      (219) 289-7771

      Still in South Bend, since 1906.  However, current products may be
      overpriced and no longer appropriate for small home shops.

   -  MALCOLM G. STEVENS
      78 Summer St.
      P.O. Box 145
      Arlington, MA 02174
      Phone - (617) 648-4112

      A source for foundry supplies (crucibles, molding tools, tongs,
      shanks, fluxes, and safety equipment)

      Specific crucible sizes stocked appear to be #4 to #70 in clay,
      graphite, and #10 to #150 in Silicon Carbide.  Tell them that you
      are a hobbyist and would like some literature on foundry equipment.
      They apparently do not take credit cards but will bill you.

   -  Stock Drive Products
      2101 Jericho Turnpike
      Box 5416
      New Hyde Park, NY  11042-5416
      (516) 328-3300

      The catalogs are actually published jointly by Stock Drive
      Products (SDP) and Sterling Instruments (SI).  Both are divisions
      of Designatronics (DSG).

      These folks make all sorts of gears, drives, bearings, couplings,
      and related stuff.  Small, not hydroelectric-sized.  Ask them for
      their free publication "Handbook of Gears."  They also publish
      "Handbook of Shafts, Bearings & Couplings,"  "Handbook of Timing
      Belts, Chains & Friction Drives," "Handbook of Design Components,"
      "Aluminum Extrusions & Accessories."  They also package the whole
      set (I asked for just the handbook of gears and got all five).

      See also W.M. Berg for a similar product line.

   -  Swest, Inc.
      11090 Stemmons Frwy
      Dallas, TX 75220
      (800)527-5057, (214)247-7744, (214)247-5307 fax

      Jewelry-making tools, perhaps more.  They ask for a company name
      and business license or tax ID, but may be willing to send a
      catalog without them.

   -  Tab Books
      Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850

      Publish a very large number of books on technical subjects;
      you should be able to order them through any local bookstore.

   -  Tee Publishing
      Edwards Centre
      Regent Street
      Hinckley
      Leics. LE100BB England
      0926-614101

      From England, they publish Engineering in Miniature and other magazines.
      Similar to Argus, they have clockmaking books as well.  They state they
      are the world's only company specializing in back issues of Model 
      Engineer.

   -  Texas Knifemakers Supply
      Box 79402
      Houston, TX 77279

      Catalog $2 

   -  Travers Tool Company, Inc.
      128-15 26th Avenue
      P.O. Box 1550
      Flushing, NY  11354-0108
      (800) 221-0270, (718) 886-7200, (800) 722-0703 (FAX),
      (718) 886-7895 (FAX)

      Prints a 500+ page large catalog once per year, and also sales flyers.
      Very complete line of tooling for machinists, including micrometers,
      mills, drills, reamers, broaches, taps, collets, tool posts, lathe tools,
      grinding wheels and stones, files, gages, vices, indicators, 
      precision steel pieces, glops and goos, books, and some power tools.
      $25.00 minimum order.  Visa, MasterCard, American Express accepted.
      Replace, refund, or full credit within 60 days of purchase (buyer's
      choice).  Prices are subject to change without notice.

      Experience with Travers has been good.  They are less
      expensive than McMaster-Carr and other full-price dealers.  They sell 
      premium and no-name lines of many similar tools so that you only buy
      the "quality" that you need.  Their performance on orders was once
      imperfect, but they stand behind their merchandise, so correcting the
      error was easy, fast, and painless.  I have ordered from them many times,
      so "one minor error out of many" is a good grade. 

   -  Vigor, sold by FDJ
      2221 Lee Road, Suite #1
      Winter Park, FL 32789
      (800) 323-6091 (orders)
      (407) 629-6906
      (407) 645-0707 (FAX)

      (FDJ is the company name, and sells the Vigor line)
      Jeweler's tools, video tapes, books, retailing supplies, and many
      universal tools being targeted at jewelers.  Tweezers, ring forms,
      molds, forges, files, small lathes, loupes, calipers, torches,
      solders and brazing material, mountings, etc.  An informative
      catalog.

      Very wide selection, but prices seem very high.

   -  Village Press
      P.O. Box 1810
      2779 Aero Park Drive
      Traverse City, MI  49685
      (800) 447-7367, (616) 946-3712

      Publishers of Home Shop Machinist, Projects in Metal, and
      Live Steam.  Some back issues available; older ones are
      available as parts of several book series.  See the individual
      entries in the "magazines" question.  They also publish other
      books such as "So You Want to Build a Live Steam Locomotive."

   -  Weldco
      1-800-733-5840

      Mail order welders and supplies.

   -  Wholesale Tool  (Stu Friedberg's favorite!)
      PO Box 68
      Warren, MI  48089-0068
      12155 Stephen Drive
      Warren, MI  48089-3962
      800-521-3420,  800-521-3661 (fax), 313-754-9270, 313-754-8652 (fax)

      Broader selection of hand tools, fewer large machines than IP&S.
      Fork lifts.  No bulk metals, but tool steel, shim stock, threaded rod,
      etc.  Vast selection of cutting tools and grinding wheels.  Scattering of
      interesting surplus items.  Definitely oriented toward professional
      users, not hobbyists.  Full line distributors for most instrument makers.

      500 page full line catalog twice a year.  You have to order by 8 digit
      stock number, so copy carefully.  :-)

      6 locations, main site in Warren, MI.  Most items at most locations,
      some items in Michigan only, very few at other locations only.
      Credit cards, COD's with some payment restrictions
      $25 minimum order

      The other locations:

      PO Box 481
      Stoughton, MA 02072-0481
      1234 Washington Street (Route 138)
      Stoughton, MA 02072-3345, 800-343-1008, 617-344-0338, 617-341-0617 (fax)

      PO Box 700
      Brandon, FL  33509-0700
      9212 Adamo Drive
      Tampa, FL  33619-2631
      800-237-4689, 813-623-3099, 813-623-5816 (fax)

      PO Box 470952
      Tulsa, OK  74147-0952
      9909 East 55th Place
      Tulsa, OK  74146-6404
      800-331-4075, 918-627-2240, 918-627-2044 (fax)

      PO Box 240965
      Charlotte, NC  28224-0965
      4200 Barringer Drive
      Charlotte, NC  28217-1512
      800-438-3580, 704-527-4071, 704-523-7960 (fax)

      8100 Pinemont Drive
      Houston, TX  77040-6522
      800-231-4585, 713-895-7777, 713-895-8113 (fax)