Sources

The Maker Map [1]

A google maps display of local suppliers. Sources listed in this section should also (eventually) be on the Maker Map.

Local

Abel Electronics [2]

27201 Harper Avenue, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081 (4 Blocks South of Eleven Mile on the west side of Harper Avenue)

Phone: (586)777-8232.

Decent selection of commonly-needed components and other electronic parts. Also, very friendly and helpful.

Acrylic Specialties & Plastics

32336 Edward Avenue, Madison Heights, MI 48071 (near John R and 14 Mile)

Phone: (248)588-4390

Has a wide variety of acrylics, PETG, foamcore, and other miscellaneous plastics. Has a wide selection of acrylic colors and is price competitive with other plastic vendors. Prefers to sell larger sheets, but has an area with smaller pieces for sale.

Alba Plastics [3]

1407 Allen Dr., Unit #G, Troy, MI 48083 (according to their website as of 2013-03-05). Previously listed here as 30029 John R, Madison Heights.

Sheet plastic, bent and formed into all sorts of neat stuff. (Display cases, bulk food bins, etc.) Also sells full sheets if you ask. Surprisingly good website for a local place.

All America Plywood [4]

Specializes in hardwood plywoods

18840 John R., Detroit, MI. 48203

Hours: M-F 8-4

(313) 891-6880

Armstrong Mill Works [5]

Located in Highland, MI. Sells domestic and imported hardwood in board feet. Open Saturday Mornings.

Armstrong Tool and Supply

Jewelry and craft supply: Brazing, abrasives, specialty pliers, carving tools, burrs and cutters, etc. A trove of goodies for the small-parts worker.

31541 8 Mile Road, Livonia, MI (just west of Merriman/Orchard Lake)

ASAP Source [6]

Located in Ann Arbor, a source for metal & plastic stock.

Gone out of business? Site now says to contact Alro Metals.

The Electronic Connection

Electronic Components like chips, resistors, transistors, etc. and all the tools to assemble them

37387 Ford Rd, Westland, MI 48185-2282 (734) 595-6655

Factory Steel [7]

14020 Oakland Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48203. Close to I75 & the Davison. Open on Sunday.

Frentz & Sons Hardware [8]

1010 North Main Street, Royal Oak (about 10 minutes by car). A real hardware store, with metal stock, bins of everything, and staff who know their stuff.

Harbor Freight [9]

Retail supplier of cheap Chinese tools.

32706 JOHN R ROAD, MADISON HEIGHTS, MI 48071

248-588-1673

Industrial Metal Sales

They do retail sales but not walk-ins. You have to order at least a day before pick-up.

95 South Rose Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043

(586) 783-2238

KBC Tools & Machinery [10]

6300 18 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48314

Kitt's Industrial Tools

Candy store of tools and supplies, many of the same items as Harbor Freight but so much more on top of it. Not terribly organized, so just go and browse.

27600 West 8 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Laird Plastics [11]

26403 Groesbeck Highway Warren, MI 48089

(800) 873-8403

Marsh Power Tools [12]

20579 Middlebelt, Livonia, MI 48152

Matzka Pneumatics & Hydraulics [13]

A candy store for moving fluids, from vacuum to 10,000psi. 10 mile & Mound.

Metal Mart USA [14]

Located at 13mile & Dequindre. Sells all kinds of metal stock in small quantities. Even open on Saturdays, very hobbyist friendly.

MICCO/Lucent Enterprises [15]

25831 Commerce Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071-1452

248-584-4440

info@kidderassoc.com

• From their site: "MICCO/Lucent provides sales and installation for:
  • Aluminum Extrusion
  • Flow Racks
  • Aluminum Guarding
  • Lean maufacturing cell stations
  • Gravity conveyers
  • MPS lean mfg stations
  • Corner rotate solutions
  • Wire mesh guards for workers
  • Manual Conveyors
  • Work areas and robots
  • TS4Plus conveyors (flying chains)
  • Safety Guarding
  • Conveyor Chain
• Recent suggestion of a place to get extruded t-slot aluminum lengths.

Motion Industries [16]

Loads of mechanical components, in stock. Several locations around town.

Motor City Fastener

1600 East 10 Mile Road Hazel Park, MI 48030-1208

(248) 399-2830

MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center [17]

468 Green Way,East Lansing, Michigan 48824

Phone : 517.355.0364

Fax : 517.353.0836

E-mail : surpluss@msu.edu

Public Sale Hours

7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Every Tuesday

7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Every Friday

Public Viewing Hours

Noon to 3:30 p.m. Every Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

All sorts of randomness, prices can be anywhere from market value to scrap cost

Public Lumber Company [18]

Lumber, millwork, doors, hardware, adhesives, and finishes.

1001 East Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203

313-891-7125

RL Schmitt [19]

Manufactures ANSI standard and custom Fixed-Limit Gages as well as standard and custom Endmills and Engraving Tools.

Order directly from them or through their eBay store (which sells at a discount over catalog prices but you can still pick it up in person)

Hours 8-4:30 M-F

34506 Glendale St, Livonia, MI 48150 (a block or two from RS Electronics)

Rockler Woodworking [20]

Nation-wide retailer of woodworking tools and supplies.

29918 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073

(248) 543-5110

RS Electronics [21]

Retail outlet for electronic components, connectors and tools.

Hours 8-5 M-F

34443 Schoolcraft Livonia, MI 48150

Speedy Metals - Detroit (No Web Site Pickup) [22]

34155 Riviera Drive, Fraser, MI 48026

Phone: 586-294-1018

Fax: 586-294-4140

E-Mail: FraserSales@Speedymetals.com

Comment by anonymous member

"Check your receipt! Make sure there are no mysterious 'upcharges'...."

Tri-Star Steel

Retail outlet for steel and aluminum stock

9281 Freeland St. Detroit, MI 48228

Phone: 313-834-6000

E-Mail: info@tristarsteel.com

Hours: 7-5 M-F

Woodcraft [23]

National chain retail outlet for wood and woodworking supplies.

Hours: Sunday: 11 AM - 4 PM Monday: 9 AM - 7 PM Tuesday: 9 AM - 7 PM Wednesday: 9 AM - 7 PM Thursday: 9 AM - 8 PM Friday: 9 AM - 7 PM Saturday: 9 AM - 6 PM

39245 Van Dyke Highway, Sterling Heights, MI 48313 (just north of 17 Mile)

Online

All Electronics Corporation [24]

Discount and surplus electronics, parts, accessories

Known for having strange and odd items in stock

Craftics [25]

Materials, supplies, and tools for acrylic

Digi-Key [26]

95% of the electronic components you need.

Electronic Goldmine [27]

Similar to All Electronics

Also has cheap grab-bag boxes of parts for stocking the junkbox

FutureLec [28]

Lots of fun parts, alcohol sensors, random bits

Jameco Electronics [29]

Electronics parts, some robotics parts.

Good source for hard to find "older" electronics parts, esp small EPROMS.

Marlin P. Jones & Assoc, Inc. [30]

Electronics and tool shop. Cheap and decent quality computer and electronics.

Good soldering equipment.

Mouser Electronics [31]

Another electronics store.

Small Parts, Inc [32]

The hardware store for R&D, not just miniature hardware, but also lots of nylon, teflon, etc.

Spark Fun Electronics [33]

Yet another electronics store.

Good for male/female adapters and plugs (iphone/ ipod).

Online Metals [34]

A good store for small quantities of metal.

Misumi [35]

Automation Components, Press Die Components, Plastic Mold Components

Project Ideas and Designs

Yahoo Groups junkyard_projects [36]

Free online plans for lots of tools and project ideas. Requires registration to the yahoo group.

Member Junk

Moved to Virtual Graveyard