This topic is intended to be a repository of handy tips on where to get the less obvious items that we tend to need only now and then and might be hard to find or to know what to search for.
This top post will get edited to contain the list of sources from time to time extracted from the discussion in subsequent posts.
A few guidelines.No blatant advertising please - this will be deleted
Positive comments only; bad experiences should be taken up with the supplier concerned directly.
If you are trying to find something that you don't know the name of, then search Google images first for some key words and only if you are really stuck, ask here.
Machinery spare partsBearings and drive belts can be very expensive if bought as spares from the dealers/manufacturer.
99% of the time these are standard parts and available much cheaper online using their generic description.
try Arc Eurotrading
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/,
Bearing Boys
http://www.bearingboys.co.uk/,
Simply Bearings
http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/,
Bolton Bearings
http://www.boltonbearings.co.uk/ or an ebay search.
Also worth taking the defective parts to a bearing factor on your local industrial estate (yellow pages to find) where they can match the part for you. In the US auto parts suppliers can provide a similar service.
KITY spare parts Scheppach have taken over the brand but this father and son team has stocks of parts for older Kity machines.
Biven Machinery Sales
http://bivenmachinerysales.co.uk/index.php?route=common/homeDrilling machine Quill Return SpringsOEM spares are either appallingly dear or unobtainable but generic parts are amazingly cheap from
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Assisi-Electric-UK.
They also stock a real Aladdins cave of other stuff. e.g. Star knobs for jigs and fixtures.
Machinery restoration & preservationhttp://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/ have various waxes and polishes/metal treatments to keep your workshop machines rust free including bilt hamber de-rusting stuff
FK1000p which is a high temp wax/sealant.
Gtechniq products make more or less effort free stuff- such as machine table wax
Instructional DVD'sWorkshop essentials DVDshttp://www.workshopessentials.com/shop/ produced by our own Steve Maskery has a relaxed style that make learning really easy. Lots of tips and often sketchup drawings of all the details for the more complex jigs that Steve builds and demonstrates.
Fine Woodworking’s Google SketchUp® Guide for Woodworkers - The Basics Produced by our own Dave Richards (Dave R) this video and be downloaded or purchased as a DVD from the Tauntons website
http://www.tauntonstore.com/fine-woodwo ... 61117.html in the US or searching for the ISBN number 1621134288 will bring up a number of UK re-sellers with lower sterling prices.
Cutting tools & bladesBandsaw BladesIt is difficult to beat bandsaw blades from
http://tuffsaws.co.uk/Ian is a one man band manufacturer of custom length blades to your requirements and willingly gives free advice for the right blade for the job in hand. If you manage to break one of Ian's blades, he will re-weld it FOC.
Saw BladesDoug at Cutting solutions
http://www.cutting-solutions.co.uk/ can supply most types of circular saw blades with tooth profiles and angles to suit specialist jobs as well as standard applications. They can also supply planer/thicknesser knives.
Summit
http://www.summitsawblades.co.uk/Jigsaw bladeshttp://www.uk-jigsawblades.co.uk/index.html