I'm looking for various miscellaneous articles of small-scale hardware. Namely, springs, latches, release switches, and oddly sized lengths of metal tubing (preferably in various colors). Anyone know where I could get these at? I've tried Lowe's and The Home Depot, but neither seem to have springs of any kind.

I'm hoping someone can tell me the name of a chain, and I can find it nearby. If not, an online retailer would be fine, provided they're not in Solonia or Berserkistan.

Finally, yes, I know this would be more appropriate on, say, Yahoo! Answers, but I really don't feel like creating an entirely new email address to maybe get an answer.

If anyone really cares, here are examples of things I would like to build replicas of (or at least, items in a similar vein as these).

- The Master's laser screwdriver from Doctor Who.
- The spear used by the Yautja (or Hish for you other people) in various Predator movies.
- That's it really.

Char Aznable wrote:

Do you have a scrapyard handy?

No, sadly I do not.

Beach Bum wrote:

Do you have a small local hardware store around? Here in Central Illinois we have this place called Ace Hardware that has lots of stuff that the big chains don't carry. They generally are a little more pricey but sometimes they are the best place to get little odds and ends you need to complete a project. Some of the craft stores around here have small stuff like springs too.

I don't think Ace Hardware is as "local" as you think; I've seen plenty commercials for them where I live. We have a small hardware store that has giant variety and excellent price (I got a brass sundial compass for $10). Problem is, it seems springs are the one thing they don't have.

Tomdincan wrote:

You may have to break down and order them online, unless there are any other hardware cooperatives in town, like True Value, or the aforementioned Ace.

I thought I may have to. Any good online places?

TheThunderThief wrote:

Well, for springs and assorted little metal parts, you could always try a gun store, I've purchased many a spring in various lengths, number of coils, and widths, though, all my purchases were for actual firearms, so you may have to take a look before hand, check up on recoil springs, firing pin springs, hammer springs, striker springs, 1911 safety plungers, buffer tube springs, etc etc. Probably not the best place but it /is/ something all shops will sell. Or try a foundry.

Thank you, may need to try this sometime.

Black Zarak wrote:

Are you building a bomb?

No, at least not now. If I did, the people here would be either the first or last to know, depending on who my insane wrath was directed towards.

(No, I'm not insane at this time, nor have I been in the past.)

Slayer1 wrote:

Skinr wrote: Black Zarak wrote: Are you building a bomb? No, at least not now. If I did, the people here would be either the first or last to know, depending on who my insane wrath was directed towards. (No, I'm not insane at this time, nor have I been in the past.) Well if anything, I'm sure you could get some Uranium easily enough. Just ask that kid out in Chicago who pretended to be a physicist and was able to get some...

This is exactly the same reason I asked my dad not to show me network messaging in DOS. It'll get me in trouble.