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Recommended suppliers and services

This topic has 33 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 30 September 2021 at 10:34 by vic newey.

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7 April 2021 at 00:26 #538459
Pete.
Participant
@pete-2
As the title, can this thread be a place to recommend and ask for services and suppliers, there was a post made recently about Greenwood tools closing down, personally I'd never heard of them, maybe if more had known of them?

Could we keep recommendations to companies you've used, not random results from Google.

Anything from machine movers to surface grinding services, hopefully if people post here it will be useful.

I'll start it off by recommending a company called D & J WORKHOLDING

They can have collets for obscure old machines made, and supply high quality kit, I just bought from them an 18pc 0.005mm max runout er32 collets of German manufacture, branded Fahrion, they're so finely ground they look chrome plated, turned up at my door the next day, and they are very helpful if you need any help.
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7 April 2021 at 00:26 #20233
Pete.
Participant
@pete-2
A thread to share and ask for recommended suppliers and services
7 April 2021 at 05:31 #538466
Thor 🇳🇴
Participant
@thor
Hi Pete,

I have used Arceurotrade, Warco and Chester for some of the tools I have bought, and I'm satisfied with the products. For materials I have used M-Machine Metals and Engineering and GRLKennions.

Thor
7 April 2021 at 07:52 #538474
David George 1
Participant
@davidgeorge1
A few places to get services and tooling.

Firstly JB cutting tools ( Jenny) http://www.jbcuttingtools.com for turning and milling tools.

Secondly, bed regrinding and repairs etc Unislide grinding http://www.unislidegrinding.co.uk/lathes/

Thirdly, Tuffsaws for band saw blades for any saw or made to measure. https://www.tuffsaws.co.uk/.

Fourthly, Rotagrip http://www.rotagriponline.com for chucks jaws and other tooling is a great resource for information as well.

Another place for screws bolts threads etc is Spalding fasteners metric, imperial small and large sizes. https://www.spaldingfasteners.co.uk/about-us/

David
7 April 2021 at 08:34 #538489
V8Eng
Participant
@v8eng
Chronos, Arceurotrade, RDG and Myford have given really good service to me during lockdown.

I have to give a mention to RS and their brilliant ongoing high level of service (order by 20.30 and it turns up next day). They are not specialist ME suppliers but a look at their cat will show lots of stuff for our hobby.

I have no connection to any any of these companies just a satisfied customer.

Edited By V8Eng on 07/04/2021 08:35:30
7 April 2021 at 09:24 #538497
Nigel McBurney 1
Participant
@nigelmcburney1
I use Arceurotrade excellent service, for ER collets and 3mt tooling for my mill, Rotagrip for chucks ,soft jaws,,Dickson toolholders, backplates,etc Screwfix for known branded power tools at good prices,, GM tools Ashington Sussex,bought lots of new/used tooling ie taps dies chasers lathe tools,lathe chucks,faceplates used machine tools.The last three I have used for over 30 years.
7 April 2021 at 09:35 #538501
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Pete. on 07/04/2021 00:26:21:

[…]

I'll start it off by recommending a company called D & J WORKHOLDING

[…]

.

Thanks for the link Pete

The website is a little sparse … but this page says a lot: **LINK**

http://djworkholding.co.uk/aboutus.htm

Duly bookmarked

MichaelG.
7 April 2021 at 09:47 #538504
Dr. MC Black
Participant
@dr-mcblack73214
Posted by V8Eng on 07/04/2021 08:34:10:

I have to give a mention to RS and their brilliant ongoing high level of service (order by 20.30 and it turns up next day). They are not specialist ME suppliers but a look at their cat will show lots of stuff for our hobby.

Edited By V8Eng on 07/04/2021 08:35:30

I was told by somebody at RS (which I still think of as Radiospares) that they no longer have a catalogue – so I stopped buying things from them.

Have they now reintroduced it?

MC
7 April 2021 at 09:55 #538506
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by MC Black on 07/04/2021 09:47:05:

.

I was told by somebody at RS (which I still think of as Radiospares) that they no longer have a catalogue – so I stopped buying things from them.

Have they now reintroduced it?

MC

.

I don’t think so … but the website is superb : **LINK**

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/

MichaelG.
7 April 2021 at 10:53 #538516
Douglas Johnston
Participant
@douglasjohnston98463
Posted by Pete. on 07/04/2021 00:26:21:

I'll start it off by recommending a company called D & J WORKHOLDING

They can have collets for obscure old machines made, and supply high quality kit, I just bought from them an 18pc 0.005mm max runout er32 collets of German manufacture, branded Fahrion, they're so finely ground they look chrome plated, turned up at my door the next day, and they are very helpful if you need any help.

Hi Pete, that source you mentioned for ER collets looks interesting but I notice the website does not give any prices. If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for the set you bought ?

Doug
7 April 2021 at 11:20 #538519
Dr. MC Black
Participant
@dr-mcblack73214
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 07/04/2021 09:55:08:

Posted by MC Black on 07/04/2021 09:47:05:

I was told by somebody at RS (which I still think of as Radiospares) that they no longer have a catalogue – so I stopped buying things from them.

Have they now reintroduced it?

MC

I don’t think so … but the website is superb : **LINK**

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/

MichaelG.

Web-sites are fine if the man who wrote it uses the same term for the item as the potential purchaser.

With a paper catalogue, one can look through the appropriate section and see if any illustrations ring bells.

Printed catalogues for me all the time. I appreciate that other readers may have different views (especially if they are under 70!)

MC
7 April 2021 at 11:29 #538521
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
I am approaching 72 … and have no difficulty navigating the RS site

Do please give it a try

MichaelG.
7 April 2021 at 11:59 #538527
mechman48
Participant
@mechman48
I have used:

ArcEuro, Chronos, RDG,Tracy tools, JB tools, Screwfix, DRO, Warco, Toolstation, Eccentric Engineering, plus many others on eBay without any issues. Usual disclaimer applies.

George.
7 April 2021 at 12:19 #538532
Stuart Munro 1
Participant
@stuartmunro1
ArcEuro and RGD are my main sources but recently I bought some milling bits from ACCU – good price good service – limited range of machine tools but worth going to for mill bits at least.

Stuart
7 April 2021 at 12:44 #538534
DrDave
Participant
@drdave
My go to company for most milling cutters is Cutwell. And MSC can have tools at a respectable price in their monthy “Flyer”.

Dave
7 April 2021 at 13:02 #538536
Nigel Graham 2
Participant
@nigelgraham2
Yes – I can vouch for most of those already named, as ones I have used. Most of my insert-tooling is from JB.

Also…

Tony Griffiths' excellent Lathes.co site, for information, manuals and accessories, and its second-hand ads section .

ToolStation – possibly more useful for engineering than is Screwfix, but I have used both. Among other things, TS stocks limited ranges of bandsaw blades, arc-welding rods and MIG wire, quite a wide range of metric fastenings and PPE.

Modelfixings is aimed particularly at our model boats and planes brethren, but is very good for small-diameter, mainly but not only metric, fasteners and many other items for physically-small work.

Bearings R Us – transmission products.

Newton-Tesla has sold me no less than four 3ph-motor and VFD drive sets. (For my Myford 7, Harrison L5, Myford VMC mill and BCA jig-borer) –

– while the mill also sports an Allendale's (Machine-DRO) 3-axis DRO set.

Locally, Townsend Bearings, in Bridport (W. Dorset) stocks or are agents for a wide range of engineering items and consumables, but unfortunately the shop catalogue on its web-site seems have been broken for quite a while. It also offers a shot-blasting and plastic-coating services to private and trade customers.

Not far from Townsend's, is Bridport Foundry, who now produce the Stuart castings.

Cutwel – cutting-tools. I thought when I first found their name that this is a trade-only firm (as RS used to be), and indeed most of its range is for modern industrial, CNC-led manufacturing; but I have seen it recommended by other users on this forum.

'

It's also interesting to see what's available for at least workshop even if not necessarily model materials, from retailers outside of the obvious.

E.g. building hardware (studding, brackets various, etc.) .

The flexible "conduit " adding protection to my mill's DRO signal cables are lengths of caravan sink waste-hose from a camp-site shop (normal service temporarily suspended): I needed that diameter, about 32mm, to thread the sensors through. The saddle-clips made for that tube hold it to the machine. I think the same shop also sells medium-diameter copper tube and fittings, for caravan gas-fitting, but potentially useful for larger-scale steam models; plus a fair range of awning-pole and other materials that with a little imagination…

…..
7 April 2021 at 14:53 #538547
Harry Wilkes
Participant
@harrywilkes58467
Posted by V8Eng on 07/04/2021 08:34:10:

Chronos, Arceurotrade, RDG and Myford have given really good service to me during lockdown.

I have to give a mention to RS and their brilliant ongoing high level of service (order by 20.30 and it turns up next day). They are not specialist ME suppliers but a look at their cat will show lots of stuff for our hobby.

I have no connection to any any of these companies just a satisfied customer.

Edited By V8Eng on 07/04/2021 08:35:30

Myford and RDG are spiteful as such I cannot recommend them, I gave them negative feedback due to an ebay purchase as they didn't not respond to my complaint so they blocked me from further purchases no way for a reputable company to behave

H
7 April 2021 at 15:17 #538550
Bernard Wright
Participant
@bernardwright25932
Harry W, I've used RDG for several purchases, in general they are quite good, BUT I purchased a 'Precision' Universal Vice from them, due to an illness at the time didn't use it, over a year later I tried to put it into use, only to find it was so badly machined, with the base at least 0.050" out of flatness with its mating surface.

I contacted RDG and spoke to their boss whom pointed out it was over a year since purchase and wouldn't do anything about it, other give me a pair of magnifier goggles in recompense, not very impressed so say the least.

I duly re-machined all surfaces and lined up the degree dials, replaced the the very poor bolting arrangement.

In the end re-purposed the swivel base for the Universal Workhead on my Clarkson, that is now truly 'Universal'.

Moan over, I can recommend 'Zoro Tools UK' , free P&P over £20 with some very good deals, they are the discount arm of 'Cromwell Tools'.

Also can recommend Cutwel, had two pleasurable trips to Cleckheaton, ordered ER50 Collets at an exceedingly good price a couple of hours earlier, they were in a bag in their Goods out office on arrival, brilliant.

Edited By Bernard Wright on 07/04/2021 15:18:00

Edited By Bernard Wright on 07/04/2021 15:24:27
7 April 2021 at 15:34 #538555
Allen Norris
Participant
@allennorris97892
In addition to those mentioned I would add Tracy Tools who have given me very prompt service for taps and dies, drill bits etc. and Macc Models who I have found very useful for materials.
7 April 2021 at 16:04 #538559
Harry Wilkes
Participant
@harrywilkes58467
Posted by Bernard Wright on 07/04/2021 15:17:16:

Harry W, I've used RDG for several purchases, in general they are quite good, BUT I purchased a 'Precision' Universal Vice from them, due to an illness at the time didn't use it, over a year later I tried to put it into use, only to find it was so badly machined, with the base at least 0.050" out of flatness with its mating surface.

I contacted RDG and spoke to their boss whom pointed out it was over a year since purchase and wouldn't do anything about it, other give me a pair of magnifier goggles in recompense, not very impressed so say the least.

I duly re-machined all surfaces and lined up the degree dials, replaced the the very poor bolting arrangement.

In the end re-purposed the swivel base for the Universal Workhead on my Clarkson, that is now truly 'Universal'.

Moan over, I can recommend 'Zoro Tools UK' , free P&P over £20 with some very good deals, they are the discount arm of 'Cromwell Tools'.

Also can recommend Cutwel, had two pleasurable trips to Cleckheaton, ordered ER50 Collets at an exceedingly good price a couple of hours earlier, they were in a bag in their Goods out office on arrival, brilliant.

Edited By Bernard Wright on 07/04/2021 15:18:00

Edited By Bernard Wright on 07/04/2021 15:24:27

Bernard

I do not have an issue with RDG but when Myford blocked me on ebay they also blocked me from purchasing from RDG as they are one of the same. And to be frank if Myford (ebay) had responded to my problem I wouldn't have had to loge a complaint with Ebay which they upheld and I recieved a full refund Myford would not even respond as to what they wanted done with the defective part ! The other thing that annoyed me was that Ebay would not force them to unblock me I wonder why
7 April 2021 at 22:49 #538615
Pete.
Participant
@pete-2
Well plenty of recommendations so far, thanks David for the bed grinding company, that's good to know.

Douglas, the 18pc 5 micron max runout set is currently £224+tax on offer which I thought was quite reasonable, the normal price is £280ish +tax.

Another business I use for welding gas Fosse gas a small family run business, he has a small warehouse in his back garden, he now offers a service where you can buy a 10 litre gas bottle for £95, no rental fees you own it, £30 a refill for argon or argon mix, I've collected from him in the evening and Sunday afternoon, very helpful guy, based in Leicester.

Edited By Pete. on 07/04/2021 22:52:56
7 April 2021 at 23:07 #538616
Pete.
Participant
@pete-2
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 07/04/2021 09:35:11:

Posted by Pete. on 07/04/2021 00:26:21:

[…]

I'll start it off by recommending a company called D & J WORKHOLDING

[…]

.

Thanks for the link Pete

The website is a little sparse … but this page says a lot: **LINK**

http://djworkholding.co.uk/aboutus.htm

Duly bookmarked

MichaelG.

Yes, unfortunately the website is a bit bare, they seem to respond very quickly to any enquiry.
7 April 2021 at 23:08 #538617
Bill Dawes
Participant
@billdawes
I have found that all the companies mentioned and more have given me excellent service, ARC are legendary, CUP alloys, Macc models, BA bolts for SS fixings, Lee springs,The mesh company, EKP supplies for case hardening compound I could go on and on, we are very fortunate in our hobby to have such a wealth of excellent suppliers.

Bill D.
8 April 2021 at 08:45 #538627
derek hall 1
Participant
@derekhall1
+ 1 for CUP Alloys. I agree with all the other companies mentioned so far, can I recommend Power Tools Direct who sell amongst other things genuine "Python" wooden file handles at reasonable cost.

In addition M Machine metals, Hemmingway Tools and Westfield Fasteners esp for stainless steel cap hd, grub screws, buts and washer of all sizes.

I agree with Bill D, we are fortunate indeed to have the support and expertise of suppliers for our needs.

Regards to all

Derek
8 April 2021 at 11:06 #538645
Bill Pudney
Participant
@billpudney37759
For an Australian perspective, Ausee Tools are good, as are LPG Toolmakers, Eccentric Engineering & E.J. Winter. RS Australia are surprising, free shipping!! CTC Tooling in Hong Kong have been excellent, their delivery times have improved recently as well.

In Adelaide most of my metal comes from either Surman Metals for cast iron and gunmetal or Bohler Uddeholm for specific grades of steel

My "go to" UK shops are Arc Euro, I don't know what they've done to their freight people but 4 days from UK to Australia is pretty spectacular!! Drill Service do top class stuff. Tracy Tools are excellent. I was disappointed to find that Cutwel Tools do not supply to Australia.

Finally the USA …..Little Machine Shop is good, MariTool are top quality suppliers of top quality cutters

Cheers

Bill
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