Harrogate show

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

Yesterday I made my first visit to the Harrogate show. Apart from the hike from the main road I was suitably impressed, especially with some of the superb engineering on the club stands. I have been retired for just over a year and have only just started the model engineering game, although I was trained in all the basics at A.E.I. in Rugby, on leaving school.

I was somewhat astounded, if not dismayed at the prices on some of the trade stand for miniscule packs of nuts and bolts. I realise these are oddball sizes and “they don’t make them in the quantities they used to”, but even so I find the prices horrendous. I have sets of metric taps & dies from12mm down to 1mm and these are all I am likely to need , although I do have a few B.A.  UNC, and imperial size taps from long ago.

I recently got ripped off by a national DIY chain, where I paid £3.80 for 10 (yes  ten) M5X12mm csk machine screws + nuts which I needed urgently. Enough! I have since found a small independant supplier in Leeds who sold me the same items for £1. Need I say who gets my future business.

 

  

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

praise and whinges

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

I visited today.

I found that the turnoff from the A1 had been changed, so I lost my way briefly.

Anyway, it was superb!   I got to inspect the lathe I might choose when I retire in a year’s time, and a look at some superb models.   I talked with a gentleman from SMEE about stationary engines and models thereof, bought a video and marvelled at the flying model of an American jet fighter with a six-foot wingspan, powered by two miniature jet engines and weighing about 85 lbs.   The ship models were wonderful, and the steam models and railway engines were great.   I liked the Stirling Single that one lady had bought as a present for her husbands 30th birthday.   What a great present!

I discussed small lathes with another customer on the Warco stand, and admired the Myford lathes on offer.   Regrettably, my budget doesn’t stretch to them.

 

Next year I may be in a position to buy something substantial.

 

Regards

Geoff

[keithmartParticipant @keithmart]

Hi Anthony,

Is your nut and bolt supplier just off the Armley Gyratory?

That is where I go. A very useful shop

Regards

Keith

Leeds UK

[Nigel HydeParticipant @nigelhyde97004]

I also really enjoyed my time at the show and spent far to much money!!!!(haven’t told the misses yet!)  I am also on the search for reasonably  priced nuts and bolts

who is this supllier in leeds? and what do trhey stock?

 

cheers Nigel

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

Hi

 

For nuts & bolts etc the following 3 sources might prove useful and fairly cheap:

GWR Precision, Aruncas and Cornfield Engineering. They are available on ebay with buy now sales and certainly GWR offer free post on their bits. Admittedly its not like going into shop to buy one or two things there and then, but if you want some stock of common sizes then its fine and there is no fuel cost or drive time.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards

 

 

Martin

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

Hi Keith (and anyone else who might have an interest)

The shop I found is located at number 384 York Road. This is on your left as you travel towards the city centre, just before you get to the White Horse pub, before the Lupton Avenue flyover. It used to be called “Intro Industrial Supplies” although I believe it has changed hands. I have had a selection of different metric screws, bolts, nuts etc. from there, as well as various drill bits and a 3 to 2 MT sleeve. Dont know if he has any old stuff (imperial or BA) but he might have some old stock, you never know your luck.

 

regards Tony

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

just for interest “Ripon Engineering Supplies” at Ripon, North Yorks are very good and helpful. They are a veritable treasure trove for bits ‘n bobs.

 

Helps that I work in the city and [pass it on the way in of course….

 

I know the place you mention in Leeds very good and most helpful too.

 

I had a grewat Harrogate but am still finding credit card receipts ! Bought a couple of drill chucks in the belief I had not got one that went to 16mm (   WRONG AGAIN) Still they’ll come in useful and don’t need chuck keys. Mind you I bought 2 spare chuck keys as well…

 

Hope to meet you all next year!

 

Ian

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Two companies I’ve used that supply all sorts of fixings including hard to find sizes. Plus lots of other stuff.

 

 

http://www.ahc-camberley.co.uk/

 

http://www.ekpsupplies.co.uk

 

 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 23/05/2010 18:16:44

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

I buy regularly from EKP so can also endorse them.

 

Can I ask anyone who went to the Harrogate show if they remember which small company were demonstrating laser cutters?

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Laser cutting, was it Model Engineers Laser?

 

http://www.modelengineerslaser.co.uk/

Edited By V8Eng on 26/05/2010 19:55:00

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

   I believe the company was from York, and in front of either the South Road Steam or Maxitrack stand.Maybe either of these companies could help, or maybe the show organiser, Lou Rex, who may have listed them in the show guide ? Feel sure I collected a card from their stand, buy afraid I cannot find it at the moment. Ah, the pleasures of getting old!!

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi There

HPC Laser

 

They did an A4 laser for around £1,000.

Will cut wood and most plastics but not metals.

I have one on my future purchases list.

regards David

 

Edited By David Clark 1 on 27/05/2010 08:18:08

Edited By David Clark 1 on 27/05/2010 08:19:21

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