I thought it might be a good idea to start a quick list of all our favourite sites for building materials around the world. No components or tools, I'm talking sheets of this and rods of that. Good things to put here would be: Metals Sheets of aluminium, steel, whatever else... Rods of aluminium, steel etc. Those aluminium bars with plastic connectors Anything else Plastics Plastic sheet Acrylics Foams Plexi Perspex Polycarbonate Resins and Fibreglass Epoxy resin Fibreglass Other (maybe safety equipment as well actually) Anything Else Things like mesh, tubing etc. I think such a post would be of great benefit, and if we get some good links, maybe sticky it in the future. To get the ball rolling: UK Plastics: The Plastic Shop: http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/ Brilliant source for reasonable priced plastics of all types. (Sorry if such a thread already exists. I couldn't find one, even when I used the search.)
I'd really appreciate it if there's any place in the US to get (relatively) inexpensive carbon fiber. Just the fiber, I believe you can use regular 2-part model airplane epoxy?
bringing this back from the dead a bit. Where do people get their spray paint etc. from. I had a look on a few vendors websites but asking people in the know is usually the best bet. Also bondo!? I could contribute a place to get Mesh. WCUK sell it in 500x500 mm squares
Wahey Cool. Spray paints can be found on a number of websites, including art and craft sites and car parts stores. My favorites however are found on eBay. Shops such as: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CAR-ACCESSORIES-R-US_Spray-Paints_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ15QQftidZ2QQtZkm sell a selection of paints and primers. The search also brings up results for Candy paint and pearlescent paints which can also be found here (for all our airbrush enthusiasts): http://www.thecustompaintshop.com/Shop Areas/cat/Paint+-+Auto+Air+Colors When I can't be doing with the wait for delivery however, I pop down to the Motosave down the road (or Halfords) and pick up a few cans of whatever. Things like Krylon can also be found on eBay. I went out on a search for bondo once but apparently its not sold in the UK. However, in Halfords, I came across something called Isopon P38, which is an easy-to-sand filler, much like bondo, and does the same job perfectly.
Halfords is the shop I was desperately trying to remember the name of! I knew they sold this kind of stuff. I will look for "bondo like stuff" when Im out an about. Im thinking of doing a project on a CM690 (after practicing on some older cases of course)
ah I forgot about ScrewFix! My dad is an electrician so uses them a lot. Will take a peek in the catalogue
McMaster Carr is excellent for US modders. They have mesh, alum, steel, and various shades of cast acrylic. Performance-pcs.com is a good source of AC Ryan supplies, including nice 3mm UV acrylics. For extruded alum channels and the such, the easiest place to purchase is from the local hardware store. It's not exactly easy or cheap to order 6-8ft lengths to be shipped, and smaller length are typically costlier. In addition to Tap plastics, I keep hearing good things about Delvies.
What about custom acrylic etching in the States? I'm not planning to use etched acrylic any time soon, but it's one of those things that can be filed under "good to know."
this is going to sound a bit stupid but ... Sandpaper in packs of different levels of coarsness (right wording?) but anyway, I've looked a few places and none of them seem to do "variety packs" Edit: or at least not in the variety I want. I think I need to pop down to my local DIY store sometime soon. Edit 2: uneeded now, I realised I should stop being so lazy, it's not all about internet shopping!
Anyone know any quality powdercoating and anodizing service providers in UK? And what prices roughly should i expect? Also, does anyone happen to know how military firearms are treated to achieve that nice black look? What metals can it be applied to?
If you speak to marcus000 he will be able to help as he does a powdercoating service. He can also do custom watercooling loops, anodizing and laser cutting. heres a link to pm him http://forums.bit-tech.net/private.php?do=newpm&u=33292
The OCZW boys do a powdercoating service for a fairly good price. They anodize as well. http://www.overclockerzwatercooling.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=6 You could also try: http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=86&osCsid=a5uq0bocu0riuivlba9pa9h297 They do custom etching as well. Prices for powder coating a whole case start at £85.00 The black gun colour is quite cool, quite matte, not glossy. In a sense it appears to be the colour of the metal itself rather than painted, so maybe anodising might work? M-16s are made of aluminium... Custom cars also do it: So airbrush paints might be available... EDIT: might it have something to do with metal flakes?
Now that's a beautiful car. and the color is exactly you described. i looked at gunmetal color paint, but it just doesn't have that smooth finish
