Looking to buy materials, get services or get something done that isn't available at the PRL?
Here is a list of suppliers and service providers.
P.O. Box 54960, Los Angeles, CA
(562) 692-5911, (562) 641-2800
Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Saturday 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Even if you don’t buy your metal, plastic, tools, screws, fasteners, etc. from McMaster, definitely use it as an encyclopedic reference. Sells and tells you about nearly everything you’d want to use in the machine shop or welding room. Pros: has an amazing selection and is a good material reference. Cons: Takes time to ship, kind of expensive.
505 East Bayshore Road, Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 369-2526
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Nearby metal supplier, has stacks of material of all kinds. They sell by the pound, it’s expensive by weight but being able to have it cut to just the right amount often makes it cheaper than McMaster-Carr.
875 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 327-7222
Monday - Friday 7:30 am–8:00 pm, Saturday - Sunday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Great for small quantities, last-minute purchases, and easy access. Basic wood, small pieces of sheet metal, hinges, and fasteners sold by the box or by the screw. (don’t buy your hinges, clasps, or other hardware there) 7 minute bike ride from the PRL.
312 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 962-8430
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Plastic, plastic, plastic. In all forms, colors, shapes, sizes. They cut to size, so like Alan Steel they can be cheaper than McMaster-Carr.
40 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070
(408) 297-9663
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm (open till 8:00 Th), Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am -5:00 pm.
Great for small chunks for turning or single planks of interesting wood. Expensive in large amounts. Also sells wood tools.
1402 Monterey Highway San Jose, CA 95110
(650) 631-9663
Monday - Friday 8:00 am-6:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Lumberyard, quality wood at larger volumes. Nice plywood, planks, etc. with a good selection of exotic woods too.
392 S. California Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 424-1044
Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am - 5:30 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Pretty disorganized, but friendly help and decent prices. Be sure to ask for the student discount.
267 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-3500
Monday - Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm (open till 7:00 Th), Sunday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Carries all sorts of art supplies, drafting equipment, markers, paints, picture frames and framing supplies.
(800) 344-4539
Huge electronics parts company, with live online help in case you can't find something you need.
340 Portage Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 496-6000
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Best Buy’s slightly insane cousin, who insists on always wearing leather chaps and a cowboy hat.
1355 Shoreway Road, Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 592-8097 or (800) 831-4242
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm.
Call in your order and pick it up an hour later... or show up, place your order, and wait 15 minutes while they fill it. They carry pretty much everything electronic.
435 San Antonio Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 948-5300
Monday - Saturday 9am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 6pm
Fabric, sewing supplies, thread, notions, buttons. Huge.
146 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 392-2910
Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 6:00pm
This is it in terms of fabrics around here. These folks have it all. And we mean ALL. The staff is super helpful and will cut swatches of any fabric.
6052 Foster Road,Paradise, CA 95969
(800) 946-8452 or 530-872-3021
Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 4:30pm, Friday 9:00 am - 4pm
3722 SE 21st Ave.,Portland, OR 97202
(503) 232-8887
By appointment
Sells a huge variety of glass and supplies. One of the best glassworking resources in the country.
1781 E Bayshore Road,East Palo Alto, CA 94303 and 1125 Old County Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 462-6800 or (650) 592 - 9200
Monday - Saturday 6:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sunday 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
The basics
now only online
(650) 386-6962
P.O. Box 796, 126 Second Street, Oakland, CA 94604
(510) 832-0355
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, closed 12:30-1:30 for lunch.
Clock and watch parts, too.
436 South Airport Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 589-3966
Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
They also do sand and beadblasting. Very nice guy.
2140 Davis Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 562-1107
Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
One of the best all-around places for aluminum and steel. Their prices are good, but they're a little far away. They have a ferrous and nonferrous yard as well.
30551 Huntwood Ave, Hayward, CA 94544
(510) 441-6600
360 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 326-9285
Monday - Friday 7:00 am -5:30 pm, Saturday 8:00 am -5:00 pm
House paints, wood finishes, spray cans -- krylon. Somewhat expensive, but close and complete.
1177 Laurel Street, San Carlos, CA 90407
(650) 593-4788
Monday - Friday 8:00 am -5:00 pm
Automotive lacquers, fillers, sandpaper, tools. Great selection, will mix colors.
2250 Zanker Road, Suite B, San Jose, CA 95131
(408) 432-3800
Monday - Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Variety of plastics, delrin, styrene, lexan, polycarbonate, ABS, sheet and tube. Great prices, and are usually more than willing to give away sheets of PETG + styrene that are scrap to them but perfect for vacuum forming."
2250 De La Cruz Blvd. Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 748-1489
Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
Large diameter PVC. 20' lengths only, $2.00 to $3.00 / cut.
255 E Brokaw Road, San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 436-5464
Seals, O-rings, Oilite Bushings, Plastic Bushings, Snap Rings, Rubber tubing, thread adhesive (locktight) Sometimes not too helpful, and frequently enforce minimum quantities.
1190 Kern Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085-3907
(408) 470-1710
Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Huge catalog and great web site for just about any part you could need.
210 Phelan Avenue, San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 275-1990
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Saturday 8:00 pm - 12:00 pm
Wood - hardwood and softwood. Great selection, good prices, nice people.
134 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 948-1089
Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 5 pm, Saturday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Decent selection of woods, and wood finishing supplies (oils, sandpapers, etc.). If you're looking for hardwood, drive the extra few miles to Minton's Lumber down the street.
78 Lindbergh Ave., Livermore, CA 94551
(800) 811-2009
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
5316 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
(888) 724-7587
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm Central
Lots of miscellaneous science stuff. Cheap. Look here for any random kind of stuff. Great website with hilarious descriptions.
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