Wim Lewis writes:

In article ,
Harry George wrote:
I've just gotten into Amateur Radio, and am setting up a workshop for
homebrew. I understand my local radio club isn't much on homebrew.
Anyone in this area available to give me some pointers? Or maybe
there is a FAQ for this newsgroup?

Whoops. I wrote most of my reply, below, before noticing that the FAQs
do in fact have this information in them. These links ought to get
you started:

http://www.repairfaq.org/ELE/F_surpl...#SURPLUSUS_012
http://www.qsl.net/pnwvhfs/resources/vendors.htm

Since I've already written my own version of this information, I'll
include it:

I've already gotten some designs from ARRL sites and books, plus some
general web searching. I have Digikey, Allied, and Radio Shack
catalogs, but need "used parts" sources.

Let's see. You'll probably want to know about Vetco, in Bellevue; they
sell surplus parts of all kinds. Their stock got a bit smaller and less
eclectic when they moved into their current space, a few years ago, but
they're still worth visiting.

There used to be a Radar Electronics in dowtown Seattle, on Western,
which had quite a good selection of "electronics for industry"
(think a retail version of Mouser/DigiKey) as well as surplus
in the back. I gather they've moved up north and dropped the surplus
section, but they're probably still a good source for when you want
something today and are willing to pay the retail price.

I'm told that the surplus guy from Radar opened his own store, which
some googling reveals to be "House of Science"[1]. Also in that general
area is "The Old Technology Shop", which tends more towards vintage
audio gear, but can be good also[2].

A place not mentioned in the FAQ links above is the University of
Washington Surplus Property Auction[3]. Extremely variable, even moreso
than Boeing Surplus, but occasionally some good stuff.


[1] http://houseofscience.com/ (horrible page design, though)
[2] 7712 Aurora Ave North; I can't find a website for them
[3] http://www.washington.edu/admin/surplus/


Thanks, I'll check them out. I used to go to Vetco and Radar a lot.
I went to the old Vetco place (just off 520 past 405) last weekend and
found nothing (I see from the qsl webpage that it has moved, I'll try
to find it). Also, I went down to Radar on Western, saw their sign
saying moved to Bothel, went there, and found as you said that it is
no longer a surplus shop.

I go to Boeing Surplus sometimes for sheet aluminum, and to Everett
Steel and Pipe for mild steel. Hadn't thought of UW Surplus (I used
to work for UW Equipment Inventory Accounting -- wonder if any of the
old gang is still there).





--
Wim Lewis , Seattle, WA, USA. PGP keyID 27F772C1