Thread: How to buy Nuts and bolts

I gave Bunnings and co the flick long ago. Around here I don't think Economy Bolts
can be beaten.

Originally Posted by coongoola

Ace Gutters at Mortdale, I remember them well.

Bingo, probably pays for the upkeep of that Rolls or Bentley that always used to be out front!

Back on topic, can't say I've ever bought nuts and bolts from Bunnings. If anything like the auto parts store mark-up on blister packs I've resorted to in times of desperation, I'm sure the several hundred percent margin covers any thievery several times over. Probably not doing them any favours, when I've been down that way, Industrial Fasteners in Mortdale as well, has been kind to me for small quantities.

That idea will never take on

Bunnings mitre 10 and all the rest will lose too much money...they need to make us buy more than what we need ...
blister packs make unit costs dearer and therefore they make more $$$...I really cant see them giving us cheaper goods without a fight

Originally Posted by eskimo

That idea will never take on

Bunnings mitre 10 and all the rest will lose too much money...they need to make us buy more than what we need ...
blister packs make unit costs dearer and therefore they make more $$$...I really cant see them giving us cheaper goods without a fight

Totally agree. After all they are there to make money and I think they do that quite well. I've been trying to get this concept across to my step daughter, that no company is set up to sell/produce goods. They are set up to make money for the share holders and they do that by producing and/or selling goods.
I've noticed, on the very odd occasions when I have bought fasteners from Bunnings, that a lot of them are packaged in odd numbers. Like 5 or 7. Geez, how often do you need 5 or 7 bolts/nuts/what ever? It's usually even numbers for me.

Sounds like I'm having a bad day doesn't it?

bollie7

Originally Posted by bollie7

I've noticed, on the very odd occasions when I have bought fasteners from Bunnings, that a lot of them are packaged in odd numbers. Like 5 or 7. Geez, how often do you need 5 or 7 bolts/nuts/what ever? It's usually even numbers for me.

The ones I buy always have one or two less individual items than the number I need so I generally have to buy one more packet.

Originally Posted by eskimo

That idea will never take on

Bunnings mitre 10 and all the rest will lose too much money...they need to make us buy more than what we need ...
blister packs make unit costs dearer and therefore they make more $$$...I really cant see them giving us cheaper goods without a fight

It is not only that. Some European countries have introduced laws already 30 years ago, to the effect that customers have the right to unpack goods in store and leave all unwanted packaging behind for the store to dispose. Or unpack at home and drop the empty packaging back into the store. Since disposing of packaging is expensive, these crazy blister packs and glossy cardboard packs have almost vanished.

An example of not enough screws for the job and the reason as explained by a guy in a hardware store. Bought two standard butt hinges, each with three holes per side so need 12 screws. At the time the screws were in packs of ten. Ask the guy why ten per pack and not twelve. Oh that's because their metric packs. ###! Wonder how many would be totally confused if you asked for a gross of something?

Nev.

Damn, they sold me the wrong hinges I wanted metric hinges so they should only have 5 holes right?

Living out in the sticks I try to buy big packs where I can so I have plenty left over for other jobs. None of this popping down to the store for me. Thats only when I run out of whisky.

GTS in Mt Gambier, where I have been caught out buying stuff before has a range of bolts and nuts at prices that are often way below other stores. I am a tight asre so I often compare and for a big purchase I will check everywhere. Their range can be a bit variable but in recent years it has been more consistant. They sometimes have old stock of stuff really cheap. They are a disposals type of store. I am soon going to need a large number of long bolts to finish rebuilding my cattle yards. About 10 posts and 7 or 8 rails on each post. About 150 bolts or so bolts etc about 150mm long, 12mm diam. I have made a lot of things including another set of yards using bolts I made from 1/2inch and some 12mm galv rod which had a thread on the end. I have just about run out of this tho. Did I mention I am a tight asre? We don't make any money or claim tax from this work so it all comes directly out of our pockets.

Dean

dean if you want to be a real tightarse about it and can afford to wait, buy your fastners off ebay. I go through a lot of M10x40 grub screws, it is half the price to buy them off ebay.uk and pay the shipping than buying a box of 100 locally.
same goes for helicoil inserts which i also buy a lot of.

I use Tower fasteners at Marrickville, family owned and keep or can get most stuff.
I had to buy a quantity of stainless nuts and bolts so got a website quote from Backwoods and then rang Tower.
Tower were way over but I needed them tomorrow not over a month in dribs and drabs and then chase the invoice to head office. I told Tower the price diff and they did the bolts for a few cents more and the nuts cheaper.
I guess they didn't want to lose the sale and knew we were cash payers. I've also used the Nut House at Parramatta years ago and they were good.
H.

Just beware of cheap stainless steel fasteners. A friend of mine bought a 9m diam antenna from China and a few weeks after he assembled it he had to take part of it apart and he found the stainless had galled together so badly he had to cut the fasteners to get the antenna apart.

Originally Posted by andrew_mx83

dean if you want to be a real tightarse about it and can afford to wait, buy your fastners off ebay. I go through a lot of M10x40 grub screws, it is half the price to buy them off ebay.uk and pay the shipping than buying a box of 100 locally.
same goes for helicoil inserts which i also buy a lot of.

I have done that but EBay sellers carry a limited range from what I have been able to obtain. I got 1000 SS screws from EBay just because they were much cheaper in that number. I had already bought 300 from same place but used them up. Now I have about 900 left. I have got grub screws and cap screws from UK as well. I buy a lot of tek screws for roofing etc in 50mm. I have not yet found them in packs of 1000, or at a comparable price to local hardware.

So I do usually have a look first but I am not always successful.

Dean

Found this today, local online store
Bolts Nuts Screws Online |bolts-screws-decking screws-rivets-stainless steel-socket head cap screws- Stainless Steel-High Tensile bolts-screws-socket screws-decking screws and rivets Phone 1300 589 836

not sure about the prices but more than just nuts and bolts.

And they seems to be very proud of some their screws quality

"Due to the many critical areas where socket head cap screws are used failure could or can be catastrophic and potentialy life threatening, it is for this reason any socket products purchased from bolts nuts screws online are of the highest quality available.Our range of socket products is very large in both stianless steel socket products and high tensile alloy and stainless steel. Head types consist of countersunk/flathead, button head, socket head and grub screw. All available for purchase directly from this website."