Help! Where do you get your supplies?

[Adam H]

A couple of you may have seen me trolling around on here hijacking threads with a "hey I'm workin on one of these too!" because I apparently lack original thought .

Anyway, I'm pretty new at this so I don't really have many standard places to get supplies for projects, but I heard the one art store I've been able to find casting supplies at (Pearl Paint in Manhattan) is shutting down and last time I went it looked like they were selling off stock so I do believe it's true.

Online orders for other things from both Dick Blick and the Maker Shed have had a 0% complete success rate. Errors every single time (most of them small, but it is getting ridiculous). I'm at the point where I'm about to just google random places and try ordering from there but before I do that, do any of you guys know of good places I should try?

I'm pretty much gonna be up for everything except costuming and paper props so places for models, casting stuff (I mostly do resin casting but it'll really depend on what I need for the project, so different mold materials and end materials would be appreciated also), whatever is fine, I just need to know where to look and what to look for there. Thanks.

 

[JPolacchi]

Douglas and Sturgess is an art supply here in S.F that has a huge range of casting&mold making supplies.I believe they are still in business.It would be all mail order for you since I gather you live in NY?Another you can try is Tap Plastics.Look them both up on a google search.There are probably many others,but those are two I know that do good business.

 

[parabellum]

you can fine a lot of information on sculpting forums like
http://www.theclubhouse1.net

epoxy putty for sculpting
http://www.avesstudio.com/

Silicone mold rubber
http://www.smooth-on.com/

these are well known

one thing about rubber and resin is that they have short shelf life.
so order just enough amount for your project.
smooth on has starter kit, that includes little bit of everything, that you
can experiment with and get used to the materials.

and for balsa wood, flywood, brass rod, tubes, stylene stuff
http://www.towerhobbies.com

not the cheapest, but wide selection.


this company carries some interesting stuff
http://www.bare-metal.com/

including Por-a-kast line of Poly-Eurethane casting resin.

 

[WookieeGunner]

I've orderred casting supplies from http://www.theengineerguy.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?display=home a couple of times and have had great service both times.

 

[division 6]

I've bought from Tower Hobbies as well.

Micro Mark
Squadron
Mega Hobby
CultTVMan
Starship Modeler
Great Models

 

[Mostly Fantasy]

I get urethane for casting from Hapco, BJB Enterprises, Innovative Polymers, silicones from Freeman Mfg. and Silicones Inc., clay from Chavant, epoxy putty from Aves, Sculpey from Polyform products. The urethane suppliers also carry related items, such as spray release, pigments, etc.

 

[Fireball Joe]

The Engineer Guy in Atlanta, GA. Best customer service in the Western Hemisphere!

www.theengineerguy.com

 

[The Kreator]

I'd also like to recommend The Engineer Guy. I've placed many orders with them and every time I've had fantastic customer service. Incredibly fast turn around times, and they have a great selection of products and brands - pretty much anything you'd need. Best of all, they actually know their products! So you can ask technical questions and get good answers.

 

[WookieeGunner]

Yep, and more importantly, I asked them a question once and their response was "Yeah, we sell this product to do that but honestly you can do it just as well by going to Wal-mart and buying this much cheaper product."

 

[Coffee Addict]

I've orderred casting supplies from http://www.theengineerguy.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?display=home a couple of times and have had great service both times.

Totally agree! I've been buying from Nelson (the Engineer Guy) for over 5 years and always received great service and product. I've also just started using Tower Hobbies for some things and they have been great too!