High(er) Quality Consumables

[Odd-job]

Since joining GJ 5+ years ago not only have I upped my game in tools, but have also started slowly investing in higher quality shop consumables. Please help me up my game in this area What's the good stuff?!?

 

[rebelranger]

Where did you get the GRK screws? Those are so hard to find, but truly top notch.

Ditch Energizers and go Lithium.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Just curious what is the low friction lubricant for? Is it like anti seize? As for quality fasteners I just go to Ace Hardware and get various nuts and bolts. Zip ties and cotter pins are Harbor Freight I don’t need fancy lol . Can’t beat the price or quality of either of those items there.

 

[LopezBart]

Ancor has the best marine-rated heat shrink terminals I've found. 3M for electrical tape and adhesives; their black weatherstripping adhesive is the bomb, as is their VHB tape. Pipe fittings - Ward - made in USA. Valves - Apollo ball valves, Union Brass for more speciality stuff w/o breaking the bank. Often my goto for quality misc stuff is McMaster-Carr; so far it's always been at least acceptable. Rectorseal #5 pipe goo. Electrical gear - Square D QO.

 

[Odd-job]

Where did you get the GRK screws? Those are so hard to find, but truly top notch.

Ditch Energizers and go Lithium.

The last of my horde of GRK screws. Think I last bought them from Home Depot a while back and am probably going to go through sticker shock and denial when it comes time to buy them again.

Just curious what is the low friction lubricant for? Is it like anti seize? As for quality fasteners I just go to Ace Hardware and get various nuts and bolts. Zip ties and cotter pins are Harbor Freight I don’t need fancy lol . Can’t beat the price or quality of either of those items there.

According to fellow GJ members the Loctite LB8012 has a super high moly content and is good for ball joint press threads and what not. Haven't opened up the bottle to try. It was $30 for that tiny baby jar. Not sure if I am going to notice the difference with the typical marine grade grease I have been slattering over everything.

OOO you haven't discovered Ty-rap (aka Thomas & Betts) with the locking stainless steel tabs? They definitely enhance the zip tying experience especially with a zip tie gun. I am never going back to the cheap stuff now because they feel soo smooth. Luckily I haven't discovered superior cotter pins to the HF stuff yet

 

[Odd-job]

Ancor has the best marine-rated heat shrink terminals I've found. 3M for electrical tape and adhesives; their black weatherstripping adhesive is the bomb, as is their VHB tape. Pipe fittings - Ward - made in USA. Valves - Apollo ball valves, Union Brass for more speciality stuff w/o breaking the bank. Often my goto for quality misc stuff is McMaster-Carr; so far it's always been at least acceptable. Rectorseal #5 pipe goo. Electrical gear - Square D QO.

Will have to check out the Ancor heat shrink terminals the next time around. See they are made in the USA to boot. That 3m kits has doubled in price and is knocking on the door of $100 now so finding a slightly cheaper quality alternative is in the cards.

 

[csp]

Ditch Energizers and go Lithium.

Read the entire label on the Energizers. They ARE lithium.

 

[cmandp]

Where did you get the GRK screws? Those are so hard to find, but truly top notch.

Ditch Energizers and go Lithium.

Home depot and Lowe’s around here have them, a large selection. R4s, cabinet screws and RSS.

I don't bother buying expensive alkaline batteries. They all leak. Amazon basics have been great so far.

 

[nadogail]

The lowest priced consumables are often, but not always, the lowest quality.

 

[Odd-job]

The lowest priced consumables are often, but not always, the lowest quality.

hence 3M seems to be good at emptying my wallet lately

does anyone prefer singly ply toilet paper?

 

[LopezBart]

does anyone prefer singly ply toilet paper?

For marine heads, yes. For everything else, no.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Home depot and Lowe’s around here have them, a large selection. R4s, cabinet screws and RSS.

Menard's carries the GRK screws as well, but it would appear as if they are selling through their inventory of Stainless GRK screws. That said, their house-brand (Grip Fast) GRK knockoffs are available in stainless in a lot more sizes than they ever carried in GRK.

They appear to be decent, but I have yet to use them, so...

Jeff Bezos sells GRK, but their prices aren't that great. Menards has their bag sale going on now, so it's a great time to stock-up if you are so inclined.

 

[67drake]

hence 3M seems to be good at emptying my wallet lately

does anyone prefer singly ply toilet paper?

If you’re septic goes south, you’ll be loving single ply toilet paper.

 

[Odd-job]

If you’re septic goes south, you’ll be loving single ply toilet paper.

Ironically it did earlier this year. Still using the nice stuff. Hopefully one of the kids doesn't try to flush an entire roll down the toilet again...