[sdiy] Favorite (American) Parts Suppliers

[TIm Daugard]

From: "Tim Parkhurst" <tparkhurst at siliconbandwidth.com>
> Excellent! Thanks for the list of good suppliers. I was getting sooooooooooo
> tired of the "radio shack sucks / woe is me / all the good parts are gone /
> DIY is dead / it's all the f***ing cell phones fault" thread!!!!

Actually I started this mess. The original statement was Radio Shack has parts
on sale. The flyer they mailed in my local area said all the parts in the
cabinets were at 50% of marked price (rounded down no less). I went in to one of
the stores and then confirmed it with the manager.

I then bought the parts that are cheap at Radio Shack - their bulk packages of
LEDs, LDRs, and the 500 resistor assortments. Mouser is the same price or
cheaper on the resistors but the bulk pack give me the odd value resistors I
only occasionally need. If I find that value bin empty too often then I buy two
hundred from mouser.

I also bought fuses - no huge bargain, put at 50% okay. My favorite push button
switches that must be made by someone, but I haven't found the manufacture. I
forgot to pick up the bulk pack of germanium diodes, if they still carry them.

Even at half price, Mousers ICs are still less expensive.

And yes that list of suppliers is awesome. I was just on Big Bears website
earlier today. I haven't bought anything from them. If I ever do anything with
BBDs I may get them there.

Tim Daugard
30.4078N 86.6227W