Reading material

[greatbear]

Catalogs. I got a million of 'em. I receive catalogs from companies and outfits I have never heard of nor done business with. Everything imaginable it seems. If one were to gauge who I am by my favorite catalog, they'd either know me very well or think I am some sort of weirdo. Where some people's favorite wishbook might be from Sears, Neiman-Marcus, Williams-Sonoma, Cabelas, etc, mine happens to be from Grainger:



Grainger is an industrial supplier. Everything imaginable, from air compressors, pumps, motors, plumbing, tools, electrical, paint, etc. Their catalog is a six pound plus tome of more than 4000 pages. Over the years, I have bought countless things for the garage, home, workshop, as well as for work and my garage sidebusiness. I find it slightly odd that me stepping into a Grainger branch is not far removed from that Shoes video that infiltrated Livejournaldom. Is it so wrong that an impulse purchase might need a forklift?

What's your favorite 'wishbook'?

Comments

[jrjarrett.livejournal.com]

"These tool rock.

These tools suck.

These tools suck.

THESE tools suck!"


Hehe, I'm pretty partial to the Parts Express catalog, myself.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Or as I call it, "Part Sex Press".

[liftinmoose.livejournal.com]

I think mine would be xtreme geek...

[aadroma.livejournal.com]

My favourite "wishbook" as a kid was the Service Merchandise catalogue. Yeah, some of the toys were cool, but I was always asking for computer equipment out of there. I think I was the only 7 year old that wanted an Okidata colour printer as a present ^^;;;;

Nowadays I don't have a catalogue, and that kind of depresses me ...

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

They've got an online catalog, but although that's a great way to find an exact replacement for any electrical motor ever made on planet Earth, it doesn't carry with it the satisfying feeling of browsing through the pages. And THAT is a completely different experience from shopping in the store itself. Although the storefront is small (leaving room for the mammoth warehouse in back) they always have great sales on gloves, electronic testing equipment, small tools, etc. And it seems that every time I go in a store, I see some hotter 'n hell construction boss picking something up.

It's like three completely different stores in one.

My favorite catalog is the Campmor catalog. Everything you'd ever want or need for camping, and then some. Or maybe it's the Parts Express catalog, where you can buy speaker components dirt cheap. Or TigerDirect, for cheap computer components, or.. Geez,I'd better stop now. I'm getting short of breath.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's something about that book. It's like a bible. Online just doesnt cut it, and the book works much better in the bathroom.

It's been ages since I bought anything from Parts Express.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I miss Service Merchandise, and most stores like it. There used to be a chain called Best Products, which was very similar in the products carried. What set them apart, though, was the bizarre architecture of some of their stores. No two were alike, and many were very cool. One store nearby had it's entire front propped up on one corner and leaning against the building. Another had the front torn away and sitting about ten feet from the building. Others looked like they were crumbling, incomplete, or just completely 'unique'. I guess such were the 70s.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

You are an extreme muscle geek. And that's a good thing.

[liftinmoose.livejournal.com]

geek who fantasize having a butch physical job ROFL

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Let's see here. The Grainger book is terrific, of course, but also:

•Northern Hydraulics (believe they're calling themselves just "Northern" nowtimes)

•Digi-Key

•McMaster-Carr

•Duluth Trading Co

•The 1979 Marchal lighting catalogue, and my collection of 1960-1976 Mopar factory parts catalogues (for those times when I wish I had a time machine)

[sfmini.livejournal.com]

For years I had a great need for Grainger. I even had an open account with them, at least at the local store. Their catalog was the first place I looked for lots of things.

Not so much a need for them, but I remember when they were a big part of my life.

[notdefined.livejournal.com]

Northern Hydraulics!! That catalog is freaking dangerous! I've not seen one in years and had to hide my wallet. All sorts of things in there that I want but don't need.

[notdefined.livejournal.com]

I love the Grainger catalog, but haven't seen one for some time. It was like it used to be the first time I went into Heck-ingers (remember them?) before the yuppies took over. Danthered mentioned the Northern Hydraulics catalog, I actually got to go in one of their stores. I nearly had to be dragged out of it kicking and screaming! Better than a toy store. That is not to say I would not get lost in a Gurney's, Stark Brother's or kitchen appliance catalog. :)

[jacked01.livejournal.com]

I like Granger but i will say ordering from their catalog is a pain in the ass, you have to know EXACTLY what you need and god forbid if you see something that looks similar

Grainger

[kneescar.livejournal.com]

I've leafed through the Grainger calaog for hours here at work. I have # 396 I think it's the current one. I don't look at it much anymore, as I use their website to order now. Lab Safety, their sister company is an equally entertaining catalon. They send me a hardbound, glossy beauty of a catalog. I've always wanted to order one of those silver space suit looking fire suits, but I think the office manager might baulk at the $1,100 Price tag.

Duluth Trading Company

[kneescar.livejournal.com]

They had me with their gloves to begin with.
Now I can't tell you all of the tool bags (Don't say Man-Purse!!) that I have from them.

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

I'm smacking my head for not thinking about this right off. My two favorite catalogs of all time have to be Summit Racing and Jegs. I couldn't have a decent crap without sitting down with one of those.

[bearwad.livejournal.com]

dick blick art supply catalogue...the big yearly edition.

and i have to say...if my was really dick blick...and i started a company...i might call it something else.

but what the heck, they've been successful for a long time.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I admit it, the IKEA catalog ranks high up there with me too.

Re: Grainger

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

There is a #397 now. Get yer update on! ;)

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Such is the case when there is so much to pick from. Admittedly, they make it easy to research for the most part. Especially things such as motors, blowers, plumbing and electric stuff. It's not perfect, but they list enough specs to make informed decisions.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I got a new Northern catalog earlier in the week. As usual, it took up residence in the bathroom for a while X-D

Hechingers had it's ups and downs, but, yeah, the yuppie influence wrecked them for good. They tried to compete against Homo Depot by expanding the stores and product lines, but they could not match them, and sadly lost out.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Specialized is cool, they are one of the several tool suppliers that we use at work. All those companies have books full of color pictures of tools are time wasters for me and a few others there.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Big boy toys, for sure.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

What blows me away is how fast they can ship something. I was after some stuff just before the store closed. They needed to ship a couple things to me since there was nothing locally at the four nearby warehouses. The stuff showed up at my front door at 10 am the next day.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I had gotten the new Northern catalog on Monday. They must know what I want for xmas.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I havent gotten anything from Jegs in a while, so the catalogs dont show up as frequently. Summit sent a new book earlier, and today had a supplement in the mail.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Demolition Architect?

[sfmini.livejournal.com]

Their clientele have job sites running and the whole job might be shut down for one item. It's very much a MUST have it now business. Great bunch of helpful guys too!

[liftinmoose.livejournal.com]

more like a forest firefighter or a residential home builder!

Re: Grainger

[kneescar.livejournal.com]

I think my boss has the newest one. I always get his when the new one comes.

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

I've been scouring the catalogs, but I can't find what I need. Maybe you'll know someplace I can look. I need a right-angle adapter to a 700-R4 speedometer gear drive. The tranny is so tightly wedged in the transmission tunnel that the cable has to make an unholy bend where it screws into the casing. This puts undue stress on the cable and breaks it.

Any ideas?

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I know they exist, but for the life of me I cant recall any source for them. In a similar situation few years back, I used a ratio converter to offset the cable for the same reason. I had to put the 'wrong' speedo gear in the tranny to make up for the difference the converter added. The converter was something I had laying around, and it allowed the cable to come in just a bit lower to clear some bump or reinforcement in the trans tunnel.

If I am not mistaken, there are also variants of output shaft housings for that trans that can be swapped to put the speedo gear in a different location, but dont hold me to that.