Maker materials - in-house is best, but a good local supplier helps
When making something from scratch, there's no substitute for having what you need on hand - except maybe a well-stocked, nearby store.
Thanks for reading the free Friday stories from Science-Fiction-Create. This one is yet another installment on making. Stay tuned for future science and sci-fi stories. And soon - videos! Not a subscriber yet? Don’t miss out on anything SciFiCreate - join today.
Approx. 1000 words; five minutes read time.
As a maker, I many times create things without a set plan. The materials available to me, and tools I have dictate what I build and how I build it. Looking at stock, whether in my stacks or at a neighborhood supply store, always helps me imagine what is possible.
Creating in The Lab (my shop) is a lot more efficient when I have what I need on hand. But when my stock is lacking, I must go online or venture out for more. Web shopping can be convenient if I know what I’m after. But sorting through options is best done in real life.
Perusing the aisles of art, electrical, hardware, hobby, and similar stores is not only helpful but can also be a real joy. I like to see all that's available and make mental notes on what I can use now and in the future. These “building blocks” are the foundation of custom creations - they're what makers use to make dreams real. Most useful are those sections of raw materials - aluminum, steel, plastic, and wood. And well-stocked bins of nuts, bolts, screws, and electronics components, all help to inspire.
The Lab is starting to feel like a supply store itself, with an increasing amount of essentials on hand. The more I have, the less I find a trip to the store worth it, no matter how fun it might be. But my materials are far from exhaustive and I still need the occasional in-store visit, even during the quarantine.
When I do venture out, picking the right place is more important than ever.
The leading big box hardware stores are okay for basic needs. If I want a new shop light or lumber to build a shed, then "Orange" or "Blue" will work fine. Yet, these stores aren't geared towards unique creative endeavors. Instead, they favor bulk, off-the-shelf applications for commercial and home use. And they are almost always crowded and often pretty messy. Both make me uncomfortable.
The small, "mom and pop" supply stores are far better in almost any circumstance. For one, supporting small businesses keeps local economies going. And these are the places that understand the unique needs of customers like me. Best of all, they are often less crowded than chain stores, a factor that helps with easing the COVID-19 fears.
I've known a few fantastic small-scale maker sources over the years. In Cincinnati, back in my teens, a friend Jamie (a great model builder) and I would frequent Boardwalk Hobby Shop in Mt. Lookout. This little maker store had everything we could need or want as young creators.
I've found other awesome maker spots in various towns I've lived. In Sarasota, Florida, there were several superb metal and plastic supply stores. And in St. Louis, one of my favorite haunts was an old-school electronics parts place called Gateway.
Everywhere it seems, there is at least one place that will make a maker feel welcome and understood.
I’ve been on the lookout for maker resources here in San Diego. While there are a few good electronics and hobby stores, I wasn’t finding what I needed in general hardware. But recently I visited Dixieline Lumber and Home Centers and was pleasantly surprised. The company, a regional group of five stores, turned out to be an unexpected local option for maker stock. While not a true locally owned business (I believe they were bought by a larger corporation), Dixieline retains that small town appeal.
The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside their Escondido store was how clean it was. I mean clean. The floor was spotless, and the aisles and merchandise were in perfect order. It looked like a movie-set version of a hardware store. I'm not exaggerating. It was tidier than an Apple Store, and the place made me feel welcome.
A kind woman at the front kiosk greeted me, so I thanked her through my mask and continued inside. The shelves were not only neat but also filled with diversity. The tool section had a marvelous selection of name-brand equipment.
Optimistic, I headed to the hardware. There, I found a nice but not exhaustive assortment of nuts and bolts. What was exceptional was how orderly everything was. It was as if a KonMari adherent had swept in moments earlier to ensure every joy-making nut and bolt was as it should be. The wooden dowels - same. The metal stock was all equally organized.
Dixieline was probably one of the best hardware store experiences I've had in years. Going inside felt like walking back in time. And not the real past but that idyllic, fantasy past we all wish had been true.
As for my supply, I will keep building it up, piece by piece. Things I frequently use, like fasteners and plywood, are easy to keep on hand. Same with electronic components. For these, I always have more than I ever need. It doesn’t hurt to have extras, with anything really, so long as there’s space to store them - and a way to keep track of it all.
Stocking up on maker materials has me thinking about the radical inventory I proposed in my Monday post. I do need a better system to keep track of things. But until I pull that one off, I will keep stuff as logically arranged as possible. Even if I have to search a bit in The Lab stacks, it saves more time than heading out to shop - or waiting for a delivery. But it’s nice to know a good option exists locally, when I need something extra.
Let the making commence. Science. Fiction. Create.
JRC