Eigenvector wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
.. .

Hi all,

as you may know I've recently moved into a new house and I've been
scouting the local hardware stores trying to find the good places to buy
stuff. Being a car guy i'm in the habit of always using Grade 5 hardware,
since that's generally the minimum grade used in an automotive application
(and yes, I do use Grade 8 or 12.9 whenever that is what was originally
used.) I always used to buy hardware at a local auto parts store that
would just sell me full boxes of pik-a-nut stuff and thought no more of
it. If they didn't have what I needed I'd go to a "marine fasteners"
store whose standard hardware was stainless or Grade 8.

Now I find in my new location that when I go to the store the stuff in the
general bins is always Grade 2; the Grade 5, if they have it, is in the
little slide out drawers. Is the use of Grade 2 hardware really common?
From my perspective, I never see it used.

Sidebar question - do any of the chain hardware stores keep fully stocked
pik-a-nut racks, or do I need to find a new independent to get friendly
with? In my area I have Advance, Autozone, Pep Boys, and a local chain
called "Fairfax Auto Parts" (the best of the lot, comparable to NAPA but
my local store is a small one.)

nate

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The chain stores have decent odds and ends for bolts and nuts and whatnot.
Originally that's why I started going to Eagle Hardware (now known as Lowe's
of course). Lowe's still has decent stuff, although it did take a pretty
big hit when Eagle got bought out.



My local (misnomer, it's 20 miles away) Lowes doesn't have a great
selection of Grade 5. It's all in those little bagged 3-packs and stock
is not good. Home Depot is closer but the same situation. I meant to
say chain auto parts stores in my original post...

nate

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