UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > Components and Circuits

Notices

Components and Circuits For discussions about component types, alternatives and availability, circuit configurations and modifications etc. Discussions here should be of a general nature and not about specific sets.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 9th Apr 2019, 10:46 pm   #1
ColinK!
Triode
 
ColinK!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 12
Default Component Suppliers

Struggling a little to find online component suppliers that will supply just a few components as opposed to having to buy 100 or 1000 (RS) at a time! Any thoughts, I'm currently using www.cricklewoodelectronics.com
ColinK! is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2019, 11:00 pm   #2
bikerhifinut
Octode
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK
Posts: 1,993
Default Re: Component Suppliers

RS online will usually supply "one offs". It's just a bit of a chew on sometimes finding the listing of the component, so you have my sympathy there.
Cricklewood are a good reliable supplier in my experience and for one off purchases probably as good as anywhere.

A.
bikerhifinut is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 7:26 am   #3
Diabolical Artificer
Dekatron
 
Diabolical Artificer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK.
Posts: 7,637
Default Re: Component Suppliers

There are the big three - Farnell/CPC do most components in ones or two's, but CPC often sends incomplete orders with components arriving months later and you need to spend £20 ex VAT at Farnell to get free postage. there is a similar handling fee at CPC. The other big dealers are Digikey and Mouser, but stock comes from the states, however delivery is fast from Digikey - next day, free postage on orders over £30. Never ordered from Mouser.

Then there's Rapid who are pretty good, but for one off bits Ebay is pretty good, but stuff costs more (and some stuff is counterfit), after all most vendors get their components from the big three, then bung their cut on top. Still, sometimes if you want a couple of 5w resistors say, in a rush Ebay is pretty good.

Andy.
__________________
Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.
Diabolical Artificer is online now  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 8:49 am   #4
Craig Sawyers
Dekatron
 
Craig Sawyers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 4,941
Default Re: Component Suppliers

Agree with all those sources. Regularly order from Mouser - free delivery over £30, and they deliver quicker than Farnell. Farnell have definitely gone off the boil regarding delivery.

I think Mouser and Digikey have European distribution centres. I seem to recall that Mouser's is in Germany.

I have trade accounts with both Farnell and RS (as a sole trader) so I neatly sidestep the delivery charge regardless how small the order.

Craig
Craig Sawyers is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 8:55 am   #5
Paul JD
Pentode
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Coventry, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 220
Default Re: Component Suppliers

A few other suggestions:-

http://spiratronics.com/

https://www.bitsbox.co.uk/

https://www.hotroxuk.com/ - Mostly guitar amp related but good for capacitors etc.

http://www.jellyfishaudio.com/ - Good for capacitors, their yellow axial film caps are ideal for vintage radios and very reasonably priced.
Paul JD is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 9:13 am   #6
'LIVEWIRE?'
Rest in Peace
 
'LIVEWIRE?''s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton)
Posts: 7,306
Default Re: Component Suppliers

The only time I ordered anything from Mouser, delivery, IIRC, took about a week, and the parts were sent via a distribution center in France via, again, IIRC, a rather roundabout route. Never ordered from Digikey so cannot comment on them. Mostly I use CPC (Postage free if you have an account with them, and order over £10.00 worth of items, Cricklewood & Rapid Electronics.
'LIVEWIRE?' is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 9:14 am   #7
MrBungle
Dekatron
 
MrBungle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
Default Re: Component Suppliers

I like bitsbox myself. Dirt cheap, almost always next day delivery and low quantities. https://www.bitsbox.co.uk/
MrBungle is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 9:41 am   #8
GrimJosef
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,310
Default Re: Component Suppliers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig Sawyers View Post
Agree with all those sources. Regularly order from Mouser - free delivery over £30, and they deliver quicker than Farnell. Farnell have definitely gone off the boil regarding delivery.
I agree about Mouser - very quick (a few working days typically) given that they're shipping from the USA.

But I'm surprised about your Farnell experience, especially given that we only live a few miles apart. I make a few orders a month and if I get the order in before about 18:00 I can't remember the last time it wasn't in my hand 20-22 hours later. They went through a phase a year or two back where (physically) very small orders were sometimes sent Royal Mail 1st Class. That often took 2 days and sometimes more. But it's been a while since I've had anything from them that didn't come via UPS.

Cheers,

GJ
__________________
http://www.ampregen.com
GrimJosef is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 9:48 am   #9
barrymagrec
Octode
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,552
Default Re: Component Suppliers

I have always found Mouser very reliable with 2 day delivery. RS always next (working)day.

Farnell rather more variable - sometimes 17.30 order - next day at 0900, other times, particularly if the order is on Friday for a Monday delivery it skips a day and comes Tuesday.

I also have trade accounts with RS and Farnell so can avoid small order charges.
barrymagrec is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 9:49 am   #10
Station X
Moderator
 
Station X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,192
Default Re: Component Suppliers

This thread may be of interest:-

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=55701
__________________
Graham. Forum Moderator

Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.
Station X is online now  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 11:55 am   #11
Terry_VK5TM
Nonode
 
Terry_VK5TM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,324
Default Re: Component Suppliers

I regularly order from Mouser and enough for free delivery, usually arrives in 4 days, shipped from Dallas.

Not bad when you consider things posted in Adelaide 200km away can take up to a week to arrive.
__________________
Terry VK5TM
https://www.vk5tm.com/
Terry_VK5TM is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 12:43 pm   #12
Oldcodger
Nonode
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 2,181
Default Re: Component Suppliers

I suppose I'm lucky in having a RS place a mile away, so it's order today and pick up tomorrow. But for those with no depot on the doorstep ,postage under their limit can be expensive. Problem with RS is minimum quantity. Takes a bit of trawling through the catalogue to find least number of items. Not too bad if it's for a project, as the common items are always useful in future .
Oldcodger is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 2:49 pm   #13
John10b
Nonode
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
Posts: 2,869
Default Re: Component Suppliers

If you want pots with switch, vintage type, a company called Blore Edwards, based in South Wales, can supply, tel. 01685882043, or just search for name.
Cheers
John
John10b is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 2:56 pm   #14
Station X
Moderator
 
Station X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,192
Default Re: Component Suppliers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldcodger View Post
But for those with no depot on the doorstep, postage under their limit can be expensive.
Open a trade account with them. I just made up a company name and did so with no problems. I pay by debit card.
__________________
Graham. Forum Moderator

Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.
Station X is online now  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 4:06 pm   #15
ITAM805
Nonode
 
ITAM805's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 2,172
Default Re: Component Suppliers

RS for me, next day free delivery with an account. That said, I use eBay for most small quantity components. Spiratronics and Cricklewood both have stores on eBay.

As per post #5, I also occasionally use Hotroxuk and Jellfishaudio, the latter is sometimes very slow to post though
ITAM805 is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 7:10 pm   #16
G6Tanuki
Dekatron
 
G6Tanuki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,951
Default Re: Component Suppliers

I get a lot of stuff from RS - not the cheapest but next-day free delivery means I don't need to hold so much of an investment in 'dead stock' parts.

[Does anyone apart from me look at a stash of unused components in drawers etc as a non-tax-offsettable non-wealth-creating loss?]
G6Tanuki is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 7:21 pm   #17
turretslug
Dekatron
 
turretslug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,385
Default Re: Component Suppliers

Of low intrinsic value (metals content) and possible increasing liability with tightening environmental and disposal legislation....
turretslug is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2019, 8:18 pm   #18
G6Tanuki
Dekatron
 
G6Tanuki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,951
Default Re: Component Suppliers

I've used

Arrow: https://www.arrow.com/

Aspen: https://www.aspen-electronics.com/

Rutronik: http://www.rutronik.com/

and RF-Shop https://www.rfshop.co.uk/

for stuff in the past. Many of these are not cheap but they've got proper traceability of parts, which is important if you're providing any kind of warranty on your work.
G6Tanuki is offline  
Old 14th Apr 2019, 12:45 am   #19
ColinK!
Triode
 
ColinK!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 12
Default Re: Component Suppliers

Many thanks for all your suggestions. I didn't realise there were so many component suppliers still around. I must admit that I've been a little sceptical of some of the suppliers on the net, many only seem to be able to supply certain values which makes me wonder if they have old stock that's been sitting around for years. I'm going off now to explore some of your suggestions.
ColinK! is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 7:35 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.