Hardware anxiety

[Spyros]

I find hardware is a constant source of stress (I can hear you wallet makers laughing now LOL)

But I'm often stuck not being able to finish a project because I'm missing a particular size loop or dee or something silly like that.  In an ideal world I should be able to walk around the corner and grab what I need like you do with screws and sandpaper, however in this world good bag hardware is actually not easy to find, and sometimes I have to wait weeks because what I need happens to be in China (or worse, in Australia, but sold through some 1990's website that is missing  all essential info like proper photos, dimensions, descriptions).   And then before I order I run endless lists on my mind for days because if I forget something I'm stuck in the stupid situation where I'm missing a 1 inch roller buckle therefore I have to either change the width of the strap or I can't start that bag at all for another 3-4 weeks. 

At some point out of frustration I went on a shopping spree and ordered anything that looked potentially relevant, and now I'm stuck with a shiny pile of various obscure shapes and sizes that I'm probably never gonna use.  I guess it's really not a problem for many of you who make batches of things, that's probably easier to plan for, but I make prototypes and singe piece custom jobs and I need to have some liberty to make design changes as I go without having to plan weeks in advance for every rivet.  

What is your hardware buying strategy?  Do you guys also find it difficult to keep stock of everything you might need or am I the only idiot?

[chuck123wapati]

nope i'm an idiot too! lol

 Living in a out the way place i have exactly three stores i can go look in before ordering on line. All are hardware or feed stores that carry a very limited supply of anything meant for leatherwork or anything else for that matter. So as I rummage through life I have collected tons of hardware for everything from automotive to wood working to leather piled up all over. On top of that my wife used to buy "HUGE LOTS"  to resell from ebay didn't matter what lol. Need a few thousand little white buttons for shirts?  My strategy is to buy anything i run across that may someday work out for something LOL I figure it'll give the kids something to do when I'm gone.

[Handstitched]

I always over order these days. I once only used to buy a ' few  of these, and a couple of those'  etc. But now I find I'm ordering stuff in bulk, buckles , rivets in the 1000's  etc.   Its a case of  rather having too much than not enough .  Nothing more frustrating than having one piece of h/ware, or some dye   short for a customer  order.  .   I  also buy stuff that , at the time , I don't really need, or I don't think I need , but  I buy it anyway, it may come in handy later. Some excess stock can be sold on at markets etc. You'd be surprised what people ask for sometimes.   So, no you're not an idiot  

HS

[toxo]

27 minutes ago, Spyros said:

I find hardware is a constant source of stress (I can hear you wallet makers laughing now LOL)

But I'm often stuck not being able to finish a project because I'm missing a particular size loop or dee or something silly like that.  In an ideal world I should be able to walk around the corner and grab what I need like you do with screws and sandpaper, however in this world good bag hardware is actually not easy to find, and sometimes I have to wait weeks because what I need happens to be in China (or worse, in Australia, but sold through some 1990's website that is missing  all essential info like proper photos, dimensions, descriptions).   And then before I order I run endless lists on my mind for days because if I forget something I'm stuck in the stupid situation where I'm missing a 1 inch roller buckle therefore I have to either change the width of the strap or I can't start that bag at all for another 3-4 weeks. 

At some point out of frustration I went on a shopping spree and ordered anything that looked potentially relevant, and now I'm stuck with a shiny pile of various obscure shapes and sizes that I'm probably never gonna use.  I guess it's really not a problem for many of you who make batches of things, that's probably easier to plan for, but I make prototypes and singe piece custom jobs and I need to have some liberty to make design changes as I go without having to plan weeks in advance for every rivet.  

What is your hardware buying strategy?  Do you guys also find it difficult to keep stock of everything you might need or am I the only idiot?

You most certainly are not. Just last week I bought a THIRD rotary hole punch, a clicker handle and 7 blades, a better strap cutter, a whole bunch of short stemmed double cap rivets got thousands of the damn things but fed up with the stems folding over cos they're too long. Trouble is I can only get small heads with small stems. Who does short stemmed big head rivets? A bunch of extra small buckles for luggage tags, some large chrome plated rings for a couple of bags and a shed load of leather but when the prices are good you gotta do it.

[Spyros]

Ok, phew

[JayEhl]

Probably not the best resource for bulk purchases to answer your question but I've found small one off ideas and solutions from our local Salvation Army thrift stores and the like.  We have several of these not far.   I just buy the belt or whatever pretty cheap (can even negotiate at the counter).  I'm not a fan of garage sales but went to an estate sale and hit the mother lode.  But that was just luck.  

[Frodo]

i might regret saying this.+  because this company is on this site from time to time

I buy the grab bags from springfield leather  I have not bought a d ring or round ring , concho or 1''.3/4''  buckles in over a year

 

[Dwight]

I have a habit of kinda ordering and keeping what I have experienced that I needed.

Now I do have a couple small drawers full of "stuff" . . .  but by experience . . .  I know what I sell . . . so I know what to buy.

And that way . . .  I'm never in any kind of "inventory" problem for the most part.

Works for me anyway.

May God bless,

Dwight

[kgg]

4 hours ago, Spyros said:

What is your hardware buying strategy?

Sometimes I may only need a few of something but for a few dollars more I can get 50 so I will buy them as I will probably use them at some point. In these weird times if you find an item whether it is hobby related or not I buy more then I need because with my luck the next time I need one there will be none available. This morning I needed some dishwasher powder as I was almost out. I went to Wally World and they had none but our independent super market only had 5 so I took 4.  My POS  BOSH dishwasher only likes one brand and only likes powder. 

kgg

[sbrownn]

I buy what I need for each project series from Buckle Guy; it arrives in a couple of days and the hardware is top quality.