I'm new to this stuff, and one of the first things I'm wondering is where to source things like ICs, diodes, capacitors, etc. Online is an option, obviously, but is there anywhere that doesn't charge several times the cost of an order to ship, and/or take a week to deliver? I don't want to hold up a project for a week for a 2 cent resister I'm missing. I do live within 30 miles of a major city (Boston), but I don't even know how I would find a retailer. If I search online for "electronics" I find all the places that sell audio equipment, etc.
Radio Shack has a small selection of parts. I don't know if there are any "good retailers" any more. Certainly, no brick-and-mortar retailers have the selection & inventory that Digi-Key has. I live in Silicon Valley and I still buy online! There are 3 or 4 Fry's Electronics stores within about 5 miles of where I live. These are large stores the size of Home Depot! But, there are only a couple of isles of components. They are more interested in selling TVs, computers, phones, and refrigerators. If I need a keyboard or a monitor, Fry's is great. If I need an IC, it's hit-or-miss.
I have driven 20 or 30 miles to get parts, but not recently. I used to drive about 20 miles to Jameco for will-call pick-ups, but, I wouldn't want to drive into a big city like Boston (or San Francisco, or L.A., etc.) where it's congested and you have to pay for parking, etc.
Online is an option, obviously, but is there anywhere that doesn't charge several times the cost of an order to ship, and/or take a week to deliver? I don't want to hold up a project for a week for a 2 cent resister I'm missing.
Plan ahead. Bundle your orders. Buy extra parts. When I'm starting a project, I'll usually place one or two orders for everything I think I'll need and I almost always buy extras of everything in case I burn-up a part. Then, I usually end-up placing at least one more small order where I'm trying to figure-out what I can add to make a minimum order or to make the shipping worthwhile.
Sometimes, it helps to keep a list of things you might need, that you can add to your next order... Things like small tools or soldering iron tips, wire, heat shrink tubing... Or, maybe you're getting low on 1k resistors, 0.1uF capacitors, etc.
I don't want to hold up a project for a week for a 2 cent resister I'm missing.
If you want it the next day, it's only a matter of money! I usually go with the cheapest shipping. But last week I needed something for work and I paid twice as much as the cost of the part for overnight shipping... A $10 item cost me $30.
Like I said, Jameco is not far from me so if I can get it from Jameco, UPS ground or the Postal Service is only 1 or 2 days. Digi-Key is half-way across the country, and sometimes it takes nearly a week.
A quick google shows several other people have asked the same sort of question on other site and a little digging I found this that from there products page look like they have the basics you might need though like most shops they wont sell everything so you will need to resort to online shopping at times. eBay is good and normally cheap if you look hard enough though you may suffer the several week delay in getting the part you need. In the UK I have found a couple of ebay sellers that sell Farnell components. The part is always more than I could buy direct from Farnell/Radio Spares/Mouser but for an odd item it's worth it as no OTT deliver costs for small orders and they usually arrive within a couple of days.
YouDoIt Electronics in Needham, MA.
Highland Ave exit off 128, heading eastward. Turn Left at the Hess Station, YouDoIt is a little ways down on the left. Entrance faces the highway, while the driveway is along the back of the building.
Address: 40 Franklin St, Needham, MA 02494
Phone:(781) 449-1005
parts, sparkfun stuff, tools.
I only supply components as part of a complete kit.
dptdpt:
I'm new to this stuff, and one of the first things I'm wondering is where to source things like ICs, diodes, capacitors, etc. Online is an option, obviously, but is there anywhere that doesn't charge several times the cost of an order to ship, and/or take a week to deliver?
I always like to recommend surplus electronics parts suppliers as an alternative source for hobbyists; while I wouldn't rely on them for "mission critical" or for sourcing for parts for an item being sold, they can be a great way to build up a hobby stock, within certain reason.
One place I found in the Boston area (google "Boston Surplus Electronics"):
I don't know if they are online only, or if they have a walk-in store; call 'em and find out.
I personally prefer the following surplus vendors; I've had good success with them over the years:
Some of them can be hit-or-miss on prices; you typically won't find such places to be cheaper than the "drop-shipped-from-Shenzhen" Ebay vendors, but then again you'll get it quicker (something I should also note - many of those Chinese vendors on Ebay have US based warehouse supply - usually thru Amazon, so when you google, check the "US" or "North America" only checkbox to make sure there isn't a vendor with the same product shipping from state-side (maybe for a few pennies more).
What you will find with surplus vendors is variety and novelty - it's always something new and interesting (especially for gear motors). A few other vendors that I have heard good things about (but not used):
http://www.herbach.com/ (these guys are fairly vintage and have been around since I was a kid!)
Be sure to check these vendors sites thoroughly; some offer things called "surprise boxes" or "surprise packs" - for instance (I'm ref'ing goldmine because I am most familiar with them):
Basically consider them low-cost "floor sweepings" (generally not literally) - I have mostly found that you can usually get enough parts in such a box to make it worth the cost and then some, many times. Just be prepared to spend more than a little time sorting the parts if you do buy them.
Some of these supplied also have "project packs" - basically smaller versions of the surprise offerings, but centered around a single category - for instance this random IC box:
dptdpt:
I don't want to hold up a project for a week for a 2 cent resister I'm missing.
The best thing to do is to build up a stock of "common components" - commonly used resistors, transistors, diodes, LEDs, capacitors, etc. Those surprise and project packs I mentioned can help, but sometimes it can be best to just browse various projects and/or books centered around what you are doing (in this case, it would be the Arduino) - to get an idea/feel for what you need or want in your stock. Then buy a bit gradually, but also make sure that when you go to buy something special for a project or such, to purchase a bit more to go into your general stock. You'll also need to come up with a way to store and organize these parts (everybody has a preference - what I have personally found is that the best thing to do when purchasing organizational solutions is to make sure to buy many of the same type and style as you can - so that everything matches and integrates - then label everything so that you can easily tell what is what; don't just throw everything into a box and call it done).
Ultimately - you should build up a collection - most of us who have been doing this for any length of time have more than one "junk pile" of parts or components; we tend to collect and tear apart old electronics for the parts and such (and don't discount the mechanical components either!). The only time we purchase new components (from places like Digikey or Mouser, for instance) is when we either need a part that is fairly "new" (and not a surplus item), or when we need a part that we absolutely know is "brand new" - ie, for something critical or such.
dptdpt:
I do live within 30 miles of a major city (Boston), but I don't even know how I would find a retailer. If I search online for "electronics" I find all the places that sell audio equipment, etc.
Key words would be "electronic component distributors" or "electronic component vendors" - or the like. Something else to keep in mind: Since you live need Boston, you are near the hub of a few prestigious tech places - like MIT. As such, there is more than a bit of cast off and such tech, electronics, and robotics floating around the area, so that stuff should be easily available to some extent. Take a drive around, and talk to people; there might be some place out there not advertising online - only by word-of-mouth - that is an absolute treasure trove of interesting or crazy stuff.
Ultimately - you should build up a collection - most of us who have been doing this for any length of time have more than one "junk pile" of parts or components; we tend to collect and tear apart old electronics for the parts and such (and don't discount the mechanical components either!). The only time we purchase new components (from places like Digikey or Mouser, for instance) is when we either need a part that is fairly "new" (and not a surplus item), or when we need a part that we absolutely know is "brand new" - ie, for something critical or such.
FYI, we realize that you if you are asking that question, you're not there yet.
I can hardly remember the last time I needed to buy a part. I think it was a mosfet, but I buy those 6 at a
time anyway. Hardly anyone buys just 1 of anything. I started with arduino a year ago and stopping buying
stuff about six months ago because I have too much stuff already. I buy spare stepper motor drivers in case I blow one. I buy ATtiny85s by the dozen and usually 6 of any chip I order. I bought 6 ATmega328s
with OPTIBOOT (ok, that WAS overkill but they were only $5 each).
Thanks everyone! Lots of great advice here. I will definitely check out YouDoIt, too. I forgot about them. I am a software guy, but worked at a company 30 years ago where we built some of our own boards, and I think our EEs used to buy stuff there.
I usually go with the cheapest shipping. But last week I needed something for work and I paid twice as much as the cost of the part for overnight shipping... A $10 item cost me $30.