DIY/MYOG Material Sources

[Exploriment]

This question gets asked periodically, so I thought I would compile a list of sources. This list touches broadly on "outdoors equipment." Packs, pouches, tarps, tents, sleeping bags, clothing and the like. Most fabric/sewing stores are great if you're putting a new cover on a cushion or making a halloween costume. Anything outside that scope is usually not worth asking about. To make your own lightweight underquilt or a military pouch or a hunting pack often requires shopping at specialty stores. 

Some of these vendors sell small quantities, some only large amounts; some are geared towards military stuff, some geared towards strictly civilian lightweight camping stuff; some are very specialized and some sell a broad variety of items. I have tried to give a little blurb about each place, noting anything out of the ordinary they carry, etc. Not a definitive description of the place, but I hope it narrows it down a bit for you.

Some of these places appear to have a web person on staff, updating frequently, and some appear to have a very static site that was set up a decade ago. Might not be a bad idea to contact the companies to inquire about their actual stock levels before ordering.

Some of these companies I have dealt with many times and will do so again. Some I have never had an opportunity to deal with. Inclusion on this list is not intended to be a recommendation or endorsement of any kind. I wouldn't knowingly include a firm with disreputable business practices, but you shop at them at your own risk. If you have any suggestions, additions to make to this list, praise for a particular company, horror stories about a particular company, I would like to hear about it all.

(You'll notice that there is no mention made of anything to do with leather or leather working. I have nothing against it, but I don't really know that much about it. I just stuck with what I know. But if you have suggestions, I, and I'm sure others are all ears.)

http://www.rockywoods.com/
(A very wide selection of stuff, quite broadly oriented. Navigating the site is fairly straight forward. Good company to deal with. Located in Loveland, Colorado.)

http://www.paragear.com/default.asp
(Anything parachute related, so a source for some more obscure stuff - metal hardware, critical applications, etc. Sell in small quantities. Located in Skokie, Illinois.)

http://store.jontay.com/
(Predominantly Milspec. Some things sold only by roll, some by the foot or yard. Cordura, webbing, hardware {metal and plastic}, hook & loop, zippers, thread {69#, 92#, 138#, 346#}. Located in Waycross, Georgia.)

http://www.ahh.biz/fabric_catagories/Camo_Materials.htm
(Camo fabric, mesh, clear vinyl, rubberized type fabrics (hypalon and the like), shock cord and elastic, hardware, some tools. Located in Sealy, Texas.)

http://www.seattlefabrics.com/
(Comprehensive assortment of fabrics, including upholstery and marine fabrics, hardware, webbing, zippers, some books and patterns, and machines. Located in Seattle, Washington.)

http://www.owfinc.com/
(Comprehensive assortment of fabrics, some metal hardware and zippers. Retail buyers receive wholesale prices if they buy 20 yards or more of something. Located in Caldwell, Idaho.)

http://www.therainshed.com/
(Fabric, hardware (nothing that exotic), cordage, webbing, some books and patterns. Located in Corvallis, Oregon.)

http://milspecmonkey.com/store/tactical-gear?limitstart=0&limit=50
(Nothing too out of the ordinary, but a source for some of the ITW-Nexus stuff, including the G-hook, sling swivels, etc. Located in San Jose, California.)

http://www.supplycaptain.com/
(Best place for paracord and accessories for lanyards and the like. Type 1 accessory cord and shock cord, as well as ITW Nexus hardware. Mark is a great guy to deal with. Located in Marlboro, New York.)

http://www.lighthound.com/Lanyard-Supplies_c_209.html
(Another source for paracord, the difference being that they are willing to sell it by the foot. A source of McGizmo clips, as well as small split key rings and skull beads. Located in Pearland, Texas.)

http://www.strapworks.com/
(The name says it all. Anything to do with webbing, strapping, ribbon. Rope, elastic, plastic and metal hardware, thread {92#}. Some Milspec, but largely civilian. Located in Eugene, Oregon.)

http://www.tnwebbing.com/
Broad selection of seat belt and Milspec webbing. Lots of colour choices. I particularly appreciate the chart with clear photos explaining some of the myriad Milspec webbing choices. Limited info on site - need to contact the company for more than some cursory details. Set up more for bulk orders than small hobbyist orders. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee.)

http://www.geraldschwartzinc.com/
(Sells only larger quantities, but I gather hardware can be sold in singles. Limited info on site - need to contact the company for more than some cursory details. Some of their selection is decent but limited {fabric, plastic & metal hardware} while other stuff is a bit more expansive {cordage I?ve not seen anywhere else, Milspec webbing, 6" wide Velcro}. Located in Tucker, Georgia.)

http://www.magnafabrics.com/
(Really great prices on an amazing selection of fabrics. Located in North Bergen, New Jersey.)

http://www.dj-associates.com/products.html
(Excellent selection of stuff difficult to find anywhere else. Servicing the aeronautics, aerospace, skydiving, military segment. $25 minimum. Located in Fort Smith, Arkansas.)

http://www.rosecitytextiles.com/
(Fantastic selection of high tech fabrics. Lots of Corduras, WPBs, fleeces, etc., etc. Located in Portland, Oregon.)

The following four are geared towards the light weight camping market:
http://www.questoutfitters.com/
(Terrific selection of material. Source for Nomex, Cuben, tent poles. Patterns and kits for backpacks, tarps. Hardware, zippers, thread. Extensive gallery of projects made by customers to inspire the viewer. Located in Sarasota, Florida.)

http://thru-hiker.com/materials/index.php
(Momentum, Pertex, Dyneema Gridstop, Climashield, down, Primaloft, very limited colour selection of cordage, hook & loop, grosgrain, webbing. Kits for a quilt and some clothing. Plans for projects. Articles and a forum. Located in San Francisco, California.)

http://www.backwoodsdaydreamer.com/products-page/
(This one has a hammocking slant, but certainly not limited to that. Supplier of Insultex. Some excellent tutorials as well. Located in Maine.)

http://www.bearpawwd.com/fabrics_misc/fabrics_misc.html
(Silnylon, several weights and colours of Cuben and Tyvek, but also fire resistant stove jack material. Good selection of poles and parts for poles. Few other odds and ends. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado.)

The following five are Canadian:
http://www.peakfabrics.com/
(Lots of high tech outdoor fabrics - soft shell, hard shell, fleece. Not certain if they sell just small quantities though. Located in Calgary, Alberta)

http://www.sundroptextiles.com/
(Geared more towards  householdy type stuff. Located in Port Coquitlam, B.C.)

http://www.discoverytrekking.com/fabric
(Lots of high tech outdoor fabrics - soft shell, hard shell, fleece, including nomex fleece. Colour selection has a bit of variety as well. They state up front that their supply may be somewhat erratic at times, so contact them to see what is on hand or can be ordered for you. Located in Campbell River, B.C.)

http://www.paccana.com/
(Seems geared more towards sewing clothing and home decor, but some outdoorsy stuff as well. Well rounded selection of items. Webbing sells in 5 yard increments. Velcro sells in 5 meter or 25 meter increments. Colour choices are often rather limited. Located in Calgary, Alberta.)

http://www.hudson4supplies.com/index.php
(Good website. Seem to cater towards larger manufacturers more than hobbyists. Hook & loop, some webbing, magnets, metal hardware {chicago screws, G-hooks, MASH hooks, metal quick release buckles. luggage items}, and plastic hardware (Snap-Dragons, Picatinny QASM Ramp}.  Located in Saint-Laurent, Quebec.)

The following four are located in Europe:
http://www.shelby.fi/catalog/default.php
(Some original patterns. Lots of high tech fabrics, and merino wool fabric. Most anything else you might want to MYOG. Very much a civvy slant. Easy to navigate website. Located in Oulu, Finland.)

http://www.extremtextil.de/index_en.html
(Extensive selection of fabrics, including Kevlar and Nomex, X-Pac, polyamide, Cuben, Dyneema, Aramid and carbon sailing laminate, merino fabric, Tyvek, neoprene, primaloft, Climashield, down - and pretty much everything in between. Located in Dresden, Germany.)

http://www.profabrics.co.uk/
(Terrific selection of fabrics and colours. The info on webbing is a bit sketchy. Source of harder to locate camo like DPM and Flecktarn - desert and woodland - in a few different materials. Boating materials. Most everything else you might want. Website is a bit tricky to navigate, but certainly serviceable. Located in Tattenhall, England.)

http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/
(One of the few places I know of that carry cotton moleskin, as well as P80 Ventile. Hardware that I haven't seen anywhere else - rollcage hooks, gaiter hooks, lockable buckles, a few other unique items. Tentpoles. Waterproof zippers. Unique patterns (look under leaflets). Only have polypropylene webbing and in limited colours. Located in High Bentham, England.)

The following two are if you need a lot of something:
http://www.brookwoodcos.com/
(Lots of obscure, specialized fabrics. I suspect these folks are just a mill that sells rolls of material, not a few yards to a hobbyist. Never contacted them to find out for sure though. Located in New York, New York.)

http://www.acw1.com/
(Another large scale seller. $250 minimum. Geared towards military and fire services. Webbing, cordage, and limited choice of metal and plastic hardware. Website is a bit sketchy on details of products. Need to contact company for info and quotes. Located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.)

Plastic Buckles:
http://www.plastic-buckle.com/index.aspx
Name says it all. Lots of obscure stuff, but I don't know if they sell name brands or their own versions of them. Taiwanese company that I gather has a US outlet.

Zippers:
http://www.zippershipper.com/
http://zipperstop.com/

Thread:
http://www.thethreadexchange.com

Wool:
http://www.johnsonwoolenmills.com
(Besides making clothing, they also sell the raw material used in their clothing. Source for worsted whipcord wool, among other things. You can buy by the pound or by the yard. Located in Johnson, Vermont.)

http://www.hamburgerwoolen.com/
(Specializing in uniforms, especially law enforcement uniforms, and the materials to make them. Source for whipcord wool, as well as many other (not necessarily wool) fabrics. Located in New Hyde Park, New York.)

http://www.bblackandsons.com/
("Qualified buyers only." Located in Los Angeles, California.)

http://www.banksvilledesignerfabrics.com/pages/wools.htm
(Located in Norwalk, Connecticut.)

http://www.britexfabrics.com/fabric/wool-fabric.html?limit=30
(Located in San Francisco, California.)

http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/shop/fabric/100-wool-felt.htm
(13 colours of wool felt. Located in Berkeley, California.)

http://store.sawyerbrook.com/Fine-Wool-Fabrics/products/7/
(Located in Clinton, Massachusetts.)

http://www.filzfelt.com/
Source for many thicknesses of wool felt. Located in Boston, Massachusetts.)

PolarTec:
http://www.milldirecttextiles.com/

Cordage:
http://www.reddenmarine.com/rope-cordage
(Source for Amsteel Blue for whoopie slings.)

Kydex:
http://www.knifekits.com/

Foam:
http://www.thefoamfactory.com/closedcellfoam/closedcellfoam.html

Dimension Polyant:
http://www.dimension-polyant.com/en/
(Manufacturer of high tech sail cloth. No idea whether they sell small quantities to hobbyists.)

Specific Camo Fabrics:
A-TACS
http://www.schottfabrics.com/
MultiCam
http://multicamfabric.com/
http://www.duroindustries.com/
Hyperstealth
http://www.hyperstealth.com/

[BigHat]

thanks for this list. i know it took a long time to compile it.

i have a similar list, just not as comprehensive. yours is so comprehensive, i honestly have nothing to add. VERY well done, sir!


if this doesn't deserve to be a sticky in the DIY Sub forum, i don't know what does.

[Frugal Bohemian]

if this doesn't deserve to be a sticky in the DIY Sub forum, i don't know what does.

Agreed.  I've got probably a dozen projects that I've planned of the years but I never got past the shopping-for-materials phase.  What an excellent post, Exploriment!

[MnSportsman]

 


That must have taken a lot of time to assemble & post. Thnx Exploriment for your efforts!
 


If it counts...I vote for it to be a "sticky", also.
 

[Bearhunter]

Thank you

[BigHat]

If it counts...I vote for it to be a "sticky", also.
 

i think everyone's vote counts here, which is one of the things i love about this place

[Wilderbeast]

Consider it stickied.

[Bearhunter]

Consider it stickied.

[MnSportsman]

Cool!

[greyhound352]

Thanks for this valuable resource. Good job on sticking this thread.

Hey Exploriment do you want to update this list if we have other vendors?

[PetrifiedWood]

Great Post!


That is a huge list of resources. I can see using some of those links to buy hardware for making sheaths eventually. Thank you!

[OutdoorEnvy]

Know where I can find some wool?  oh wait, it's up there

thanks for the great post Exploriment   

[wolfy]

Great list of sources, Exploriment!   Thanks for puttin' a pin it, Wilderbeast.

[Gurthy]

Very useful collection of resources. Thanks Exploriment!

[Trekster]

Here are some of my sources. I apologize in advance if there are duplicates:

Do-all suppliers (these carry more than one type of item):
www.usaknifemaker.c om
www.sportsmansguide .com
www.amazon.com
www.etsy.com (yes, I also have an Etsy storefront, it's a good way to find not only used vintage gear but also handcrafted items like most hobbyists make!)

Buckles, cordlocks, fabric, webbing assembly etc:
www.diytactical.com
www.cdwplus.com
www.itwnexus.com/


Raw materials:
www.grainger.com (barstock, sheet metal, fasteners of all sorts)
www.riogrande.com (jewelry making supplier, carries all sorts of precious and semiprecious metals and minerals in raw form as well as various types of fasteners and tools for such endeavors)

Leather/leatherwork specific suppliers:
www.tandy.com (I almost never order from them due to their fairly high prices, hard to find local stores and hard to navigate website).
www.brettunsvillage .com (this one I was reluctant to share, but since you guys are all pals here I figured "why not" lol. They're a best-kept secret amongst hobbyists, haha).

Free/scrap material local social sources:
www.craigslist.com
www.freecycle.org (although I haven't had any luck being added to the lists as far as I know, they seem pretty discriminatory in my area, not sure why!)

Tools:
www.leevalley.com (good tools, kinda expensive but some are worth it)
www.garrettwade.com (also good tools, not too bad pricewise usually)
www.harborfreight.c om (my el-cheapo belt sanders are still going strong, three years later!)
www.grizzlytools.co m (better tools in some cases, not much more expensive).
www.ebay.com (score lots of good hand tools this way if you've got the knack of search-fu)

Gun related sites:
www.sportsmansguide .com (ammo, parts kits, gunsmithing tools, and other stuff)
www.cheaperthandirt .com (ammo, parts kits, assembled guns, gunsmithing tools, tac gear, knives, prepping stuff, and other stuff)
www.midwayusa.com (ammo, guns, gunsmithing, parts, nearly anything gun related)
www.natchezshooters supply.com (almost identical to midwayusa in terms of content, with perhaps slightly less inventory)
www.brownells.com (gunsmithing supply. Almost anything you need for gunsmithing supplies you can find here)
www.e-gunparts.com (huge ass site chock full 'o' parts. The stuff listed isn't even half of what they have, most likely. Call them or email for details).
www.gunblast.com (reviews, etc)
www.youtube.com (obviously! Lots of tutorials on everything gun related, field strip, detail strip, reviews, ammo tests, how to, etc etc)
www.celticarmory.co m (tutorials on detail stripping, I found his Browning Hi Power video very helpful!).
http://world.guns.ru/main-e.htm (reference site)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_firearms (reference site for all small arms including military stuff)





And of course, never underestimate the power of personal, day-to-day networking with family, friends, coworkers and random people you meet, haha!

PMZ

[zammer]

Nicely done Exploriment, a great source for finding items...appeciate the Canadian and EU sources as well..

Thanks for the additions as well Trekster 

[Exploriment]

Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for making this a sticky.

Yes, I will definitely amend this list. And add to it, please.

The only correction I would make to the list Trekster added is that DIYTactical hasn't been a source for supplies for a few years now. Still a great forum and info resource, but the store part of it is no longer a going concern. I would already have added them to the list otherwise. I dealt with them a bunch of times and had no issues.

[Dano]

Thank you for taking the time to put this together for us, that's a lot of resources!!

[kanukkarhu]

Wow, I just scrolled through this, and although this is 'way above my pay grade' in terms of the piddling DIY stuff I do, I sure do recognize how valuable this list is and how much went into both the original and later additions.


Tapatalked from my batphone.

[tankerjockey]

Very helpful list of suppliers. Especially to some of us new guys trying to find some unique bit of kit or the material to make it ourselves.
Thanks a bunch.

[Jomsviking]

Ordered some altoids type and screw top tins for candle making from this place, prices were reasonable and shipping was fast. http://www.specialtybottle.com/metalcontainers.aspx

[lgm]

Big list, it is going to take me a wile to go through it. Thanks for the info.