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Joe writes "I moved from Minneapolis a few years ago and miss this store so much. They resell industrial parts, wheels, motors, speakers, fabric, foam, bio-hazard suits and just about anything you can use to make. As you walk through Ax-man you'll notice large motorized moving displays with baby doll parts and humourus descriptions accompanying there products. I bought some beautiful large hollywood style metal film cannisters there and sanded them down to make a portfolio case. I think the store owner would be a great interview for your mag. As a Make subscriber I would love to have this store listed amongst others that are great resources for "stuff". Take a look at the tour section of the site to see this bazaar shop." Link.
Ax-Man Surplus Stores - A "Makers" Heaven...
Joe writes "I moved from Minneapolis a few years ago and miss this store so much. They resell industrial parts, wheels, motors, speakers, fabric, foam, bio-hazard suits and just about anything you can use to make. As you walk through Ax-man you'll notice large motorized moving displays with baby doll parts and humourus descriptions accompanying there products. I bought some beautiful large hollywood style metal film cannisters there and sanded them down to make a portfolio case. I think the store owner would be a great interview for your mag. As a Make subscriber I would love to have this store listed amongst others that are great resources for "stuff". Take a look at the tour section of the site to see this bazaar shop." Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 9, 2006 01:09 AM
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A-MEN! This store is a Maker's paradise. I've never seen anything like it. I have friends who insist on stopping when they are in town because there is nothing like it in their city. It would seem in part to be a labor of love - what they do, and therefore worthy of an interview. The product descriptions and store contraptions alone are worth a visit.
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You can spend a lot of time there sorting through junk of all shapes and sizes. I rather like the iron lung and surplus rocket, but how can you beat the airplane escape slide!
One word of warning - don't bother e-mailing or calling to find out if they have something. They are of no help. I was there one weekend and saw a ton of bullhorns that you'd be blind to miss. On Monday someone at work needed one and wondered where you could get one. I told her to call the Ax-Man, she did, and they told her they didn't have any. A little while later I e-mailed them to see if they could hook me up with a large number of something else and I never got a response. Customer service outside of the store is just not their thing, I guess.
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I love stores like this, they are just a blast. Anyone know of any other good surplus stores, especially those with websites? Like http://www.weirdstuff.com/
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Years and years ago I ordered from a newsprint surplus catalog from a company in Chicago called Jerryco. Looked them up on the web a few years back, and they are now American Science and Surplus. Not only do they have tons of the coolest, most arcane stuff, but they've got a sense of humor too! And all their stock is on the website.
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Years and years ago I ordered from a newsprint surplus catalog from a company in Chicago called Jerryco. Looked them up on the web a few years back, and they are now American Science and Surplus. Not only do they have tons of the coolest, most arcane stuff, but they've got a sense of humor too! And all their stock is on the website.
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If your on a tour of the most packed surplus stores in the country you should stop by the black hole in Los Alamos. Ed's inventory is perfect for the maker with aspirations of world domination:
The Los Alamos Sales Company
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This post may be self-serving but here goes. My company sells a large variety of surplus machinery components: gear-motors, hydraulics, air-compressors, sprockets, bearings, casters, air cylinders, pumps, gauges, linear actuators, and sooo much more. Our entire inventory is in stock and online at http://www.surpluscenter.com. We had a booth at the MAKE fair in San Mateo, hopefully you had a chance to visit us.
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I totally love the AX MAN. I usually go to the St. Louis Park store.
I find that they are helpful at the store and on the phone. I find many uses for their items. Teaching tools for children....bottles and Jars for herbs. Mailing supplies....Office supplies..plastic bags of all sizes...I could go on and on. Everyone should go and browse. They have things you will NEVER find in other stores!
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I totally love the AX MAN. I usually go to the St. Louis Park store.
I find that they are helpful at the store and on the phone. I find many uses for their items. Teaching tools for children....bottles and Jars for herbs. Mailing supplies....Office supplies..plastic bags of all sizes...I could go on and on. Everyone should go and browse. They have things you will NEVER find in other stores!
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Hey, all:
I'm a freelance writing working on a story about Ax Man for a local magazine. Would you please contact me if you've made anything out of Ax Man stuff, or how it's inspired your creativity? I appreciate the postings but have more specific questions I'd like to ask.
I'm at: mjopehl@yahoo.com.
Thanks very much!
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