Materials and Supplies

The PRL sells certain materials for use in the lab. Please visit the lab to check current prices and inventory. If you are looking for something that we do not carry, speak with a CA or look under the Suppliers below. We are happy to help you find what you need.

Building 610

• Duron sheets for laser cutting
• Bronze and aluminum alloys for sand casting
• Machinable blue wax
• Modulan/Renshape
• Abrasives

Room 36

• Electronics components
• Sheet wood and plastic for laser cutting
• 3D printing materials
• Adhesive and heat transfer vinyl
• Cardboard and foam core
• Pink foam
• Abrasives

Looking to buy materials, get services or get something done that isn't available at the PRL?
Here is a list of suppliers and service providers.

COMMON SUPPLIERS

• McMasterCarr

  P.O. Box 54960, Los Angeles, CA
  (562) 692-5911, (562) 641-2800
  Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Saturday 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

  Even if you don’t buy your metal, plastic, tools, screws, fasteners, etc. from McMaster, definitely use it as an encyclopedic reference. Sells and tells you about nearly everything you’d want to use in the machine shop or welding room. Pros: has an amazing selection and is a good material reference. Cons: Takes time to ship, kind of expensive.

• Alan Steel

  505 East Bayshore Road, Redwood City, CA 94063
  (650) 369-2526
  Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

  Nearby metal supplier, has stacks of material of all kinds. They sell by the pound, it’s expensive by weight but being able to have it cut to just the right amount often makes it cheaper than McMaster-Carr. (Closing at the end of Summer 2023)

• Palo Alto Hardware

  875 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  (650) 327-7222
  Monday - Friday 7:30 am–8:00 pm, Saturday - Sunday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

  Great for small quantities, last-minute purchases, and easy access. Basic wood, small pieces of sheet metal, hinges, and fasteners sold by the box or by the screw. (don’t buy your hinges, clasps, or other hardware there) 7 minute bike ride from the PRL.

• Tap Plastics

  606 S B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401
  (650) 344-7127
  Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Plastic, plastic, plastic. In all forms, colors, shapes, sizes. They cut to size, so like Alan Steel they can be cheaper than McMaster-Carr.

• Woodcraft

  40 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070
  (408) 297-9663
  Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm (open till 8:00 Th), Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am -5:00 pm.

  Great for small chunks for turning or single planks of interesting wood. Expensive in large amounts. Also sells wood tools.

ART SUPPLIES

• University Art

  2550 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061
  (650) 328-3500
  Monday, Friday, Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm, Tuesday-Thursday 9:30am - 7:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm

  Carries all sorts of art supplies, drafting equipment, markers, paints, picture frames and framing supplies.

METAL AND METALWORKING

• Metal Supermarkets

     2413 Zanker Rd., San Jose, CA, 95131
     669-288-5393
     Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday 8:00am to 12:00pm

• NRI (formerly known as Accurate Powder Coating)

  436 South Airport Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080
  (650) 589-3966
  Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

  They also do sand and beadblasting. Very nice guy.

• Alco Iron & Steel

  2140 Davis Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
  (510) 562-1107
  Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

  One of the best all-around places for aluminum and steel. Their prices are good, but they're a little far away. They have a ferrous and nonferrous yard as well.

• Coast Aluminum

  30551 Huntwood Ave, Hayward, CA 94544
  (510) 441-6600

ELECTRONICS

• Digi-Key

  (800) 344-4539

  Huge electronics parts company, with live online help in case you can't find something you need.

• Jameco

  1355 Shoreway Road, Belmont, CA 94002
  (650) 592-8097 or (800) 831-4242
  Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm.

  Call in your order and pick it up an hour later... or show up, place your order, and wait 15 minutes while they fill it. They carry pretty much everything electronic.

FABRIC

• Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts

  308 Walnut Street, Redwood City, CA 94063
  (650) 948-5300
  Monday - Saturday 9am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 6pm

  Fabric, sewing supplies, thread, notions, buttons. Huge.

• Britex Fabrics

  146 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
  (415) 392-2910
  Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 6:00pm

  This is it in terms of fabrics around here. These folks have it all. And we mean ALL. The staff is super helpful and will cut swatches of any fabric.

GLASS

• Bullseye Glass

  3722 SE 21st Ave.,Portland, OR 97202
  (503) 232-8887
  By appointment

  Sells a huge variety of glass and supplies. One of the best glassworking resources in the country.

GENERAL HARDWARE

• Home Depot

  1781 E Bayshore Road,East Palo Alto, CA 94303 and 1125 Old County Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
  (650) 462-6800 or (650) 592 - 9200
  Monday - Saturday 6:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sunday 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

  The basics

JEWELRY SUPPLIES

• TheBeadShop

  now only online
  (650) 386-6962

• Frei and Borel

  P.O. Box 796, 126 Second Street, Oakland, CA 94604
  (510) 832-0355
  Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, closed 12:30-1:30 for lunch.

  Clock and watch parts, too.

PAINT

• California Paint and Wallpaper

  360 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301
  (650) 326-9285
  Monday - Friday 7:00 am -5:30 pm, Saturday 8:00 am -5:00 pm

  House paints, wood finishes, spray cans -- krylon. Somewhat expensive, but close and complete.

• San Carlos Paint and Body

  1177 Laurel Street, San Carlos, CA 90407
  (650) 593-4788
  Monday - Friday 8:00 am -5:00 pm

  Automotive lacquers, fillers, sandpaper, tools. Great selection, will mix colors

SMALL PARTS

• Applied Industrial Technologies

  255 E Brokaw Road, San Jose, CA 95112
  (408) 436-5464

  Seals, O-rings, Oilite Bushings, Plastic Bushings, Snap Rings, Rubber tubing, thread adhesive (locktight) Sometimes not too helpful, and frequently enforce minimum quantities.

• Grainger

  1190 Kern Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085-3907
  (408) 470-1710
  Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  Huge catalog and great web site for just about any part you could need.

WOOD

• Aura Hardwoods

  210 Phelan Avenue, San Jose, CA 95112
  (408) 275-1990
  Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Saturday 8:00 pm - 12:00 pm

  Wood - hardwood and softwood. Great selection, good prices, nice people.

• Bruce Bauer Lumber & Supply

  134 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, CA 94040
  (650) 948-1089
  Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 5 pm, Saturday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

  Decent selection of woods, and wood finishing supplies (oils, sandpapers, etc.). If you're looking for hardwood, drive the extra few miles to Minton's Lumber down the street.

• Global Wood Source

MISCELLANEOUS

• ACP Composites

  78 Lindbergh Ave., Livermore, CA 94551
  (800) 811-2009
  Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• American Science and Surplus

  5316 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
  (888) 724-7587
  Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm Central

  Lots of miscellaneous science stuff. Cheap. Look here for any random kind of stuff. Great website with hilarious descriptions.