We've all had those discussions with a friend that go something like, "I've started buying my _____ from ____ and I really like the quality I'm getting at the price!" So I thought let's start a thread talking about miscellaneous small purchases on consumables, paint, cables, hardware, little tricks and tips of what you like to buy and why. What do you get it? What do you like? Where do you get it etc.
So here are a few tips from me to start this off:
Cables:
I love these Hosa Pro Rean XLR cables from Amazon. $17 with prime shipping. Can't beat the price with the 2 day shipping. I really like the quality of the cable itself, it's feels heavy duty in your hand, yet it coils really nicely.
Need a quality cable of some sort? I've been really happy with the quality of "Mediabridge" products on Amazon. They make a lot of different cables from RCA to mini phone plug adapters to HDMI cables. I've purchased 3 or 4 cables now and I've been really happy with the quality and price.
Of course we all know about buying things from Monoprice right? When you just need a cheap cable of some sort. Monoprice is the place to go. Sometimes there's a basic model and a pro model of the cable. Go for the pro version, it's usually only a small amount more and the quality is worth it.
Sets Construction:
For building flats, signs, and anything that needs a thin sheet of plywood I love the 5.0mm Utility Panel Sheeting from Lowes. 5mm is about 3/16 for the non-metric's in the room. It's weird that Lowes sells it metric and not imperial when everything else is imperial. It comes primed on one side and only costs $13.47 per sheet (looks like it's currently on sale for $12.12 on the website). I can't find anything that cheap at Home Depot or the local lumber yards. The other "luan" options are always at least $25, not primed, and rather fragile.
For dimensional lumber I ALWAYS go to my local lumber yard instead of Home Depot/Lowes. They simply don't do a good job of storing their dimensional lumber and it gets warped and beat up. It tends to cost a little more, but I get straight boards every time. In Seattle, it's always Dunn Lumber for me. They also deliver for free if you purchase more than $250. Check with your local Lumber Yard for delivery prices. You may find that the slightly higher prices come with better wood and a great deal on delivery saving you time and money in the long run.
I avoid buying screws, nuts, and bolts at Lowes/Home Depot the price is always higher than my local lumber yard. Some times by a significant amount. You can get good deals on fasteners from McMaster-Carr and Grainger too.
If you have a table saw, use CDX 3/4 plywood instead of 1x4's for bracing. I'm building a set and needed a bunch of 1x4's for bracing. Instead of paying about $3.50 each. I got a sheet of CDX 3/4 plywood for $23. Run it through the table saw and I now have 12 "1x4's" for $1.92 each. Sometimes you'll get a piece with a bad knot in it which is weak and cracks. So look for weaknesses in the sheets when you buy them. Also sometimes you may find it cheaper to buy something like a 10' 1"x12" piece of pine instead of three 10' 1x4's. So be creative with your table saw.
Lighting:
I buy the little alcohol wipes like the doctor uses to sanitize your arm before a shot. They come in a box of 100 for about $3 at your drug store (diabetics use them). After you install a new lamp in a fixture, crack open an alcohol wipe and clean the lamp. You remove any chance of a stray finger print damaging the lamp. I've been amazed at times at how dirty the lamps are from dust in the factory I guess.
Sound:
I got a great deal on a box of medical tape for taping wireless mics to actors at my local fire extinguisher and emergency supply store.
Makeup Removal:
Buy the giant box of baby wipes at Costco. It's like $15.
So here are a few tips from me to start this off:
Cables:
I love these Hosa Pro Rean XLR cables from Amazon. $17 with prime shipping. Can't beat the price with the 2 day shipping. I really like the quality of the cable itself, it's feels heavy duty in your hand, yet it coils really nicely.
Need a quality cable of some sort? I've been really happy with the quality of "Mediabridge" products on Amazon. They make a lot of different cables from RCA to mini phone plug adapters to HDMI cables. I've purchased 3 or 4 cables now and I've been really happy with the quality and price.
Of course we all know about buying things from Monoprice right? When you just need a cheap cable of some sort. Monoprice is the place to go. Sometimes there's a basic model and a pro model of the cable. Go for the pro version, it's usually only a small amount more and the quality is worth it.
Sets Construction:
For building flats, signs, and anything that needs a thin sheet of plywood I love the 5.0mm Utility Panel Sheeting from Lowes. 5mm is about 3/16 for the non-metric's in the room. It's weird that Lowes sells it metric and not imperial when everything else is imperial. It comes primed on one side and only costs $13.47 per sheet (looks like it's currently on sale for $12.12 on the website). I can't find anything that cheap at Home Depot or the local lumber yards. The other "luan" options are always at least $25, not primed, and rather fragile.
For dimensional lumber I ALWAYS go to my local lumber yard instead of Home Depot/Lowes. They simply don't do a good job of storing their dimensional lumber and it gets warped and beat up. It tends to cost a little more, but I get straight boards every time. In Seattle, it's always Dunn Lumber for me. They also deliver for free if you purchase more than $250. Check with your local Lumber Yard for delivery prices. You may find that the slightly higher prices come with better wood and a great deal on delivery saving you time and money in the long run.
I avoid buying screws, nuts, and bolts at Lowes/Home Depot the price is always higher than my local lumber yard. Some times by a significant amount. You can get good deals on fasteners from McMaster-Carr and Grainger too.
If you have a table saw, use CDX 3/4 plywood instead of 1x4's for bracing. I'm building a set and needed a bunch of 1x4's for bracing. Instead of paying about $3.50 each. I got a sheet of CDX 3/4 plywood for $23. Run it through the table saw and I now have 12 "1x4's" for $1.92 each. Sometimes you'll get a piece with a bad knot in it which is weak and cracks. So look for weaknesses in the sheets when you buy them. Also sometimes you may find it cheaper to buy something like a 10' 1"x12" piece of pine instead of three 10' 1x4's. So be creative with your table saw.
Lighting:
I buy the little alcohol wipes like the doctor uses to sanitize your arm before a shot. They come in a box of 100 for about $3 at your drug store (diabetics use them). After you install a new lamp in a fixture, crack open an alcohol wipe and clean the lamp. You remove any chance of a stray finger print damaging the lamp. I've been amazed at times at how dirty the lamps are from dust in the factory I guess.
Sound:
I got a great deal on a box of medical tape for taping wireless mics to actors at my local fire extinguisher and emergency supply store.
Makeup Removal:
Buy the giant box of baby wipes at Costco. It's like $15.