Resources

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:19 pm

I've been looking around on the web and ebay, just wondering if anyone has any uber-kewl (read cheap) resources to aquire El Wire. Glowire and those sites seem pretty steep for what amounts to probably less than $5 worth of materials.

Any secrets you might care to cough up?

Also, any other resources for purchasing ultra-cheap or discount art/costume items? Things like leather, fabric, adhesives, rope, chain, bondage gear, what have you?

And I don't mean "look at your local thrift stores"... I already do that. I am more aiming toward the little known bulk purchasing, wholesale, small shop online type resources.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:06 pm

I went to a leather/saddlery supply place. Spent $130 and got a 1/2 hide of thick black leather, punches, needle and thread and a shitload of buckle and other hardware. I made multiple big belts for my bondage barber chair and I have about 1/2 the leather left over. Making your own leather stuff is fairly easy and cheap if you decide to make a bunch of it. It is a fun material to work with.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:06 pm

http://www.coolight.com/category-s/54.htm

I think if you buy it by foot its cheaper. But you'll have to wire it to the power source. I used the 9v power pack, and it worked just great.

Post by **Eric** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:07 pm

You get what you pay for. EL ain't cheap- if you find stuff cheaper than Extreme Glow or Cool Neon (which is the one I like) its probably crap.

If you want cheap bright lights, go with LED's. That's what I use for night-time. A buck or less each. I do have one piece of 3' EL I use on my bike so I'm visible from the side, but that's it.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:16 pm

I sprung for two of those bike wire packs, one for each chair, and well, I didn't put them on right away and neither of them worked when I was going to.

Blinkies or glow, I don't have the skills for el wire and don't have the interest to learn.

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:24 pm

EL wire seems pretty power hungry too. I bought a driver that ran two strings and it would drain a 9v battery in a few hours.

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:56 am

motskyroonmatick wrote:I went to a leather/saddlery supply place. Spent $130 and got a 1/2 hide of thick black leather, punches, needle and thread and a shitload of buckle and other hardware. I made multiple big belts for my bondage barber chair and I have about 1/2 the leather left over. Making your own leather stuff is fairly easy and cheap if you decide to make a bunch of it. It is a fun material to work with.

Awesome tip, I never would have thought of a leather/equestrian place. Seems obvious now!

junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 2:02 am

LEDs are dirt cheap on eBay, and wiring them is simple. Uber bright and great on battery life too. Shit, I'm going hog wild and toying with attaching 500 of them to me. You won't be able to miss me on the playa, believe me. I'm more worried about blinding people.

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 5:39 am

JStep wrote:
motskyroonmatick wrote:I went to a leather/saddlery supply place. Spent $130 and got a 1/2 hide of thick black leather, punches, needle and thread and a shitload of buckle and other hardware. I made multiple big belts for my bondage barber chair and I have about 1/2 the leather left over. Making your own leather stuff is fairly easy and cheap if you decide to make a bunch of it. It is a fun material to work with.
Awesome tip, I never would have thought of a leather/equestrian place. Seems obvious now!

Also, ranch stores.

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 2:18 pm

junglesmacks wrote:LEDs are dirt cheap on eBay, and wiring them is simple. Uber bright and great on battery life too. Shit, I'm going hog wild and toying with attaching 500 of them to me. You won't be able to miss me on the playa, believe me. I'm more worried about blinding people.

I've thought of that too, and blinding myself. I don't want to be labeled a darkwad (I'm much more used to wandering in the dark unseen, relying on my night vision and hearing) so I'd like to be plenty lit up. Problem I see with having a lot of light all over me is that it ruins my night vision and I'd only be able to see within the perimeter of my light. That would feel sort of visually claustrophobic and I wouldn't feel safe not being able to be defensive, if that makes sense. I'm not sure of my comfort level in being all lit up and having to trust anyone on a bike/vehicle to see and avoid me, since if they're not in my light perimeter my ability to see them will be somewhat limited.

I suppose colored light (red or green) would alleviate the night vision problem somewhat but not totally.

C187 · Post by **C187** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 11:54 pm

JStep wrote:I've thought of that too, and blinding myself. I don't want to be labeled a darkwad (I'm much more used to wandering in the dark unseen, relying on my night vision and hearing) so I'd like to be plenty lit up. Problem I see with having a lot of light all over me is that it ruins my night vision and I'd only be able to see within the perimeter of my light. That would feel sort of visually claustrophobic and I wouldn't feel safe not being able to be defensive, if that makes sense. I'm not sure of my comfort level in being all lit up and having to trust anyone on a bike/vehicle to see and avoid me, since if they're not in my light perimeter my ability to see them will be somewhat limited.

I suppose colored light (red or green) would alleviate the night vision problem somewhat but not totally.

I wouldn't suggest you cover yourself in light then. A headlamp higher on your forehead (so it points out and slightly up) will allow you to be seen while not interfering with your natural night vision. A simple led stick on a string hanging from your neck but resting on your back will cover you from behind. If you want to be really safe, have another led stick hanging in front of you.

Small things like a reflective or photoluminous strip on your trench-coat or bag will help you been seen. While looking stylish and not adding to the light pollution around you.

Your going to run into people who honestly wouldn't be able to see a nuke go off in front of them, but feel the need to call you a darkwad. Just remember to hold up anything that creates light next to your raised middle finger when they do.

As for the people on bikes.. well BLM really needs to start enforcing the BUI law (assuming NV has one). Stay on edge, and you'll be fine. As far as art cars go.. dude, they are going to be annoying to you with all the light that comes out of them. As long as you don't do something stupid an art car isn't going to hit you.

Oh a tip for walking around open playa at night. Close one eye before passing something with a lot of light. You'll go back to your normal night vision state much faster.

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 6:58 am

C187 wrote:
JStep wrote:I've thought of that too, and blinding myself. I don't want to be labeled a darkwad (I'm much more used to wandering in the dark unseen, relying on my night vision and hearing) so I'd like to be plenty lit up. Problem I see with having a lot of light all over me is that it ruins my night vision and I'd only be able to see within the perimeter of my light. That would feel sort of visually claustrophobic and I wouldn't feel safe not being able to be defensive, if that makes sense. I'm not sure of my comfort level in being all lit up and having to trust anyone on a bike/vehicle to see and avoid me, since if they're not in my light perimeter my ability to see them will be somewhat limited.

I suppose colored light (red or green) would alleviate the night vision problem somewhat but not totally.
I wouldn't suggest you cover yourself in light then. A headlamp higher on your forehead (so it points out and slightly up) will allow you to be seen while not interfering with your natural night vision. A simple led stick on a string hanging from your neck but resting on your back will cover you from behind. If you want to be really safe, have another led stick hanging in front of you.

Small things like a reflective or photoluminous strip on your trench-coat or bag will help you been seen. While looking stylish and not adding to the light pollution around you.

Your going to run into people who honestly wouldn't be able to see a nuke go off in front of them, but feel the need to call you a darkwad. Just remember to hold up anything that creates light next to your raised middle finger when they do.

As for the people on bikes.. well BLM really needs to start enforcing the BUI law (assuming NV has one). Stay on edge, and you'll be fine. As far as art cars go.. dude, they are going to be annoying to you with all the light that comes out of them. As long as you don't do something stupid an art car isn't going to hit you.

Oh a tip for walking around open playa at night. Close one eye before passing something with a lot of light. You'll go back to your normal night vision state much faster.

Thanks, awesome tips!

Thread drifted but I guess that's my fault.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:18 am

Leather needs:
http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/

I've been a customer of these guys for going on 20 years now. Excellent folks. There site updates fairly often with new deals on stuff. Site menu is at the bottom of the page.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:19 am

For animal bits... bones, skulls, teeth, etc:

http://www.hideandfur.com/

These guys have been around for a long time and also update inventory fairly often.

Â¡Niers! · Post by **Â¡Niers!** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:21 am

This is the cheapest place I've found LEDs.
Sucks that it's direct from China, cause it takes a while to get here, but I think it's worth it.
I've ordered tons of stuff from them.
http://ledshoppe.com/index.html

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 3:12 pm

Â¡Niers! wrote:This is the cheapest place I've found LEDs.
Sucks that it's direct from China, cause it takes a while to get here, but I think it's worth it.
I've ordered tons of stuff from them.
http://ledshoppe.com/index.html

Awesome. Thanks. And CapnSmashy too, and everyone. Great suggestions!

Snow · Post by **Snow** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 3:20 pm

C187 wrote:As for the people on bikes.. well BLM really needs to start enforcing the BUI law (assuming NV has one).

NO they don't thanks. and what next start enforcing nudity laws? Please stay at home if you want MORE law enforcement.

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 4:36 pm

Found in another thread from '06:

CAMPING GEAR, TENTS, SHADE STRUCTURES & MILITARY SURPLUS

Action Air Parachutes
530-753-2650
skydiving, parachutes, "flite suits"

Camp Surplus Store
805-343-6901
army navy outdoor store. hard-to find stuff. good parachute source

CAMPMOR
800-226-7667
good prices on camping stuff

The Edge Company
800-445-1021
tools, gifts, knives + action gear

Federal Army and Navy Surplus, Inc.
888-276-9689
parachutes, camouflage netting, goggles

Forest City Surplus
519-451-0246
survival, electronics, camping, tools, gizmos, beakers, whatever

Gempler's
800-382-8473
work clothes, farming and safety equipment and hardware

Geodesic Domes
good geodesic dome information

Geometry: How To Build A Geodesic Dome For Burning Man
geodesic shade-structure information from a veteran Ranger

M.P. Surplus
334-983-5124
wholesale + retail surplus, hunting, clothing supplies. parachute source.

Mass Army Navy
800-343-7749
military surplus + vintage + reproductions from around the world

Moose Creek Forge
417-546-2542
866-673-8544
great source for large -- 18" -- steel tent stakes and stake puller

Mountain Gear Surplus Sales
Asheville, NC
828-253-8368

The Outdoor Gear Exchange
888-547-4327
discount backpacking, climbing + camping gear

Phillips Environmental Products
877-520-0999
portable field toilets

Sierra Adventures
5 min. from Reno Airport, bikes, accessory rentals, equipment help, maps, Black Rock Shuttles, and bike disposal services.
2204 Dickerson Rd.
Reno, NV 89503
866.323.8928 (Toll Free - call anytime)

Simply Water
775-337-8111
411 Keystone at Interstate 80, Reno
purified water & ice, bottles, 55 gallon drums, & other stuff to help keep you hydrated on the playa.

Shelter Systems
650-323-6202
cool portable dome-like living shelters

Sportsman's Guide
800-888-3006
military and adventure equipment

Tarps & Tie-Downs (Hayward, CA)
510-782-8772
purveyors of fine & cheap tarps & tarp material

The Tentsmiths
603-447-2344
tents and accessories

Twin City Surplus (Reno)
888-323-5630
camping gear and tents

U.S. Cavalry
888-888-7228
military and adventure equipment

Quote:
COSTUMES, MAKEUP & BODY PAINT

Ben Nye Make-up
1-800-700-3828
water-based, vibrant, easy-off, perfect-for-the-desert make-up stuff

Deviant: Liquid Latex
1-888-DEVIANT
liquid-latex body paint, rubberwear and other fun accessories

Essential Oil Company
1-800-729-5912
essential oils, massage + fragrance oils, incense supplies, etc.

Fake Fur
1-415-285-5682
17 different fake fur styles

Frederick's of Hollywood
1-800-323-9525
fun playa wear

Fifi Mahony's
504-525-4343
custom wigs, outrageous makeup, and accessories

Maximum Impact
1-800-811-3799
liquid-latex body products

Victoria's Secret
1-800-888-8200
more fun playa wear

The Wandering Bull
508-226-6074
American Indian crafts + supplies: feathers, leather,
bones, beads, etc.

Quote:
ELECTRONICS & MECHANICAL DOOHICKEYS

Advanced Sciences
25th Century Technology Today
780-327-7355
huge catalog $4.00
time travel, invisibility, levitation, mind machines, antigravity, etc.

American Science & Surplus
847-982-0874
motors, tools, electrical components, wacky novelty items and toys, etc.

Angeles Valve & Fitting/Swagelok Company
213-849-6257
valves, high pressure tubing and fittings, etc.

Boeing Surplus Store
old tools, aircraft components, magnesium, computers, jet turbines, etc.
retail store in Kent, WA 425-393-4065

Bond Manufacturing
1-800-359-8665
great wholesale (use a company name) source for bamboo

Brainstorms
1-800-231-6000
skeletons, anatomical, health, and science items

C and H Surplus
1-800-325-9465
motors, solenoids, regulators, meters, cylinders, inverters, relays, etc.

Digi-Key
1-800-344-4539
electronic components

Edmund Scientific
609-573-6250
major supplier of optics and science products. technical + fun stuff

Halted Specialties Company
1-800-442-5833
techno-tinker stuff: electronics, lasers, etc.

Hokey Spokes
800-600-1778
Computer Generated Designs & Text on your Bike Wheels at Night

Potato Cannons Of The Internet
build-your-own spud-cannons

Real Goods
1-800-762-7325
solar and alternative energy products and information

Robot Store
1-800-374-5764
robot kits, books, electronics, muscle wires, parts, etc.

So-Cal Airgas
corporate office
310-497-1991
acetylene, H, N, O ... they don't rent regulators

Spy Tech Agency
1-888-878-2779
state-of-the-art James Bond stuff

The Weird Stuff Warehouse
(Sunnyvale & Fremont, CA)
408-743-5650
electronics and computer stuff and industrial products

West Marine
1-800-538-0775
flags, banners, sailcloth, sextants, various batteries, solar panels, etc.

Quote:

FLEA MARKETS AND SWAP MEETS

In Northern California:

San Francisco ï¿½ East Bay Areaï¿½ South Bay Area
Points South ï¿½ North Bay Area ï¿½ Sacramento

San Francisco

Alemany Flea Market
100 Alemany Blvd. 415 647-9423, Sundays
a Farmers Market on Saturdays
located at the intersection of 101 and 280

Doelger Senior Center Flea Market
101 Lake Merced Blvd. in Daly City 415 991-8012
2nd Sunday of each month, June-October

Geneva Swap Meet
Geneva Drive-In near the Cow Palace in Daly City 415 587-2884,
Saturday and Sunday

Pier 29 Antique & Collectibles Mart
Pier 29 on the Embarcadero
415 956-5316
Sundays

San Francisco Flea Market
1651 Mission at Van Ness
Saturday and Sunday

East Bay Area

Antioch Flea Market
Fairgrounds, corner of 10th St. and L Ave. 510 778-6900
Friday Saturday and Sunday

Berkeley Flea Market
Ashby Bart Station in Berkeley 510 644-0744
Saturday and Sunday

Chabot College Flea Market
25555 Hesperian Blvd. in Hayward 510 786-6918
3rd Saturday of each month

Coliseum Swap Meet
5401 Coliseum Way in Oakland 510 533-1601
Tuesday-Sunday

Jack London Square Antiques Mart
Jack London Square in Oakland,
at the foot of Broadway 510 652-5728,
first Saturday of each month

Kennedy High School Flea Market
Stevenson & Grimmer in Fremont 510 489-6976
first Saturday of each month

Norcal Swap Meet/Laney College
Seventh & Fallon in Oakland 510 769-7266
Saturday and Sunday

Ohlone College Super Flea Market
43600 Mission Blvd. in Fremont 510 659-6285
2nd Saturday of each month

Solano Flea Market
Solano Way & Hwy 4 in Concord 510 687-6445
Saturday and Sunday

South Bay Area

Campbell Flea Market
1769 South Winchester Blvd. Campbell Center 408 374-1415,
2nd Saturday of each month

Capital Flea Market
Capitol Exp. & Monterey Hwy, San Jose 408 225-5800
Thursday through Sunday

DeAnza College
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino 408 864-8946
1st Saturday of each month

Electronics Swap Meet (aka Foothill Swap Meet At Foothill College)
12345 El Monte Rd. in Los Altos Hills 408 734-4453,
2nd Saturday of each month, May-October
Electronics, Computers, Ham Radio and High Tech stuff (current and vintage).
Also Tools, Stereos, TVs, phones, answering machines, etc.

Foothill College Flea Market
12345 El Monte Rd. in Los Altos Hills 650-948-6417
3rd Saturday of each month

Palo Alto Music Boosters Flea Market
Embarcadero Rd. and El Camino Real 415 324-3532
2nd Saturday of each month.
The flea market is located across from the Stanford Stadium;
if there is a home football game, the market is held on Sunday, the following day.

San Jose Flea Market
1590 Berryessa Rd. in San Jose 408 453-1110
Wednesday through Sunday

Wilcox High School Flea Market
Monroe & Calabazas Sts. in Santa Clara
2nd Saturday of each month

Points South

Big Red Barn Flea Market
1000 Hwy 101 in Aromas 408 726-3101
Saturday and Sunday

Morgan Hill Flea Market
140 East Main St. at Butterfield in downtown Morgan Hill
408 779-3809
Saturday and Sunday

Salinas Flea Market
925 North Sanborn Rd. in Salinas 408 757-3532
Saturday and Sunday

Skyview Drive-In
2260 Soquel Drive in Santa Cruz 408 462-4442
Friday Saturday and Sunday

North Bay Area

Clearlake Flea Market
16080 Davis St. in Clearlake 707 995-2304
Friday Saturday and Sunday
located one mile off Hwy 53
make sure you take the turn up 40th St.

Cloverdale Swapmeet
Citrus Fairgrounds in Cloverdale 707 894-3992
Saturday and Sunday

Forty and Eight Flea Market
Santa Rosa Vets Building parking lot across from the Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa,
707 522-9391
certain Sundays
for 1997: May 4, June 8, July 13, August 17 and Sept. 21.

Guerneville Flea Market
Safeway Parking Lot at 16405 River Rd. in Guerneville
Sunday

Midgley's Country Flea Market
2200 Gravenstein Hwy S. in Sebastopol
707 823-7874
Saturday and Sunday,
more commonly known as the Sebastopol flea market

Petaluma Indoor Flea Market
Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds at E. Washington St. in Petaluma
707 586-120.
Saturday and Sunday
the Flea Market closes for two months during the annual
Sonoma-Marin County Fair in mid-May and reopens July 12th

Santa Rosa Indoor Flea Market
1426 Mendocino Ave. Music Biz in Santa Rosa 707 545-7009
Saturday and Sunday

Ukiah Flea Market
Redwood Empire Fairgrounds on State St. in Ukiah 707 468-4626
Saturday and Sunday

Yountville Flea Market
Yountville Veteran's Home off Hwy. 29. 707 944-4941
1st Saturday of each month, 8am-1pm
held inside the Recreation Building

Sacramento

Auction City and Flea Market
8521 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento, CA
916 383-0880 or 916 383-0950
Saturday and Sunday

Denio's Roseville Farmers Market
1551 Vineyard Rd. in Roseville 916 782-2704
Friday-Monday

Forty Niner Flea Market
4450 Marysville Blvd. in Sacramento 916 920-3530
Thursday-Sunday

Quote:
GUIDES AND INFORMATION SOURCES

Essential Media
1-800-490-5350
alternative culture in print, sound and video

Recycler
281-345-6060
online classifieds with stuff for sale, or free

Obtanium.net
An online community of constructively creative folks who exchange ideas, stuff, and services.

Freecycle
The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many local groups of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns.

Quote:
NOVELTIES, TOYS, NEON,
& GLOW-IN-THE-DARK

Archie Mcphee's
425-745-0711
rubber chickens, voodoo squeak dolls, spud guns, pink flamingos, etc.

Bright Life
516-334-1356
ice cooler tables, super tape, garden gnomes, etc.

Bronner's Xmas Wonderland
1-800-361-6736
decorations, lights, etc.

CooLight Electroluminescent Wire
Ask for the Burner Discount year round.

Explorastore at the Exploratorium
415-561-0390
fun and educational toys and things from the home of the tactile dome

Glamorama
206-632-0287
more wacky novelty items

Global Shakeup
213-259-8988
snowdomes, float pens 'n' stuff

Good Vibrations
1-800-289-VIBE
sex toys, books, videos, etc.

Harriet Carter Catalog
1-800-377-7878
frog lights, bar signs, old fart slippers, glow tape, etc.

Henri The Blinky Guy Playa Delivery
808-337-1426
Have your light brought out to the playa. I am addicted to Burning Man. It was either sell you blinkies and glowsticks or break into your house and steal your TV. Your order will be at the event, guaranteed to work and helping our camp and projects to gift the community with literally thousands of lights. You can even barter your stuff with me if you see something you'd rather have. Thanks for your support.

Hokey Spokes
617-489-5817
Computer Generated Designs & Text on your Bike Wheels at Night

Into the Wind
1-800-204-5483
kites, flying toys, devil sticks, colorful nylon fabrics, etc.

Law Enforcement Equipment Company
1-800-821-3238
clothing, bike stuff, tools, handcuffs, sirens, etc.

The Lighter Side
941-747-5566
silly novelty items

Liquid Light
1-800-228-6890
glow-things source in Menlo Park

NIC Law Enforcement Supply
1-888 642-0007
CIA collectibles, badges, top secret stuff, credentials, etc.

Omniglow Corporation
1-800-762-7548
another glow-things source

Oriental Trading Company
1-800-228-2269
toys, novelty items, decorations, fun stuff, etc.

Playafish
Cool Neon, and all the help you need to make it glow, is available from the friendly folks that created the Playafish. We are Funhouse Productions, a fully-stocked manufacturer's rep.

SCHWA Corporation
very cool graphically-oriented alien humor.
books, images, shirts, manuals, calendars, etc.

sci-fi.com
1-800-TREKKER
sci-fi goodies

SPAMTASTIC!
1-800-588-SPAM
things spam

Stumps
1-800-348-5084
balloons, decorations, party supplies, prom stuff, etc.

Things You Never Knew Existed...
941-747-5566
more fun novelty items

Torche'
E-L Wire: remember the kangaroo and the fish? this is where you get the wire that lights up like neon.

Virginia Toy and Novelty Company
Flash, Blink, and Glow!
Glow Necklaces, Glow Bracelets, Magnetic Flashers, and more.
Free shipping w/$50 order if you mention code BM12.

Michael's Light Toys, San Francisco
925/286-7904
Fun and practical lights to illuminate you, your camp and your ride, including EL Wire, LED and Fiber Optic items. Almost all battery operated!