Re (2): Hardware sources.

In article <5ubjij9bl4cdb8dssri4l9mle8esd5nahs@4ax.com>, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

It might be helpful if you were more specific as to what type of
hardware, in what quantities, you normally purchase. 

Gave the specific example, ebay item 144222339276.  M8 flanged 304
stainless steel hex nuts.  Need 80 of them.

You might be seeing the effects of the exchange rate:
www google com finance quote CAD-USD?window=MAX At this
time, it will take 1.39CAD to buy 1 US dollar.

50 of those nuts are AU$31.17.  Converting by Google, about 0.62
AU$/nut or 0.41 US$/nut or 0.57 CA$/nut.  Seems a little high. 
Therefore interested to see a competitor.

Also, whether you want a Canadian vendor ...

The example mentioned states "Free Standard Shipping".  All such nuts
are probably made in China.  Doesn't matter to me whether they come
through Cincinnati or Mississauga.  I'm interested in final total cost.

For mail delivery, Canada Customs hasn't added noticeable interference
since year 2000.

 ... aliexpress.com
 ... amazon.com/s?k=fasteners
 ... fastenal.com

10 or 15 years ago the newly opened Fastenal in Vancouver kept almost
no stock.  Material was sent from Seattle on demand. Might be better
now.

Will compare Aliexpress and Amazon.

Thanks!            ... P.