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References - DIY Catalogues

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This part of the FAQ is a list of DIY Catalogues recommended by regular contributors to the uk.d-i-y newsgroup.

Submissions are accepted at the discretion of the References FAQ maintainer. Please send suggestions and comments to him at the address below.

Submissions are not accepted from product advertisers nor anyone who may have financial vested interests.

If you find any of the listed catalogue suppliers offer poor service, quality or prices, tell us and the deficiencies will be noted or the catalogue removed.

We hope you find the list useful! Please let us know of any changes in the details so that we can keep it as up-to-date and therefore as valuable as possible. Please also tell us if you can suggest additions.

Usual caveat emptor disclaimers apply.

Company Name:

Axminster Power Tool Centre

Address:

Axminster Power Tool Centre, Axminster, Devon EX13 5HU
Shop outlets at:
Axminster Tool Centre, Western Road, Axminster, Devon EX13 5PB
Axminster Tools & Machinery, Selling Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XF

Phone:

Sales 0800 371822,
Technical Sales & Enquiries 01297 33656,
Customer Service 0800 1699450

Fax:

01297 35242

Email:

orders@axminster.co.uk technical@axminster.co.uk , custserv@axminster.co.uk Gen enquiries: email@axminster.co.uk Catalogue requests: catalogue@axminster.co.uk  

Web Site:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/ (includes some exotic product reviews)

Catalogue Name:

The Tool & Machinery Catalogue

Mail Order products?

Yes, also Online Ordering, and over-counter at Axminster shops.

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual, every August, free. Also mini-catalogues at frequent intervals and a quarterly magazine'.

Cat Contents:

Excellent, impressive range of hand tools and power tools, plus adhesives, abrasives, finishes, Health and Safety equipment, videos and books.

Comments:

Order hours 08:00 to 20:00 Mon-Thurs, 08:00 to 17:30 Fri, 09:00 to 17:00 Sat. Very reasonable prices (not the absolute cheapest). Free Delivery for all orders to mainland UK. Quick delivery. Charges for even faster delivery. All major cards. Good service. Good reference catalogue.

Details last reviewed:

08-06-2004 Top

 

Company Name:

John Boddys Fine Wood and Tool Store

Address:

Riverside Sawmills, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire YO51 9LJ

Phone:

Boroughbridge 01423 322370

Fax:

01423 323810

Email:

info@john-boddys-fwts.co.uk

Web Site:

Not known

Catalogue Name:

Mail Order Catalogue

Mail Order products?

n/k

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual,?, UKP 3.00

Cat Contents:

A wide selection of woodworking tools and a fascinating reference section of the world's woods.

Comments:

Not cheap but can supply more woods than you imagined existed.

Details last reviewed:

02-01-2000 Top

 

Company Name:

Bradshaws Direct

Address:

Nicholson Link, Clifton Moor, York YO1 1SS

Phone:

01904 691169

Fax:

01904 691133

Email:

n/a

Web Site:

http://www.bradshawsdirect.co.uk/ (water gardening equipment)

Catalogue Name:

Tarpaulin Catalogue

Mail Order products?

yes

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual,?, Free

Cat Contents:

A selection tarpaulins. Catalogue comes with a selection of postage-stamp sized samples of various type of tarp (including that translucent stuff with square mesh reinforcement you see on building sites) and all pretty cheap compared to builders' merchants & DIY sheds. Another catalogue details fish tank stuff - aerators, sterilizers, filters ... even plastic fake pond plants!

Comments:

 

Details last reviewed:

23-09-99 (May 2004, now appears to be a water gardening equipment supplier) Top

 

Company Name:

CPC

Address:

Component House, Faraday Drive, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9PP

Phone:

08701 20 25 30 (Sales)

Fax:

08701 20 25 31

Email:

sales@cpc.co.uk

Web Site:

http://www.cpc.co.uk

Catalogue Name:

Product Catalogue

Mail Order products?

Yes and online ordering

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual, mid-year, free. Plus weekly offer brochures.

Cat Contents:

Staggering range of products - lots of electronics, office supplies, power tools, hand tools, computer products, plumbing, car products, security, storage systems, cable and connectors, Disco and PA equipment etc.

Comments:

Private or trade orders, cheque, credit card or account. Free carriage on orders over UKP 30, when placed online. Usually same day dispatch. Prices and service generally good. Take care ordering quantities if components are supplied in multi-component packs. Bargains on once-weekly sales leaflets for account holders. Back orders rarely take more than 10 days and they pay the postage. Your workplace may already have an account and the excellent catalogue. On-line catalogue and on-line ordering. They have a wide range of domestic repair items (a whole section on video heads, line output transformers etc) and one of the better parts finder services.

Details last reviewed:

06-07-2004 Top

 

Company Name:

Electromail

(Also see entry for RS)

Address:

PO Box 33, Corby, Northants, NN17 9EL 

Phone:

01536 204555 

Fax:

01536 405555 

Email:

n/k 

Web Site:

http://rswww.com (the RS website)

Catalogue Name:

Electromail CD ROM Catalogue 

Mail Order products?

Yes 

Cat freq, date, cost:

Every 4 Months, July, Nov, Mar, UKP 5.00

Cat Contents:

87,000 products 

Comments:

In their words: "Electromail supplies the full RS Components product range through a fast and convenient mail order service to technical hobbyists and home based professionals". The Electromail catalogue costs UKP 5 but you can just use the RS catalogue if you have it - part numbers are the same. The CD-ROM version of the cat (UKP 3.99) contains the full RS Data Sheet Library. All major credit cards. Postage UKP 4.60 on orders below UKP 30, UKP 2.95 on orders below UKP 80, UKP 1.75 on larger orders.

Details last reviewed:

07-06-99 Top

 

Company Name:

Euromail Tools

Address:

65 Low Street, Keighley, West Yorks  BD21 3QP

Phone:

01535 663325

Fax:

n/k

Email:

n/k

Web Site:

n/k

Catalogue Name:

n/k

Mail Order products?

Mail order and in person

Cat freq, date, cost:

n/k

Cat Contents:

Power and hand tools.

Comments:

Thick catalogue, very competitive prices.

Details last reviewed:

26-03-97 Top

 

Company Name:

Farnell InOne

Address:

Canal Rd., Leeds LS12 2TU

Phone:

24hr sales: 08701 200 200
Technical Support: 08701 200 202

Fax:

Sales: 08701 200 201

Email:

Sales: sales@farnellinone.co.uk
Technical Support: techsales@farnellinone.co.uk

Web Site:

http://www.farnellinone.co.uk

Catalogue Name:

Farnell InOne Product Catalogue

Mail Order products?

Yes and Online Ordering

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual, May, Free to trade

Cat Contents:

Massive range: electronic, electrical, industrial (pneumatic, machine shop,
production, safety) tools from screwdrivers up to compressors ...also sell a
wide range of BuckHickman InOne products including Health and Safety
products and Tools.

Comments:

Over 300,000 products available online, including over 100,000 Newark InOne
products shipped directly from the US. Electronic and technical companies,
Universities and colleges deal with Farnell InOne. Helpful staff. Free
next-day delivery, and they say they'll give free data sheets on anything
they sell. Good returns procedure.

Details last reviewed:

08-06-2004 Top

 

Company Name:

W. Hobby Limited

Address:

Knights Hill Square, London SE27 0HH. (This is West Norwood by Crystal Palace)

Phone:

enquiries: 0181 761 4244. 24hr orders: 0181 761 4147

Fax:

0181 761 8796

Email:

n/k

Web Site:

n/k

Catalogue Name:

Hobby's Annual

Mail Order products?

Mail Order only, cash with order

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual; end of year, UKP 2.85, sold by major newsagents.

Cat Contents:

Bits and pieces for the whole range of hobbies. Very small hinges and fasteners, boxes and cabinets. Small electric motors, switches, clocks. Miniature electrification of dolls houses. Small size gear and pulley sets. Full-size furniture plans. Figures for dolls houses, war games, kits and figures of all sorts. Anything small!

Comments:

Look for this catalogue in WH Smiths and similar places and browse through it.

Details last reviewed:

02-01-2000 Top

 

Company Name:

Isaac Lord

Address:

Shop and Showroom (open 08:00 to 17:00 Mon to Fri, 08:30 to 17:00 Sat)
Desborough Road, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP11 2QN.
Warehouse and Trade Counter (open 08:00 to 17:00 Mon to Fri, 08:30 to 13:00 Sat)
West End Court, Suffield Road, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP11 2JY

Phone:

01494 462121

Fax:

01494 461376

Email:

info@isaaclord.co.uk and sales@isaaclord.co.uk

Web Site:

http://www.isaaclord.com/

Catalogue Name:

Isaac Lord Catalogue Cabinet Fittings, Safety, Finishing & Fastening Products. Isaac Lord Catalogue Architectural Ironmongery.

Mail Order products?

Yes

Cat freq, date, cost:

ad hoc, £3

Cat Contents:

Everything that a traditional and a modern ironmongers would sell. Fair prices.

Comments:

Catalogues can be ordered from web site which also has links to woodworking sites

Details last reviewed:

10-12-2003 Top

 

Company Name:

Maplin Electronics

Address:

Freepost SMU94, PO Box 777, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 8LU

Phone:

Sales 0870 429 6000 (Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm)
Customer Services 0870 429 6000 (Mon-Fri 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm )
Technical Helpline 0906 302 1353 (Calls charged at £0.50p per minute on BT landline)

Fax:

01702 554001

Email:

sales@maplin.co.uk  

Web Site:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/  

Catalogue Name:

Maplin Catalogue - Electronics and Beyond

Mail Order products?

Yes, and 54 shops throughout country + Online Ordering

Cat freq, date, cost:

Biennial - Sept/March UKP 3.99

Cat Contents:

Mainly electronic, but also small tools, electrical accessories, equipment, books etc. Excellent range.

Comments:

Any items not held in stores can be ordered and delivered directly to home - quick service! All major credit cards. Discount vouchers for orders over UKP 60. Free delivery on orders over UKP 25 + VAT.

Details last reviewed:

28-11-99 Top

 

Company Name:

Plumb Centre

Address:

Branches everywhere 

Phone:

Southern region 01582 472000, Western 01905 755855, Northern 01766 690690

Fax:

n/k

Email:

n/k

Web Site:

Part of Wolseley UK www.wolseley.co.uk

Catalogue Name:

The Price guide

Mail Order products?

No, but do deliver

Cat freq, date, cost:

Approximately monthly, free to account customers, free in shops

Cat Contents:

All plumbing, heating and kitchen appliances.

Comments:

Useful as a guide to what's available - pictures are getting better. Don't ever pay the catalogue price - large discounts are available, especially if you are buying a lot or can play off against another supplier. Get a trade account if you will be buying a lot - once your discounts have been arranged there is no need to haggle every time you go in.

Details last reviewed:

22-03-97 Top

 

Company Name:

Readicut Wool 

Address:

Terry Mills, Ossett, West Yorks, WF5 9SA

Phone:

01924 810810

Fax:

n/k

Email:

n/k

Web Site:

n/k

Catalogue Name:

Various hobbyist catalogues but particularly Readicut Miniatures

Mail Order products?

Only mail order 

Cat freq, date, cost:

Free and usually frequent

Cat Contents:

Miniature furniture and accessories, working lighting etc for dolls houses etc. Materials for embroidery and cross-stitch 

Comments:

 

Details last reviewed:

22-03-97 Top

 

Company Name:

RS

Address:

Head Office is at Corby, Northants but 12 trade counters in England, 1 in Glasgow, others worldwide

Phone:

General Enquiries 01536 201234

Fax:

General Enquiries 01536 405678

Email:

n/k

Web Site:

http://rswww.com On-line catalogue, data sheets and ordering

Catalogue Name:

The RS Catalogue - also available as a CD-ROM.

Mail Order products?

Normally corporate orders only - but you can buy over the web site as a private individual.

Cat freq, date, cost:

twice/year, March, September, free.

Cat Contents:

The RS catalogue currently has six main parts - 1) Cables, Connectors, Tools, Consumables, 2) Electrical, 3) Electronic, 4) IT, Test & Measurement, 5) Mechanical, 6) Health and safety.
Also mini-catalogues at frequent intervals.

Comments:

The catalogue is used extensively by the trade, originally just for radio spares (hence RS), now a huge and diverse range. Business seems to have been built on the superb catalogue plus the rapid and reliable service. Prices are quite competitive though watch out for the Standard Supply Multiples (pack sizes). Service is excellent and they are rarely out of stock. Many businesses will have an RS account and hence an RS catalogue somewhere. An excellent reference. CD-ROM version helps searching. You might be able to buy stuff through your company or educational establishment.
RS has 13 trade counters in major towns. Official policy is that you must be "trade" to purchase directly from the Trade Counters - they _may_ want a Company Registration No or VAT Registration No. as "evidence". Trade Counters take most credit cards. Phone ahead and they can make up your order before you call to collect. http://rswww.com displays an on-line catalogue of RS products, data sheets and allows private orders by credit card. RS also has an offshoot called "Electromail". See entry above. 

Details last reviewed:

06-03-2000 Top

 

Company Name:

Rutlands Limited

Address:

Rutlands Ltd., Holly House, Rutland Square, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1BZ

Phone:

Sales 01629 815 518,

Fax:

01629 815 517

Email:

n/k

Web Site:

http://www.rutlands.co.uk

Catalogue Name:

Rutlands

Mail Order products?

Yes

Cat freq, date, cost:

?, ?, Free.

Cat Contents:

Power tools and accessories. Drills, routers, sanders, saws, grinders etc. A few reconditioned tools.

Comments:

Order hours 08:30 to 18:30 Mon-Fri, 09:00 to 13:00 Sat. Very reasonable prices. (not the absolute cheapest). UKP 2.95 delivery charge per order. ~Two working days delivery to mainland UK. All major cards. Good service.

Details last reviewed:

30-10-00 Top

 

Company Name:

Screwfix Direct

Address:

FREEPOST, Yeovil, Somerset,  BA22 8BF

Phone:

Orders and Customer Service: 0500 414141 (freephone)

Fax:

0800 0562256

Email:

online@screwfix.com  

Web Site:

http://www.screwfix.com for on-line ordering.

Catalogue Name:

Screwfix Direct & Big Stuff

Mail Order products?

Main business is mail order. Order hours 07:00 to 22:00 Weekdays,
08:00 to 20:00 Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.
Next weekday delivery (orders before 18:00) UKP 5.95, free on orders over UKP 45. There are also fast delivery options - see catalogue or online for details.
Discount of 6% on orders over UKP 100, 10% over UKP 1000.
Orders taken by phone, fax, post, online or email. All major credit cards.

Trade Counters (open to all DIY-ers):

  • 8 Oxford Road, Pen Mill Trading Estate, Yeovil BA21 5HR

  • Unit 5, Malago Road Industrial Estate, Malago Road, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4JQ

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 07:00-20:00, Sat and Sun 08:00-18:00, Bank Holidays 08:00-17:00, closed Christmas and Boxing Day.
Items from Big Stuff catalogue cannot be collected from the shop but can be ordered there, or by the other methods, for mail order delivery.

Cat freq, date, cost:

3 Months, ?, Free

Cat Contents:

Excellent range of screws, nails, fasteners, some electrics and plumbing, sealants, abrasives, drills, blades, locks, odds and sods, hand tools, power tools and accessories.

Comments:

Good, fast service. Good prices, especially the fixings. It's very easy to get carried away and order more than you need - that extra widget might just come in handy one day!

Details last reviewed:

11-01-2005: New address for Yeovil Trade Counter, and new Trade Counter opened in Bristol Top

 

Company Name:

Titman Tip Tools Limited

Address:

Kennedy Way, Valley Road, Clacton-on-sea, Essex, CO15 4AB

Phone:

01255 220123

Fax:

01255 221422

Email:

titman@demon.co.uk  

Web Site:

n/k

Catalogue Name:

The Titman Catalogue

Mail Order products?

There is no policy statement but the catalogue and charts are freely available. Worth trying. Otherwise through local distributors.

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual, ?September?, Free 

Cat Contents:

Router cutters for general and special purposes. Routers and routing accessories.

Comments:

Very high quality. Manufacturing in UK, Germany and Netherlands. Some Trend jigs in the catalogue.

Details last reviewed:

22-03-97 Top

 

Company Name:

Trend Machinery and Cutting Tools Ltd

Address:

Unit 6, Odhams Trading Estate, Watford, Herts WD2 5TR

Phone:

Tech Support: 01923 224681 Literature: 0800 4 87363

Fax:

01923 228657

Email:

techsupport@trendmachinery.co.uk

Web Site:

http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk

Catalogue Name:

Routing Catalogue

Mail Order products?

No - sales mostly through stockists (see web site)

Cat freq, date, cost:

Annual, Autumn, free

Cat Contents:

Routers, cutters and accessories

Comments:

Very comprehensive catalogue and an excellent web site. All high quality stuff.

Details last reviewed:

16-10-2000 Top

 

Company Name:

TLC

Address:

Branches throughout south of UK. (Nationwide deliveries)

Phone:

Catalogue Hotline: 01293 420000. Mail Orders: 01293 565630

Fax:

0208 848072

Email:

sales@tlc-direct.co.uk

Web Site:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/

Catalogue Name:

Contact, The Electrical Catalogue

Mail Order products?

Yes, but mainly sales at the many branches

Cat freq, date, cost:

Bi-monthly, odd numbered months, Free.

Cat Contents:

Everything electrical for domestic installations. Cable, Fittings, Consumer Units, Lighting, Ventilation, Alarms, Heaters, CH Controls. MK, Contactum, BG, Telco + others.

Comments:

Prices quite reasonable. Good range. No nonsense. It pays to phone ahead and collect later. Local delivery with C.O.D. available. Hours vary between branches but generally 07:30 to 17:00 weekdays, 08:30 to 12:30 Sat. Free catalogue can also be picked up from local branches. Cash, Cheque, Access, Visa, Switch. Branches are usually small, out of town with free parking. Useful reference catalogue.

Details last reviewed:

28-05-2004 (Contact data updated)  Top

 

Company Name:

Woodfit Limited.

Address:

Kem Mill Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire. PR6 7EA

Phone:

01257 266421 (24 hrs Ansaphone)

Fax:

01257 264271 

Email:

sales@woodfit.com

Web Site:

www.woodfit.com

Catalogue Name:
(several separate catalogues)

  • The Catalogue - Furniture Fittings and Components
  • Knobs & Handles
  • Kitchen Doors and Drawer Fronts
  • Kitchen Cabinets
  • Bedroom Doors

Mail Order products?

Yes, and Showroom is worth visiting.

Cat freq, date, cost:

?; ?; Free

Cat Contents:

All the hardware required for fitting out a kitchen including carousels and tall larder units. Doors and drawer fronts etc.

Comments:

Mastercard, Visa, Switch or cash with order. UKP 2 carriage and handling below UKP 25 value. Anyone who has any thoughts of DIY in connection with cupboard and drawer units anywhere in the house should look here before spending vast sums. Excellent range of products.

Details last reviewed:

14-11-00 Top

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Last modified: 15 May, 2006 18:21:41
UK.D-I-Y FAQ Maintainer: Phil Addison (editor@diyfaq.org.uk)    © Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,2005