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General => Off-Topic => Topic started by: mefurd98 on April 06, 2019, 05:05:18 AM

Title: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on April 06, 2019, 05:05:18 AM
What is your favorite hardware store? Mine is my local ACE because I have found many old and unique light bulbs there.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: fluorescent lover 40 on April 06, 2019, 10:40:09 AM
Mine's ACE as well. Though the one near me doesn't have old stuff, it has nicer light bulbs (GE).
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: lightinglover8902 on April 06, 2019, 10:51:56 AM
Is it the restore considered a hardware store?  ???
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: fluorescent lover 40 on April 06, 2019, 10:58:48 AM
Is it the restore considered a hardware store?  ???

Hmm, I suppose it could be a hardware store, but I guess they're thrift type stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: lightinglover8902 on April 06, 2019, 11:21:12 AM
Hmm, I suppose it could be a hardware store, but I guess they're thrift type stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill.

Ah ok. :) I going there, especially for lighting! :D
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: fluorescent lover 40 on April 06, 2019, 11:22:03 AM
Ah ok. :) I going there, especially for lighting! :D

Same here, they never get old! :D
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: lightinglover8902 on April 06, 2019, 11:23:00 AM
And it seems like everyday, they have something new! :)
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: High Intensity on April 06, 2019, 12:56:21 PM
Mine was Orchard Supply Hardware, but then Lowes had to shut them down, so now it's ACE.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: dor123 on April 06, 2019, 01:58:43 PM
During the first decade of the 2000's, my favorite hardware store was Home Center (The other was ACE), as they were the only ones that sold SBMV lamps such as Osram HWL 160W and Philips ML 160W. ACE didn't sold SBMV lamps.
Today I don't have a favorite hardware store between the two, despite Home Center selling Orout Haamakim, since they have a wider range of lamps as well as Osram lamps. ACE have mainly Flash and generic stuff, and barely large known brands lamps, and smaller range of lamps in general.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: Cole D. on April 06, 2019, 02:54:55 PM
Here we have Ace and True Value, I don't know what kind of bulbs they sell. But Ace sells Westinghouse fixtures.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: RyanF40T12 on April 06, 2019, 05:56:54 PM
ACE is my favorite as well, but not for lighting purposes.  They carry mostly GE lights and the stuff GE has produced lately has been very crummy quality. 
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: lightinglover8902 on April 06, 2019, 07:22:47 PM
Mostly, theres a Lowes near me if theres a need of a repairment for the house, or equipment.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on April 07, 2019, 03:02:31 AM
I used to get most of my HID bulbs at Lowes when they had Sylvania, but now they have switched to GE for some reason and I'm not a big fan of their newer mercury lamps.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on April 07, 2019, 03:19:20 AM
Is it the restore considered a hardware store?  ???

I like the ReStore as well, but it's hard for me to catch them when they're open!
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: lightinglover8902 on April 07, 2019, 07:36:52 AM
I like the ReStore as well, but it's hard for me to catch them when they're open!

Yeah, the Habitat Restore at jones road, is closed on Sundays, but open Monday to Saturday. And the Habitat Restore at TX 242 is closed on Sunday and Monday, but open on Tuesday to Saturday.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on April 09, 2019, 03:46:03 AM
I plan on going to mine sometime this week. Last time I went I got a brand new 400 watt Metal Halide high bay light for about $15
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: ace100w120v on April 09, 2019, 09:18:14 PM
Local in my neighborhood are a Sentry and a True Value that often have unique, unusual, NOS items.  Not even so much just lighting (Since I bought most of their NOS bulbs!) but other things.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: RyanF40T12 on April 09, 2019, 09:25:16 PM
I love going into older style hardware stores.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: CEB1993 on May 15, 2019, 04:41:16 PM
My favorite chain hardware store is Home Depot.  They have Philips and Sylvania branded lighting products at reasonable prices.  I also enjoy either locally owned hardware stores in the small towns near me because of their good customer service and the chance of finding NOS incandescent lamps.  I definitely consider ReStores hardware stores and go to those about once a week too  :)
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on June 20, 2019, 10:57:58 PM
I use to have favorite hardware stores thanks to lighting. (Home Depot, and DEFINITELY Lowes and True Value) This being before LED. Now I'm
not sure if I have an interest in either of those stores anymore thanks to LEDs completely ruining it for me. I mean... maybe
there are some hardware stores that still sell vintage reliable lighting here and there. If so, those stores would automatically be
my favorites. But if LED's have truly become the only source of lighting I can purchase, I've got no favorite hardware store.
Home Depot and Lowes is literally across the street from each other just down the street from me, so I'm going to go to both of them
soon to see if they still sell fluorescent fixtures at least.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: fluorescent lover 40 on June 21, 2019, 03:09:11 AM
I use to have favorite hardware stores thanks to lighting. (Home Depot, and DEFINITELY Lowes and True Value) This being before LED. Now I'm
not sure if I have an interest in either of those stores any more thanks to LEDs completely ruining it for me. I mean... maybe
there are some hardware stores that still sell vintage reliable lighting here and there. If so, those stores would automatically be
my favorites. But if LED's have truly become the only source of lighting I can purchase, I've got no favorite hardware store.
Home Depot and Lowes are literally across the street from each other just down the street from me, so I'm going to go to both of them soon to see if they still sell fluorescent fixtures at least.
I know this isn't a hardware store but check a ReStore. They might have something non-LED.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on June 21, 2019, 04:24:26 AM
@Fluorescent lover 40, I definitely know about Restore, that's for sure. I've actually been to one about 3, possibly
even 4 years ago, and posted about it at one point. I managed to score a fluorescent fixture with two "Commercial Service" F40T12
cool white lamps. (likely made by Philips, with those cathode shield guards they had) That fixture came with an 87% power factor
magnetic Rapid Start ballast. (I've still got that ballast) I also scored a F34T12 Sylvania GTE "Lite White Deluxe." (I've still
got that lamp but took it out of my kitchen fixture almost 2 years ago I think, and put it up inside my bedroom closet.)
I'm confident Restore would have that kind of stuff and more, but... my experience with Restore was not necessarily a good one.
People kept staring at me the entire time like I was some sort of monster.
I would hope that it's not some sort of racial thing, but regardless, despite scoring some gems, I haven't felt comfortable
with going to a Restore here near Dayton Ohio ever since. My #1 source of rare and quality lighting has been from Ebay.

Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: fluorescent lover 40 on June 21, 2019, 09:39:36 AM
@Fluorescent lover 40, I definitely know about Restore, that's for sure. I've actually been to one about 3, possibly
even 4 years ago, and posted about it at one point. I managed to score a fluorescent fixture with two "Commercial Service" F40T12
cool white lamps. (likely made by Philips, with those cathode shield guards they had) That fixture came with an 87% power factor
magnetic Rapid Start ballast. (I've still got that ballast) I also scored an F34T12 Sylvania GTE "Lite White Deluxe." (I've still
got that lamp but took it out of my kitchen fixture almost 2 years ago I think and put it up inside my bedroom closet.)
I'm confident Restore would have that kind of stuff and more, but... my experience with Restore was not necessarily a good one.
People kept staring at me the entire time like I was some sort of monster.
I would hope that it's not some sort of racial thing, but regardless, despite scoring some gems, I haven't felt comfortable
with going to a Restore here near Dayton Ohio ever since. My #1 source of rare and quality lighting has been from Ebay.

Wow! I'm sorry to hear that. It's weird though. I had a Lithonia F40T12 shoplight (the big type) in my cart when I was "light shopping" at a thrift store recently and no one looked at me weirdly. As a matter, a fact, one of the employees noticed the light and started talking to me about it. He was talking about how used to install those back in the day, but now, he installs LED ones. I don't use eBay because my parents don't let me. And even at the ReStore, they only let me spend 2 dollars per trip.


Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on June 21, 2019, 09:53:41 AM
@fluorescent lover 40, I still don't know what was up. Although I absolutely HATE making assumptions like this (and I hate making
assumptions in general) it's possible that maybe they don't see African American customers very often. I'm not sure what the
deal was, but even though I got what I wanted, (used fluorescent lamps, fixtures, and a ballast) I did not feel comfortable or
welcomed there at all, whatsoever. I'll definitely give it a chance again someday though, that is for sure.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: icefoglights on June 21, 2019, 11:05:34 PM
Mine go-to is the local Sentry Hardware.  Good selection, decent prices and long hours.  When I was visiting my nephew in Arkansas, we would be working on a project and often think it would be so much easier if we could make a run to Sentry.  Last time was looking for some stainless steel nuts/bolts/washers to hold the license plate on the motorcycle.  It was Sunday so the local hardware store was closed, so we had to make due with Tractor Supply.  Got what we needed, but not in stainless (except for the bolts) and had to buy them in the prepackaged quantities.

Our local True Value is pretty cool.  Their new building doesn't have the character that their original (1905-2008) building had.  Their selection isn't quite as good as Sentry though, but their hours are the big thing that keep me from going there more often.  Closed at 3 on Saturday and all day Sunday.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: Cole D. on June 21, 2019, 11:23:11 PM
@fluorescent lover 40, I still don't know what was up. Although I absolutely HATE making assumptions like this (and I hate making
assumptions in general) it's possible that maybe they don't see African American customers very often. I'm not sure what the
deal was, but even though I got what I wanted, (used fluorescent lamps, fixtures, and a ballast) I did not feel comfortable or
welcomed there at all, whatsoever. I'll definitely give it a chance again someday though, that is for sure.

I had gotten strange looks at Habitat when I bought things other than lighting. I think it just odd to see someone my age buying things like that. I understand how you probably feel about it. I don't like shopping somewhere when I don't feel welcome or people looking at me either.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: Cole D. on June 21, 2019, 11:25:31 PM
As for hardware stores, there an ACE here but they don't really have a wide selection, I don't think. They close early on Saturday, so I don't go there that often.

There's also another little hardware store but I never looked for lighting in it.

In the next town they have True Value but it's been a long time since I went to it.

Home Depot here only sell CFL or LED security lighting, but do have Phillips HID lamps and fluorescents.

Lowes still sell MH and HPS area lights and they sell GE HID lamps. I forget what fluorescents they sell.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: fluorescent lover 40 on June 21, 2019, 11:58:16 PM
It's odd, I never got looks whenever I bought anything. I'm young, but not too young.

As for hardware stores, it's Home Depot or Ace.

Home Depot has mostly LED fixtures (for sale). The only things not LED are some fluorescent lights and some motion lights. It still sells Philips lamps, is still lit with T5 HO, and still has 400w HPS lights in the parking lots.

I haven't been to Ace in half a year (don't ask me why), but it is lit with F96T8 strips (presumably F96T12) and still sells HID fixtures. The outside it lit with MH shoeboxes.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on June 22, 2019, 08:08:31 AM
I'm also on the younger side, although I'm getting older... close to 30 years old. My face still looks as
if I'm in my early twenties, but I'm noticeably physically strong since I weightlift. I've been told many
times in my life, that I look threatening. So maybe that could be why I get the stares. I don't know.

But yeah, the Lowes parking lot is still lit with Metal Halide Shoeboxes... and their entrance area where
the carts are... still lit with MH spotlighting, just like when I was a kid. I have no clue what the inside
of that store looks like now though. The Home Depot across the street has it's parking lot lit with a mixture
of Metal Halide and LED... the LED lamps have been retrofitted to fit the Metal Halide Shoeboxes. Sooooo...
some fixtures are bright and some are absolutely terribly dim. The dimmer lights...? You guessed it... LED.
Those LED lamps in those Shoebox parking lot lights are so much dimmer that's it's hilarious.
Anyways, I'll also have to check out what lighting they use now at Home Depot. It might still be HO fluorescent T5's
instead of LED T5's. Hopefully.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on June 30, 2019, 08:16:42 AM
Hey just a quick update. I went to Home Depot a couple days ago to get wiring nuts/wiring connectors. Upon shopping there, I discovered...
every single fixture has been retrofitted to LED. Completely retrofitted. Not LED tubes... this is the kind of situation where if the
fixture fails, the fixture needs to be replaced. Yup. Home Depot. Also, it's noticeably dimmer in there now. Stupid decision.
However... Home Depot is still selling fluorescent tubes of all kinds except High Output, and VHO. Even full wattage Slimline F96T12s.
They're also still selling MV, MH, and HPS lamps! A good amount too. They're still selling a lot of PL lamps, but no PL-L lamps.
I was very surprised to see the amount of old school lighting still being sold there... not much in the way of CFL's though.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to go to the fixture aisle, but I will be going back very soon. I also will be going to Lowes
to see what up with them too.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on July 01, 2019, 02:55:01 AM
Same thing at one of my local Lowes stores. A couple of weeks ago, they changed out the parking lot lights for LED and the fixtures in the store. I also noticed that they replaced the metal halide high bays in the garden center to LED high bays. And it's the type of fixtures that have the LEDs directly on the fixtures and not replaceable lamps. I noticed that some of the LEDs in the parking lot lights have already failed. I hope they have fun replacing whole fixtures when they fail.

The other Lowes that is located in a shopping center still has MH parking lot lights and fluorescent fixtures inside and doesn't feel like you're walking into a hospital because the color of the LEDs in the other store were very cold. But it's probably only a matter of time.

The Home Depot has HPS parking lot lights and fluorescent fixtures inside.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on July 01, 2019, 03:04:20 AM
@Mefurd98, the Lowes store across the street from the Home Depot close to where I live, has been saved for now. No LED
infestation yet, but it's only a matter of time. I know they'll fail and get LED's too. But as of now everything at the front
of the building, besides the Lowes sign on the building, is completely old school. It's almost like stepping back in time.
No lighting changes yet.
Fun fact: Right in front of that Lowes parking lot, there's a Tornado Siren. I don't understand why they'd put a siren
near/on a parking lot of any kind, but they did. That is NOT pleasant when that siren is activated, I'm betting.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on July 01, 2019, 03:41:22 AM
@suzukir122 that's good, maybe they'll keep the old lighting for a while, I find it more inviting than harsh LEDs all over the store. So far, that is the only hardware store in my area that has completely been taken over by the LEDisease.

And about the siren, I bet that scares the customers to death when it goes off! There is a tornado siren on the corner of our land that doubles as a nuclear plant siren. We definitely get the message when it goes off!
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on July 01, 2019, 06:23:49 AM
@Mefurd98, yeah that's actually siren #2 that is closest to my apartment. Siren #1 is actually in the parking lot
of West Carrollton High School, which is walking distance from me. I can hear BOTH sirens with ease from my apartment
complex... I couldn't imagine how loud those sirens are to those anywhere close to them. But yeah a trip to Home Depot
and Lowes will be coming soon for me. Gotta see what changes have been made over the last several years.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: Cole D. on July 01, 2019, 05:14:56 PM
Same here. And I see it as irony, that Home Depot uses HPS lighting in the parking and outside the store, since their signature color is orange. Plus Lowes is usually blue color and MH makes a sort of blue/green color.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: tolivac on July 02, 2019, 01:08:15 AM
No Home Depot in my area-closed years ago.Have two Lowes-their lighting equipment and tools are quite lame.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on July 02, 2019, 04:30:59 AM
Yeah the lighting selection at major hardware stores are getting pretty bad with all of the LED fixtures. Lowes still carries the HPS yardblasters but they stopped selling the MH ones. And for tools I like to go to Sears.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: Lumex120 on July 02, 2019, 01:42:36 PM
Same here. And I see it as irony, that Home Depot uses HPS lighting in the parking and outside the store, since their signature color is orange. Plus Lowes is usually blue color and MH makes a sort of blue/green color.
I can't recall a single time I have seen a home depot that doesn't use HPS in the parking lots. I'm pretty sure that it was intentional.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on July 03, 2019, 02:38:19 AM
I do believe it's intentional. My local Home Depot is in a shopping plaza with the whole parking lot being lit by Metal Halide except for the Home Depot which has HPS. Maybe they'll keep it like that. I like how Home Depot uses the HPS parking lot lights.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: suzukir122 on July 03, 2019, 08:39:38 AM
Well then my Home Depot not too far from where I live, is in the rare... because they use Metal Halide... with a mixture of
seriously crappy LED bulbs installed into some of those fixtures. However, the back of that Home Depot where the loading docks
are... still definitely lit with HPS. The garden center though, is lit with the same parking lot MH shoe box fixtures, but that one has
4 fixtures on one pole. That garden center area is really bright, not surprisingly.
Title: Re: Favorite Hardware Store?
Post by: mefurd98 on July 05, 2019, 05:30:27 AM
As far as I know, they still relamp the HPS fixtures. I noticed a couple out a few months back and they're working again.