You do have tubes, don’t you? This 10-piece set of wire brushes includes (5) each in brass and stainless steel, all 12” long, with 4” long bristle sections with 1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8”, 1/2” and 3/4” dia bristles. Loops on the end are for hanging above the bench where you do your tube cleaning.

Heloise and Abelard? Wallace and Gromit? No, the two cords you put together in this 5-1/2" long cord-lock device. Works with 16- or 18-gauge cords, giving you a secure daisy chain of extension cords that won’t get pulled apart every time someone trips on a cord. Snap the cord-lock over your cords and a threading screw on each end pushes them into a locked setting. Set it and forget it.

We’d call it the Scent of a Woman pack, but we don’t deal in gender stereotypes, so we won’t. What it is, is a pack of (6) 7ml (1/4 oz) amber glass, screw-cap bottles, 3-1/4" long x 3/4" dia with 3/8" steel roller balls in nylon sleeves in the mouths. Pop off the roller tops and use the included glass dropper to fill the bottles with perfume, essential oils, gin or anything else you’d like to roll on.

The Alligetter is a pick-up tool that works much better than "You come here often?" Sorry--joke. This pick-up tool is for getting stuff that's stuck in the garbage disposal, an alternative to having your fingers disposalated. Translucent white plastic with a gatorish head and 2-1/2" long serrated jaws, a white LED for lighting up the drain, and a clever little device to spread those rubber drain flaps, it folds for storage. Personally, we think it's way too alluring to stick down a drain, and its real future is with imaginative children and invented games. Consider buying some marbles or playing cards. Or mini dinosaurs… Please note, the included (4) AG-3 batteries are getting old, may be corroded and in need of replacing. Check out our battery assortment Button Cell Batteries for low cost replacements. That's just the way surplus works sometimes.

From Scientific Explorer®, the people who start kids off right, come these self-contained kits for kids 6+. You pick: the Amusin’ Illusions™ kit with (26) optical illusions, including eye monster, penrose triangle, hole in your hand, dancing cube, mobius strip and many more, and comes with 3D glasses and a 19-page manual; or Fingerprint Science™ for budding forensic scientists, which includes a bottle of fingerprint powder, dusting brush, acrylic magnifier, tape tabs, (32) fingerprint cards and a 29-page instruction manual.

Cases for mounting butterflies, bugs, rocks, fossils or any other three dimensional collectibles. Known as Riker mounts, these are sturdy cardboard boxes 7/8" deep, with glass glued into the front cover for viewing. They are filled with a fairly firm, white, expanded, synthetic, cotton–like material. The cushiony filler holds the three–dimensional viewee in place without pins or glue. Very handy for the proud trophy hunter. Our smaller is 8” x 12” and the larger 12” x 16–1/2”.

No, not you. You’re not a golden retriever. We’re talking about these spectacular heel clips with flashing LEDs inside. Clamp one around the heel of your shoe, set it for fast, slow, or constant on, and it glows bright red around the back and both sides of your heel. Makes you visible on night runs and extra-stylish in a darkened disco or rave. The strong spring makes them quite grippy. Our each is (1) clip, but you really should get a pair if you’re as symmetrically inclined as we think you are.

Make your fingers (and toes, too, if you can reach them) twinkle with this compact 8-piece stainless steel manicure set. Includes small and large nail clippers plus 3-1/4" long curved cuticle scissors and, in the same size, a cuticle pusher, trimmer, tweezers and a nail cleaner. All in a zippered imitation faux leatherette pouch.

We recommend these zinc-plated steel L-brackets for bracing weak table legs or mounting lesser shelves, but you could also pass out a couple to anyone who asks for your brackets at basketball tournament time. Measure 4" x 5" x 1-5/16" at their widest, with (6) countersunk 3/16” mounting holes.

We’re music-loving folk here at the surplus capital of America, so we like this high-quality, triangular, olive drab nylon case, originally intended to be a gun case, for toting your ukulele from luau to tiki bar. Padded, measures 22” long x 10” wide at the big end, narrowing to approx 4” at the bottom. Zipper on (3) sides, shoulder strap, outside 5” x 7-1/2” flapped pocket, and myriad slots on both sides. Also good for a junior fiddle, or some flutes and tin whistles.

With its own Kong. Our each is a pencil with a windowed pattern to (vaguely) resemble a skyscraper, plus a sliding gorilla eraser to climb up it. It’s what Fay Wray would have used to take the SATs.

That’s a seldom-heard auto and woodshop taunt. Also true of this, our largest ratcheting long-nose plier clamp. Measures 9-1/2” long with 3-3/4” long serrated jaws that have pivoting end pads. Opens to a yawning 3-1/8” and has a quick-release trigger.

Special for bottlesquashers. This collapsible, non-toxic silicone water bottle (In assorted colors) is easily the cutest thing that ever held H2O. Starts out like a little squat barrel approx 5-1/2” x 2-3/4” dia, but pull up on the top and it rises to a full 9” tall. Flip cap has a screw-down lock, and there’s a carabiner near the neck to hang it from. Holds approx 17 oz, comes in four assorted water friendly colors and is rated for -40 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Great for camping, hiking, mom-ing and kid-ing. 

What we have here are 96-sheet, white genuine Post-It  note pads, 4” wide x just shy of 3” tall with adhesive strips on the top edge. Plus, for mysterious reasons, the samples we received have (5) pink capital letter Fs strung across the top margin. Just ignore them, unless your name is Frances, Fiona, Frank, Felicity or Fanny--or Fogarty, Fletcher, Fox or Fernandez, but don’t ask for a discount because they’re already cheap. You will probably get some letters other than F, too. That’s why they call it surplus.

In black textured rubber with red trim these gloves from Best® Glove are their Trapper™ brand, and are the grippiest buggers we’ve seen since Hector was a pup. They’re marked “Sanitized™” but we’re not sure what that means. Nitrile-coated with a felt lining. You pick size 9 or 10.

Still good advice, no matter what you’ve heard. And much easier with this excellent 33-piece set of pointed brush-tip markers (black, brown, light and dark green, yellow, orange, light and deep purple and royal blue); 0.4mm fine-tip markers (light and dark green, yellow, orange, red, pink, sky blue, dark blue, brown and black); and (12) double-ended color pencils. The whole artistic shebang comes in a tray with a pencil sharpener. From our friends at Helix®.

Really. Our each is a 10-foot roll of 1/2” wide, self-adhesive magnetic strip. Flexible, too, so the craft, kitchen, classroom and cubicle uses are limited only by your imagination! (We heard that on an infomercial once--we really don’t know much about your imagination, but we always assume that is it vast and nimble.)

Or pipettes, depending upon how you roll. These pipet fillers are chemical-resistant, 2-1/8” dia rubber with the traditional A, S & E valves. S is 7mm ID and E is 9mm ID. Squeeze A to evacuate the bulb, S to suck the liquid up, and E to release the liquid. Should be able to fill up to 25ml. Non-chemistry folks could just leave one in their bathroom and let visitors speculate about its purpose.

And they’ll save you considerable drawer space. Our 4-piece set of stainless steel nesting measuring cups from Superb Chef have short handles to save space. They’re the usual 1, 3/4, 1/2 and 1/4 cup sizes but with added smaller increments (incl 1/3) on the sides. They also have small spouts for pouring, and holes for hanging or stringing together if you’re into that.

From the U.S. Navy stock of unused Gob hats (no, we don’t know where that name comes from) or more familiarly “dixie cups,” in white cotton twill. We’ll pick from sizes 7 through 8-1/2 if you’re going for the Cracker Jack look, but if you turn the sides down like Gilligan, one size fits every noggin. Upright, it should be squared up for authenticity. Group discount available for drama teachers staging South Pacific.

Just like (pretty much) the old steel ammo can GIs carried, and then carried home to their garage workshops, but in olive drab or black plastic, which doesn’t rust. Measures 11" x 7" x 5" with a gasketed flip-up lid, 3” latch and a 5-1/4” folding handle on top. Weighs in at a little over a pound.

Please Note: Our current stock is black and not sure when olive drab will be back.

Environmental Science teachers, how about showing your students how to test water’s visibility and hence turbidity--or its opposite, clarity--with our freshwater Secchi disk? (We thought you’d like the idea.) The disk is just under 8” dia with an integral weight and alternating black and white quadrants, attached to a 72-foot nylon cord marked every foot with a hash mark. Just lower it into water and you’ll have your results, and teaching points.

Plug this cut-diamond-shaped, white plastic speaker into your audio player, and its internal amp and 3/4” speaker will go to work. Measures approx 2” across x 1-1/4” deep not counting the standard 1/8” mini-plug. Recharges via the included USB cord. (Charge for a couple hours before using, and adjust the volume, as it’s prone to clipping.) You pick red, white or black.

From ET Tech, this series 23 liquid micro-pump draws less than 300mA at 4-6VDC (5VDC nominal) with a liter-per-minute flow rate and up to a 3-foot lift. Not submersible, but suitable for hot-water apps and continuous duty. Measures 1" x 1" dia with a barbed 1/4" right-angle outlet and a 3/8" OD inlet on top. Great for fountains!

Our medium-gray closed-cell foam comes in 14-1/8" x 3-3/4" x 1/4" thick slices with self-adhesive backing. You get two slabs, the better to pad something with.

Now kids can have a belt-mounted coin changer like the ones bus conductors wore when there were bus conductors. And when you didn't need exact change. And when people still used money. Never mind, just tell them it's like the ones ball-park vendors and ice-cream truck drivers use. In red and blue plastic with spring-loaded steel dispensers for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.

Da Mare could use this to point out cracks in the infrastructure at Wrigley Field. You, having a forgiving nature, will resist the urge to point out cracks in da mayor's infrastructure. You will, of course, use it to point out chimney cracks to the tuck-pointer, a cracked limb to the tree-trimmer, and the crack in your profit picture during a slide presentation. You can do all that and much, much more with the bright light from this 5mW green laser pointer. It's an unbelievable tool. If you need a laser pointer that seems to go on forever and is so strong that you can actually see the beam in the dark, it will be the best low-cost investment you ever made. Or the coolest high-end toy. The 532nm Class IIIa light is 5-5/8" long x 1/2" dia, with (2) "AAA" batteries (included), a momentary-on switch, pocket clip, and case. An absolute necessity for construction, surveying, warehousing, inspection and other large sites. And for playing in the dark.

We’re out of red; you’ll have to make do. These fluorescent yellow paint markers from Krylon® have a 3/16” wide wedge tip. Paint dries within 15 minutes, the same time it took the Music Man to meet Marian the Librarian at the footbridge, so be patient. Can be used on fabric.

You will survive with this Survival Candle, a 3-wick burner made of soy and palm wax in a 3-1/8" dia 2-3/8" tin can with a lid. Rated to last up to 36 hours.

Tell them these are cell phones with only a one-number contact file, and with no texting. Your kiddlier kids still enjoy walkie talkies, and this Educational Insights set has a 300-foot range. Press the connect-disconnect button and the other kid has (5) seconds to respond and you’re both ready to talk at the same time. Also has a cricketish call signal and high/low/off switches. Units are 4-3/8” x 2-3/8” x 1-1/4”. All you add is the gum.

On a string, to make your car’s interior a magic wonderland. Our each is a 10-foot wire with (29) tiny white LEDs powered by a cigarette-lighter plug on a 3-foot cord. Don't have a car? An AC adapter, not included, lets you bring the wonderland indoors. Includes mounting clips and double-sided tape. Also includes a bonus testing power pack with (10) button-cell batteries.

Return with us now to those thrilling days of the 15th century, when Leonardo was designing stuff you wouldn't have thought of even if you'd paid attention in class and applied yourself. You choose from these wooden models of his genius designs. His unrealized aerial screw (think helicopter) stands approx 15" tall on a 9" square base and has a canvas canopy. Includes a 12-page manual and all the parts. For ages 9+. You’ll need glue, scissors and a ruler. The trebuchet (think catapult) is based on his original 1482 design, stands approx 24" tall x 12-3/4" x 4-1/2" and comes with all the parts, including a clay ball to launch at your favorite model castle, or your sister. Includes an 8-page instruction book and is for ages 12+. Bring glue, scissors, a ruler and some small clamps. His wooden armored tank, for ages 8+, will be about 8” across and 6-5/8” tall when you glue the (87) pieces together. Great resources for STEM activities.

Mats-R-Us, and we’ll prove it with this 3-piece set of flexible cooking mats, including a 15" x 12" white plastic, flexible chopping mat; a 13" x 15-1/2" black plastic (PTFE) grill mat to keep smaller items from falling onto the coals; and our fave, a 14-1/2" square crispy cooker that prevents frozen pizza soggification, among other things.

This Olive Drab painted on the outside and shiny, reflective silver on the inside aluminum lampshade from Uncle is 7” dia at the bottom x 4-1/8” tall with a 1-5/16” hole non-threaded, in the top for the bulb. Plug the hole and it’s a bowl!

Like the smartest kid in class, this little PC board is crazy bright with (8) 1/8” dia warm white LED COBs. Clearly marked pads for power inputs. The whole shebang is just 7/8” dia with 3/32” mounting divots. Requires a heat sink and a current-limiting resistor.

This bright headlamp has a 45-lumen LED (which is bright!), and comes with an elastic strap to put it on your noggin when you’re biking, spelunking, mining coal or fixing that leaky pipe under the sink. Measures 3” x 2-1/2” x 2-1/4” with a pivoting mount. In orange and black plastic, and you add (3) “AAA” batteries.

Is mighty bright, actually, and warm white. Our COB LEDs are 5/8" dia, mounted on PC boards that measure approx 1-1/8" x 3/4". Nominally rated at 32VDC up to 1A, with heat-sink backings. Best with a constant current supply, which will draw 170mA or use a current limiting resistor and a heat sink.

Or on your pack, or wherever. This single-walled stainless steel mug holds approx 8 oz (not the 10 on the package) and has a 3/4” ID x a 3” long working red carabiner for a handle. Measures 3-1/8” tall x 2-7/8” including the carabiner. Safe for use over an open flame, but watch your fingers.

This pre-filled PC board has (50) white LED chips on a board measuring 22" long x 1-1/2" wide at its widest, with clearly marked power in/thru jumpers at each end. You’ll need at least 24VDC at 300mA to fire it up. Max is 32VDC 1A, and we don’t recommend staring directly at it when it’s in operation.

Devices used to hold spring in place, thus ensuring eternally promis-ing, but changeable and wet weather. No? How about this then: Steel grips, spring loaded to keep their tips tightly closed on whatever you chose to target. The handles and tips have been coated with a light plastic to improve grip and provide a bit of insulation. The clamp is about 4" long x 5/8" wide and opens about 1-1/4". They have strong grips and will crush fragile items, but do a good job of holding things while the glue dries, you do the soldering, or the materials bond.