True surplus! We recently acquired a bunch of brand new Testors Mighty Mini™ airbrush compressor kits. Great, but why’s that surplus? Because the box says it comes with paints--and what’s missing? The paints! What’s NOT missing? The 120VAC compressor (measures 6-1/4" x 4-3/4" x 4") with a 6-foot power cord, and the Testors Aztek airbrush system, which includes a single-action external mix airbrush with 6-foot hose, (3) 1/2 oz jars with screw caps, two vented caps to mate with the airbrush (plus cover caps for them), and a pipette. Sweet gift!

For bigger, or longer, projects, and hands-free operation. This 1/4-hp flex-shaft grinder has a 42" long (counting the chuck) flexible shaft, a keyed chuck that accepts bits up to 5/32", a variable-speed control foot-pedal power switch, and a comfortable 1" dia hand grip. The motor runs 500 to 22,000 rpm, operates on 120VAC, measures 3-1/4" dia x 4" long, and has a sturdy hook to hang it from an over-the-bench shelf. Intermittent duty. Over 25 grinding tool accessories included!

Top off this beautiful tool with our 227 piece accessory set. Click here

Our each is 100 feet of of paracord (tactical cord) from Atwood Rope Mfg. Measures 3/32" dia (think round shoelace) with (4) internal strands and a 275-lb test strength. UV inhibited; rot and mildew resistant. In assorted solid and blended colors, from which we'll pick because we have impeccable taste in cordage.

Teensy tiny brushes for cleaning teensy tiny tubes, airbrushes, spray guns, tattoo equipment, nozzles, etc. Think miniature bottle brushes. You get a set of (5) brushes: 1/32", 1/16", 3/32", 1/8" and 3/16" dia. All have nylon bristles, are 4" long, and are on a slip ring so you won't lose them.

Our best and prettiest-ever slices of polished agate, showing concentric rings of natural and dyed colors. The slices range from 3" to 4-1/2" across and from 1/8" to 3/16" thick. We've seen samples from milky white to blue, purple, red, yellow and brown. No two alike, by definition. We'll choose. Think scientific specimens, framed art, coasters, trivets, paperweights, or skipping stones for rich kids who don't want to search the beach for flat stones.

These are the so-called miracle shears. They were designed for use by paramedics and others needing quickly to cut wire, light sheet metal, or other tough stuff that might stand between them and their quarry. They are normally demonstrated cutting a penny in two. Which they will do. But not as a steady diet. Let's dispel a few myths. While these are Pakistani stainless, we're not talking any miracles in manufacturing. They are good for their purpose, and real handy to have in the old tool box. But their purpose isn't making pennies into 5-mil pieces, and you will twist or break them at about the same time you find out that you've done the same thing to U.S. laws! For sheet metal or wire or fishing leaders or tin cans or whatever, be our guests.

More likely cowskin, but who ever says that? Leather, anyway. Our each is a package of (10) leather cords, 3/16” x 1/16” x approx 48”-70” long, in assorted colors and ready for your frontier craft needs, or for lacing up your boots. Also dandy for cowboy key chains. Our samples were brown , dark brown and black. What will yours be?

Any way you want it. This cast aluminum wire jig for jewelry-making measures 4-3/8" x 1" x 5/8" with (4) 1” x 1/4” steel pegs, semi-circular and triangular bending points, slots at 3/32",1/8" and 3/16" wide, plus one with a small divot to one side. Includes mounting screws so you can stick it to your workbench. Not into jewelry? Bend your own fishing hooks, S-hooks and soft metal strips.  

This set of (6) tweezers is as useful as it looks daunting. The (6) stainless steel tweezers vary in size from 4-1/2" up to 7". Two of the tweezers have serrated tips one is inverse, one has a slide latch and the others are straight flat tip. The set comes in a clear front plastic carrying case. Good for model cars, planes or hard to reach splinters.

Maybe a little eclectic for an artist with a single style, but perfect for one who's still searching for himself. Or for any hobbyist. There are no (2) brushes exactly alike in this set of (15). They all have natural bristles, color-coded wooden handles and metal ferrules, but they range from fairly fine to 1/2" wide, and 7" to 10" long. There are at least (3) different kinds of bristles, and they are round, blunt and pointed. A nice variety, and a very nice quality for this price.

You get (3) of these stainless steel surgical scissors, which have a shorter working length (with the hinge closer to the jaws) than regular snippers, but you still shouldn't try to remove your own appendix. Measure 4-3/8" long and are quite sharp.

Make your own custom clock in a tick with this quartz movement. It's in a 2-3/16" square x 5/8" thick black-plastic case with a built-in hook for hanging it. Comes with minimalistic hour, minute and second hands, the latter (2) of which will extend out 2" from the clock's center; the shaft measures 5/16" Dia. and 1/2" long, but the max. thickness of material it will work through is 3/16". You supply (1) "AA" battery and the clock face.

For traveling surgeons? Veterinarians? Dunno, but this is a small, retractable utility knife with a pointed, #11 scalpel blade inside. Measures 4-1/4" long with a plastic handle when retracted. Looks to us to be great for crafting, hobbying and pretty much any fine cutting. Made in England, and they ain’t talking.

Pick up this 1-3/4" x 7/8" x 3/8" ceramic pick-up magnet while we still have it. It's in a heavy metal housing and has a stationary metal hoop, about 1/2" i.d., on top. The manufacturer tells us the magnet will grab up to 5 lbs of metal, however Pat and Magnet Testing Team #3 have repeatedly lifted 10+ lbs, so it's very strong. Especially if you're going to dangle it on the end of a cord to gather spilled nails or to fish your keys out of the lake/pond/sewer/drain!

Pop one of these roughly 1-1/4" dia stones into the toe of a sock, smash it with a hammer, and be the first person ever to see your real-as-Nature-makes-it geode!! Ninety percent of them have the familiar beautiful white crystals inside. Formed by volcanic action, they are found all over the world, but ours are from Mexico. There is no way to tell from the outside if they have crystal centers, but we will send you two just to raise your odds, and we haven't had a dud yet in our stores!! Much much more fun and satisfaction than buying one already cracked.

But you can take this copper tape to liven up your crafts, from journals and scrapbooks to jewelry, collages and picture framing. And since one side is conductive, you can wire a dollhouse with it. Our each is (36) yards of 3/8" wide x .0015" thick actual copper tape on a 3” core. It’s self-adhesive on the non-conductive side, too.

This all-purpose scissors is the favorite of everyone at A.S.&S.: Pat uses his to cut and strip wire. C.J. uses his to slit the tape on packages. Mary Ann uses hers to open bags of pretzels. It's 6-1/4" long overall, with a very sharp 2" stainless steel blade and large, comfortable handles. It would sell for $9.95 retail if it was new, but it was used for one day to cut cloth in the assembly plant of a major car company, then discarded. Quality control is a wonderful thing.

Can't beat a classic. These uncoated ceramic donut magnets have a 1-lb pull, which makes them dandy for classroom or refrigerator use. They measure 1-1/4" dia x 3/8" ID x 3/16" thick and are polarized on the faces. You get a wrapped roll of 29 donuts.