Large plastic hook, pointed on one end, blunt on the other. We have no idea what it was made for. Some suggest a meat hook in a pet food factory, which the shape supports. But the red or white plastic suggests not. Maybe it is for veggies? A loyal reader is convinced that it goes over a door and bananas are hung from it. Sounds good to us. The blunt end is shaped to hang over a square beam, 1-1/4" or so thick. The other pointy end, when the hook is so hung, will be 3" from the beam top, and will point out 3" and up @ about 15°. The whole is made of 3/8" dia plastic rod. You figure out what to do with it.

This one will do, particularly if you’re hanging up something substantial, and you need a hook that looks sort of like a question mark. Brass-plated steel, 4-3/4” long with a 1” ID and made from 3/8” stock. The last 2-1/4” have a 3/8-16 thread waiting for a nut you could find in any hardware store.

A fatal yoga position? Crocodile moves? Nope, just a shiny steel snap hook, 3-1/2" long with a 3/8" ID, attached to a 3/4” ID swivel, the better to hook your keys on whatever you hook your keys on.

Actually, we like hooks and eyes, especially when they have screws on the other end and they're great for hanging stuff from. You choose. Our 1-3/8" long steel screw eyes have 3/8" IDs. You'll get (2) packs with (10) screw eyes in each, which will hang up to (20) things--and we did that math all in our head. Our 4" long screw hooks have a 1" ID and we've got them because the package says they're 4-1/8" long. Ain't surplus wonderful? You'll get (2) packs, or (4) hooks altogether. Let the hanging begin.

In big quantities. And dirt cheap. The dark brown plastic, 1-11/16" squares with one corner cut off at a 45° angle are approx 1/16" thick, with a raised center square, a 9/16" hole in the center, and peel-off really-self-adhesive backing. For art projects, air vents for snake cages, wall plates for cable runs, or something. Please.

The world of surplus works in mysterious ways. Here we have assorted V-shaped aluminum channels 5-3/4" long x 5/8" wide across the 120° Vs. Picture these nestled behind glass thermometer tubes, imprinted with assorted scales, each with a small mounting hole at the top, maybe tiny crimp-clips to mount the thermometer that isn't there, and a diamond-shaped opening at the bottom for the glass bulb that also isn't there. Then add your own thermometers, use them as teaching aids, string 'em together for tracks or marble runs, or get really creative.

What do you give a plumber for his birthday? We recommend some longer T-shirts and maybe some of these 3/8” white PVC 90-degree elbow fittings. Fittings are 3/8” ID and a tad over 1” long on both legs; they come with mating nuts and gaskets.

You've found perfect tires for your model of an LEV-SFC (that would be Lunar Exploration Vehicle, Stable Foot Class). StableFeet" are groovy blue plastic tubes, closed (except for a small hole) at one end. They're 3-1/4" long, and are made to fit over a standard 1-1/8" steel tube, like, say, the T-legs of an ironing board. If you don't use the striated rubber extenders to stabilize an ironing board or dress up tricycle handlebars, though, you'll have more left for your MEV-SFC. Our each is a package of (4).

Get started with this wax seal for toilet bowls. It measures approx 5-3/4" OD x 2-3/4" ID x 1" thick, fits 3" or 4" outlets, and comes with a plastic sleeve and installation instructions. The package of toilet bolts includes (2) 1/4" x 2-1/4" bolts with nuts and washers for securing the bowl to the floor. Finally, the tank bolt replacement set, for securing the toilet tank to the bowl, is a pair of 3" long x 5/16"-18 brass bolts, with nuts, rubber gaskets and brass washers.

If you had a 10-foot loaf of bread, these would be the only way to close the plastic bag. They're 17" long x 1/2" dia with flexible, plastic-sheathed steel cores, and a layer of foam that grips tight. Tie up big tools and cables, make ad hoc hooks, tie down outdoor furniture, organize sports equipment, make emergency repairs, or wrap sails and gear of all sorts (they float and they're bright, so they're easy to see!). 

This length of hydraulic line is rated for 4000psi. The tube measures 7-7/8" long x 1/2" dia with right-angle fittings at both ends, offset 90°. (Measures 9-1/2" long overall). Fittings are 3/8"-20.

Perfectly portable blacklight, with a bonus white LED flashlight on one end and a flip-out easel so you can stand it up while checking IDs, looking for art forgeries, or lighting a tiny dorm room. You add (4) "AA" batteries. The unit measures 6-1/4" x 2-1/8" x 3/4" thick with a wrist-strap. The UV-A bulb is replaceable.

This 3 Watt LED light is a mighty mite. Just under 3-1/2" long x 1" dia, you slide the sleeve and the beam zooms from a flood to a don't-stare-into-this focused spot. In black or gun metal anodized aluminum, it's waterproof and shockproof with a latching button switch and a pocket clip. Depress the button halfway when it's on and it goes into a rapid-flash mode for emergency signaling. Visible for 200 meters. Five hour life with the included 1-"AA" battery and a 110K+ hour bulb life.

Just like the big tactical flashlights used by SWAT teams, but in a handy 6" long x 1-1/2" dia size. In black anodized  aluminum with an adjustable flood-to-spot zoom, knurled handle, 3.7V Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, plug in wall charger, an orange traffic baton attachment and a super intense high output LED bulb. Push-button switch activates high and low intensity and strobe settings. Includes a holder for (3) "AAA" batteries.

This small cable is 7-strand galvanized steel, at least 35" long x 3/32" dia, (The one you receive may be longer) with a 1000-lb breaking strength and copper stop sleeves at each end. Wrap something up, string a line of beads or rig an old-school scoring system and hang it above your pool table.

Grommets, grommets, grommets. Our each is a 180-piece assortment of oil-resistant grommets in the (8) most common sizes. You get (40) each at 3/8", 1/4", 5/16"; (25) at 7/16"; 20 at 1/2"; (5) each at 5/8", 7/8" and 1". Perfect for sewers, crafters, cobblers and electricians.

Our each is a set of (42) assorted zinc-plated steel clamps with rubber insulation, for wiring, hoses, etc. You get (20) at 1/4"; (8) at 5/16"; (6) at 3/8" and (4) each at 1/2" and 5/8", all marked with the size and in a plastic storage box.