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Oldest comments listed first.

• A-MEN! This store is a Maker's paradise. I've never seen anything like it. I have friends who insist on stopping when they are in town because there is nothing like it in their city. It would seem in part to be a labor of love - what they do, and therefore worthy of an interview. The product descriptions and store contraptions alone are worth a visit.

  Posted by: uberstar on February 9, 2006 at 1:51 PM

• You can spend a lot of time there sorting through junk of all shapes and sizes. I rather like the iron lung and surplus rocket, but how can you beat the airplane escape slide!

  One word of warning - don't bother e-mailing or calling to find out if they have something. They are of no help. I was there one weekend and saw a ton of bullhorns that you'd be blind to miss. On Monday someone at work needed one and wondered where you could get one. I told her to call the Ax-Man, she did, and they told her they didn't have any. A little while later I e-mailed them to see if they could hook me up with a large number of something else and I never got a response. Customer service outside of the store is just not their thing, I guess.

  Posted by: Muddler on February 9, 2006 at 3:28 PM

• I love stores like this, they are just a blast. Anyone know of any other good surplus stores, especially those with websites? Like http://www.weirdstuff.com/

  Posted by: rahlquist on February 10, 2006 at 6:03 AM

• Years and years ago I ordered from a newsprint surplus catalog from a company in Chicago called Jerryco. Looked them up on the web a few years back, and they are now American Science and Surplus. Not only do they have tons of the coolest, most arcane stuff, but they've got a sense of humor too! And all their stock is on the website.

  Posted by: Jimdoria on February 10, 2006 at 9:56 AM

• Years and years ago I ordered from a newsprint surplus catalog from a company in Chicago called Jerryco. Looked them up on the web a few years back, and they are now American Science and Surplus. Not only do they have tons of the coolest, most arcane stuff, but they've got a sense of humor too! And all their stock is on the website.

  Posted by: Jimdoria on February 10, 2006 at 9:57 AM

• If your on a tour of the most packed surplus stores in the country you should stop by the black hole in Los Alamos. Ed's inventory is perfect for the maker with aspirations of world domination:
  The Los Alamos Sales Company

  Posted by: drew66 on February 15, 2006 at 12:45 PM

• This post may be self-serving but here goes. My company sells a large variety of surplus machinery components: gear-motors, hydraulics, air-compressors, sprockets, bearings, casters, air cylinders, pumps, gauges, linear actuators, and sooo much more. Our entire inventory is in stock and online at http://www.surpluscenter.com. We had a booth at the MAKE fair in San Mateo, hopefully you had a chance to visit us.

  Posted by: jburden on April 28, 2006 at 10:43 AM

• I totally love the AX MAN. I usually go to the St. Louis Park store.
  I find that they are helpful at the store and on the phone. I find many uses for their items. Teaching tools for children....bottles and Jars for herbs. Mailing supplies....Office supplies..plastic bags of all sizes...I could go on and on. Everyone should go and browse. They have things you will NEVER find in other stores!

  Posted by: Tress on August 22, 2006 at 10:10 PM

• I totally love the AX MAN. I usually go to the St. Louis Park store.
  I find that they are helpful at the store and on the phone. I find many uses for their items. Teaching tools for children....bottles and Jars for herbs. Mailing supplies....Office supplies..plastic bags of all sizes...I could go on and on. Everyone should go and browse. They have things you will NEVER find in other stores!

  Posted by: Tress on August 22, 2006 at 10:11 PM

• Hey, all:

  I'm a freelance writing working on a story about Ax Man for a local magazine. Would you please contact me if you've made anything out of Ax Man stuff, or how it's inspired your creativity? I appreciate the postings but have more specific questions I'd like to ask.

  I'm at: mjopehl@yahoo.com.

  Thanks very much!

  Posted by: MidgeJo on November 7, 2006 at 3:21 PM

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