It’s back to school season, which means deals and discounts on all kinds of workshop supplies.
There’s not a lot of overlap here, between school and workshop supplies, but there’s enough to warrant a quick look.
Big box retail stores, such as Target and Walmart, tend to also have teacher suppliers, which can be a good source for plastic project trays or organizers.
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Different retailers – Amazon, Target, Staples, and so forth, tend to have different brands and suppliers, but most will have deals and discounts of a similar nature.
For workshop needs, I’m looking at graph paper notebooks, wood pencils, and maybe folders. I’m good on permanent markers, otherwise I’d look for some Sharpie deals.
If you need a physical calculator, as opposed to the kind that’s on your computer or phone, there are always some deals on those too.
There are also deals on pens, dry erase markers, glue sticks (which might or might not be the kind suitable for 3D printer build plates), highlighters, notebooks, paper, and so forth.
Is it worth going out of your way? That’s up to you. You can browse through most stores’ specials online, but I like to walk through the various “back to school” sections at different stores.
As usual, keep in mind that not everything is a good deal.
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fred
While the back-to-school children in my family 2 to 3 generations down from me, I recall the days. This is also the time for assembling tool kits for new HS graduates off to college. Bike tools and real tools for the dorm room beat using makeshift alternatives.
Nathan
Got a first grader and a 4th. Took out a loan to make sure all the other kids in the class had extra markers and pencils and cleaning supplies and ..
Seriously. I never had 3 boxes of crayons. One and that was for the whole year. One box of markers. Etc. The 3 cans of Clorox wipes and paper towels and …. Sorry what’s wrong with school brown paper towels…… I mostly hate how they went about it. Ask me to supply extras I’d do so. Make it mandatory and nonsense items and it make me itch.
Price though. 374 dollars for all of
Goodie
I dislike this as well. I will donate a complete second set for another student, but just be honest with me about it. All of the stuff just gets pooled together in their classroom.
Derek
I’m not a fan of this either but it seems every elementary school around here does it that way.
How did you spend $374 for two kids though? We just took a 2nd and 4th grader to the store yesterday and were out the door for under $70.
Saulac
I really hate it when people exaggerate to prove a point.
MM
Am I missing something? Nathan said quite clearly they were shopping for all the kids in the class.
Derek
So are all of the other parents of the kids in class.
Goodie
Lakeshore, a school supply company, has some of the best plastic organizers available. Primary colors, but they are higher quality and much cheaper than equivalent tool company products.
https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/teaching-resources/bins-organizers/N/3671598156/page-1/sort-best/num-96/loc-043?view=grid
Bob
I much prefer wet erase markers to dry erase markers in the shop. Their ink is much more resilient to smudging.
Great for all sorts of labeling, but I also keep a small piece of whiteboard next to my drill press to write the current speed setting (also useful for a spindle sander, if you use multiple grits).
Nathan
I will say Walgreens and target both had “left overs ” sale boxes out. Buy one get one for ultra thin sharpies and another pack of pencils made it home with me. Also 0.7mm led for pencils. My 2 shop pencils are 05 and 07.