They're both great! Mcmaster is the greatest website of all time. Sometimes the premium is 200% above other sources, but nobody cares because they can save so much time using Mcmaster. Misumi's configurable products that are machined to order are also a gamechanger, particularly on the Japanese site which has a lot wider variety. And they are hiring robotics engineers which should give interesting results.

MC could really use a shipping estimator. I remember ordering a $10 thing and getting charged $40 after shipping, which I didn’t m or would happen until after it shipped. Other than that I agree.

To add to the “greatest website of all time” aspect, they provide STEP files of a ton of those parts (maybe all of them?). When you’re drawing up a project like the OP’s in CAD, you can import the STEP file of the parts from McMaster and verify fit right there. If you’re using Fusion 360, there’s a button right in the app to browse McMaster and download the model!

And... if you need a part with a particular shape but not necessarily the strength of metal... shhhh... you can just 3D print it yourself from the STEP file.

It's a good website. It looks like they finally support tabbed browsing, but a less rigidly-enforced product hierarchy and better support of metric measurements would make it a lot better.

For example when I'm buying a sheet of steel, this list ordering isn't as easy to work with as it could be: 3/32", 0.095", 0.1", 1/8", 0.134"..., 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm...

Not really though because Misumi only sell to companies. McMaster Carr sell to anyone.

I think that's backward. Misumi let me create an account and buy whatever I want as a private individual, even in Canada. McMaster refused to ship to anyone here except for "trusted institutions" like verified companies and universities.

Not in the UK. I need to provide a VAT number.