We've been finding good stuff and putting it back to work since 1999.
Obtainium Science and Surplus started with a simple premise: quality scientific equipment, electronic components, industrial hardware, and lab supplies shouldn't be out of reach just because they're not being sold new. Surplus exists. Good surplus — from universities, manufacturers, research facilities, and industrial operations — gets retired long before it stops being useful. We find it, test it, and make it available to the people who can use it.
Our founder John Schiff built this business around the idea that a well-equipped maker, educator, or experimenter shouldn't need a large institution's budget to do serious work. That hasn't changed.
We serve a wide range of customers — hobbyists, engineers, small labs, educators, artists, repair technicians, and researchers — but they tend to share a few things: they're resourceful, they know what they're looking for, and they appreciate honest descriptions more than marketing copy.
Our inventory changes constantly. That's the nature of surplus. When something is gone, it's gone — but something interesting usually takes its place. If you're looking for something specific, reach out. We know our stock, and we're happy to help.