When the dot-com boom went bust, a lot of good people, good ideas, and good equipment got sidelined. We've been finding that good stuff and putting it back to work ever since.
What We Do
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, inspect it, and make it available to the people who can use it.
Why We Do It
Obtainium Science and Surplus went online in 1999, right as the dot-com bubble was about to pop. When it did, labs closed, startups folded, and mountains of quality scientific and industrial equipment hit the surplus market. Our founder John Schiff saw what everyone else missed - gear that still worked, priced like it didn't matter, waiting for someone who knew what to do with it.
That instinct hasn't changed. A well-equipped maker, educator, or experimenter shouldn't need a large institution's budget to do serious work. We've been proving that for over 25 years.
Our Sister Store
Over the years, we kept finding great parts, components, and hardware that didn't quite fit a site built around scientific instruments and lab gear. So in 2018, we launched PartsMine - a dedicated store for surplus electronic, electrical, and mechanical parts and hardware. Same team, same warehouse, same standards. If you're looking for components, connectors, or the kind of parts that keep things running, check it out.
Who We Serve
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.
How Our Inventory Works
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.