Skycraft Electronic Surplus In Orlando Florida: Amazing!

[@mikewazowski350]

Skycraft was iconic in Orlando for decades. The building on Fairbanks Ave could be seen from I4 and the large rocket and UFO on the roof of the building along with dozens of server racks outside along the wall.

[@kennethelliott9092]

I moved to Orlando in 1973 and started going to their original store which was just west of downtown Orlando off I-4 in 1974. Then they moved to the Fairbanks location just west of Winter Park off I-4. The staff was always helpful. You just explained what you were trying to accomplish and they would come up with what you needed or even a better way of doing something. I've solved many a project dilemma with parts from Skycraft over the last 50 years. Wow, how time flies when you're having fun. The new store off Edgewater Dr. is still my go-to when I need some odd-ball thing-a-ma-jig part.

[@robertmeunier9915]

I only went to the original store (located on Kaley) once when I was in high school. My brother was building some electronic doodad and took me there. Brings back good memories of a much smaller Orlando.

[@kendocashwell4537]

Being a regular visitor, I find myself VERY fortunate that I can get there anytime I need to, and times I don't need to, are the best visits.

[@samTollefson]

Pro tip: Drop the wife and kids off at Disney, then spend the day at Skycraft. I live 45 minutes North of there and used to spend a lot of time there in the early to mid-2000s. More often than not, there would be these three Japanese gentlemen huddled together, actively bouncing ideas off each other (I assume, as I don't understand Japanese). I believe they were inventors. They each had baskets full of stuff, nice guys with limited English speaking. The story I heard about the place was that it was started by a couple of guys who bought large surplus items at auction from NASA and would strip and test the components to sell. They used to have a lot of space stuff on display, including an astronaut's space suit. Great place to visit! Thanks for the video, I am planning a visit, I haven't seen the new store.

[@davenone7312]

I can only imagine the work and effort employees put in to setting up everything! Boxing, labels display pricing, the list goes on and on! Kudo's to all that hard work they did!!

[@traficdas]

Every time I go to Sky Craft I'm there early and checking out late in the afternoon no time for lunch break, My dizzy world, just no rides yet. The staff are very helpful and love to answer questions.

[@nickdwyer5340]

I used to go to skycraft all the time when I was a kid I used to love the old building, it has always been my favorite place. I still have to come see the new building! The old building now I believe is a dispensary, ironically

[@Alkatross]

I think it's a sauna. I just drove by the other day

[@OcularPerceptions]

I need to visit there. I visited their store in the 70's when I lived in that area. I live NE of Orlando so it shouldn't be too bad of a trip for me. I'm glad to see they're still around.

[@7000fps]

Use to go to the great smellin Fairbanks store. One year the wife and I picked up tons of stuff and made all kinds of Christmas ornaments (MIL SPEC)

[@PsRohrbaugh]

During college my EE buddies and I would go there and geek out looking at all the cool stuff we could envision projects for but didn't have the cash.

[@ralphchin3741]

I lived in Longwood, Florida from 1979 to 2018. I would always go to Skycraft for any of my project or repair needs. They have a great selection of just about anything to do with electronics, metalworking or crafts. Their hardware section is enormous, I would bypass Home Depot and Lowes to pick up my hardware needs there instead. I have since moved back to my native state of New Jersey and truly miss shopping at Skycraft. They always have an amazing selection of things you didn't know you wanted!

[@offgrid2010]

Yes. About the time my car broke down they moved from their years old Fairbanks location to within walking distance for me! Countless times I have had something in the back of my mind, I visit the store, and there it is, the perfect item for my idea. Or one that just might work if I give it a try. Their work ethic is as high as it gets and as a result they are always coming up with new or used gadgets, accessories and even surplus food. There truly is something for everybody because they travel the country finding stuff.

[@ralphnewcomejr]

Right On...Its a mad Scientists Toys R Us...If you can Dream it they MORE than likely have the stuff to make it happen.

[@Willy-hs7uu]

I'd be like a kid in a candy store there, never knew about this place, I'll need to stop by someday next time I am in the area.

[@rrsteamer]

There is nothing like surplus warehouses like this. My preference leaned more towards the heavy industrial side but most of those are long gone now. Be glad this outfit is still in operation. If you know what you’re looking for these type businesses are just what the doctor ordered. Comfort food for the mind! Next time we visit the relatives in Orlando, will need to spend some time looking around, but, come to think of it, only if we drive down from Pa. Thanks for the info!

[@Ocean_breezes]

What a cool place. I live about 2 hours from there. It would be worth the drive. I miss the days when radio shack stores were still around. Thanks fur the video.

[@ghostbombl8034]

I have one by me still.

[@fltechie]

The Radio Shack parts are from one of the last Radio Shack dealer stores in Orlando. It closed two years ago. Used to be on Orange Ave I believe. Had been around since the 70’s

[@misterwhipple2870]

I bought some of the very last things from that Radio Shack when they closed two years ago, Orange and Kaley, across the street from Pulse, just south of one of the first Wendy's in the state! It was THE last Radio Shack!!!! I bought stuff there in 1972, when I was in junior high. I showed the guy my VFD 7-segment tube I bought there back then, and he offered me the original $2.50 I paid for it (just joking, I would not sell!) Sorry to see that old place go, but all good things must come to an end. I started going to Skycraft in Winter Park in 1978. I used to love to buy mechanical counters from them, which are eBay-only items now! Those were great old days!

[@floridag8rfan]

I visited that place several times after I discovered it still existed, all within the last six months or so before it closed. Nice guy owned the place, wasn't shy to tell you about the history of Radio Shack and how the new corporate owners (as the company had recently been resold yet again) were going to run it into the ground. He knew the writing was on the wall the last time I was in there.

[@joho0]

I've been going to Skycraft since I was a little kid in the 80s.

[@trevc63]

Same but 90s - cheers!

[@colormaker5070]

I was there today and dropped off a trailer load of electronic enclosures, LED fixtures and some unique items. It a great place to sell excess inventory.

[@vasaricorridor7989]

during the 80's Orlando was bursting at the seams with military /aerospace company's each year they would sell-off their surplus at auction. there were skids and skids stacked on top never individual parts just skids of really neat unique stuff. Such fun wondering around scratching our heads thinking what the hell ..what the hell is that..more to the point .. everyone new when Mr Skycraft showed-up he always walked off with the goodies .

[@neilengel3715]

OMG. I thought Skycraft was GONE. I saw the saucer gone and just assumed it was gone!

[@WaterBoysofCFL]

yeah, I'll just randomly wander around many times there when I have the time, I tend to lose track of time in there though. I'm convinced someone there has built a time portal and installed it on the front door.

[@meet566bias328]

I didn't know such stores existed. . . . I would geek out in this place :)

[@robertdinicola9225]

Chester in largo was my go to for decades. 2 friends ran the place till it closed. They use to fix my amps for me and help with custom projects.

[@whays]

Used to go to the Fairbanks location with my grandfather in the 80s. Pretty sure he was building amplifiers for his CB and HAM radios. I’m gonna check out the new store with my son soon. My dad would get a kick out of that.

[@stevepiper9034]

I visited there several times during the late 80's - into the 90's. Bought loads of stuff, much I still have. I haven't been since they've moved from the Fairbanks location, hope to some day soon.

[@aquagrump]

Awe, they are still around. Last time I was there they were still at their iconic location Fairbanks at I4. At that time while still at the Fairbanks location the store was cleaner and brighter but with less stuff but still had the rocket and flying saucer out front. When that location closed as far as I knew they closed. Good to see they are still around.

[@TomMunsell-ln6mg]

Quite a few elevators have been repaired from this store for hard to find items. Or when you could not find what you needed anywhere else this is the place to go.

[@Da-Sheek]

I live here in orlando and ever since their store on Fairbanks ave closed I never heard about them reopening. They should put some of those missile decorations outside on the roof and by their name again.

[@JayWye52]

I found out they moved when I rode my bike there,and there was a sign on the door telling where they moved to. Unfortunately, the route to the new store isn't one I would ride my bike through. it's on Edgewater Drive,north of Lee Road,in the rightmost corner of a plaza. Hard to see from the road. they also lost many of the original employees.

[@Kendrix1]

I live in Maitland and didn't realize they were at a new location....

[@kylemay6043]

Glad you made this video. I thought they went out of business. It smells like lung cancer, but I love that place!.

[@ginamiller6015]

I wish there was a store like that near where I live. Looks like a great place. Many years ago we had an Olson Electronics store in my hometown. Olson carried new top line equipment, but they also had lots of surplus. I didn’t have a lot of money, so the surplus stuff was my candy store. Fun memories 🫶

[@JohnJones-oy3md]

Love these surplus store visit videos. Thanks!

[@jenniferblake4685]

I’ve lived here forever and never cared to see what was in that building but thought it was a good landmark. I just made plans to go tomorrow (it’s Sunday now) and it’s because I came upon your video on KZbin! I’m taking my son with me- he makes fallout type crafts and that Tesla coil might be cool to him. Thanks for making this.

[@karuniadi]

Looks like paradise for me, Thanks

[@Grandassets]

I lived in Clearwater up to 94 and got there all the time for many years, then I moved away for 20 years and got a chance to take my youngest son to Disney, to me this was more of a highlight and yes got a ton of stuff, I am glad he got to see the old building, the new one looks smaller?

[@NeoPest]

how does it compare to the old chester's on missouri?

[@stahpit1971]

I was working a mile away from skycraft for 6 months it was a regular lunch time browse. They get some good deals on food sometimes

[@marktibbetts3799]

When I was doing a short job in Orlando I went in there several times. It was mind boggling.A MAN'S store for sure.

[@TS-qd2uj]

We had a place in Vancouver, BC called Satellite Electronics where you could buy surplus aircraft and ship WWII radios. I remember in the 70's buying a AN/ARN-7 with a friend who also bought one. We even got the glass covered Antennas and the control heads. We were kids then just learning about radios (and weird aircraft power supplies!). My radio was missing a complete circuit but somebody had been kind enough to include all the parts I would need to rebuild it inside in a carboard box. My friend and I split the cost of a manual and this was my first soldering experience. The funniest part was that my radio worked afterwards but his never did. I never laughed so hard, but almost got beat ul for it!😂

[@ralphnewcomejr]

That Place Is Great!!! Diggin through "obsolete" tek is too fun if you know how to use it & make the build look all mad scientistic...STELLAR.

[@QuasiDude]

My dad used to take me to their old building with the flying saucer! I was too young to know what any of the equipment was, but they always had bizarre old computers on the shelves, I thought they looked super cool

[@TarukaiSamurai]

Wow, crazy this showed up on my recommended list; I was just here the other day to grab a bench power supply!

[@charlieromeo7663]

I live near KSC on Florida’s east coast. That place is the go-to place for all sorts of surplus. I find it entertaining to check out the tools and equipment for metrology stickers from KSC. For a brief time there was another surplus store in nearby New Smyrna Beach that had an insane amount of surplus after the shuttle program ended. I actually purchased some very specialized instruments used for measuring the steps between orbiter tiles. It was a tool I actually used as a orbiter TPS technician in the late 80’s. Sadly they didn’t last very long. Skycraft is most definitely a central Florida icon. Good to see they’re still in business.

[@offgrid2010]

I had an idea years ago that I shared with their manager. It was for a truly virtual store. I envision a camera, or several of them, operated like a drone where a customer on-line could roam the aisles of the store and even zoom in close to examine an item, price or sign. Don't laugh. Some very practical version of this idea will some day exist. It would also be great for trade shows. Add two way audio after beeping a salesperson and there you have it!

[@flyrobin2544]

Great idea!

[@jenniferblake4685]

Danny Gonzalez did a video about Walmart’s virtual store attempt. You should see that! It was an interesting take. Virtual is fun but you can’t recreate that “smell” he reminisces about when entering the building. Memories involve all the senses.

[@jimbotron70]

Adding an unnecessary layer of complexity when regular websites could do the same, truly an ACME project from Wily Coyote...

[@zefir00]

My favorite store ! But, I was visiting it more often at the old location on Fairbanks.

[@IncurZeAwperator]

Wow, my dad was into tech in the late 90s and early 2000s when I was born, and he used to take me to Skycraft in the old building. I loved it there. Very formative place for me. I was sad to here they weren't at that building anymore. Glad they are still open though!

[@jimirayo]

I'm heading over there today. My favorite store!

[@ElectroMech_polymath]

20+ yrs ago, my first electronics store! wish there was one like it up here in Wisconsin

[@cwa107]

Thanks for the great video! I live just north of Orlando and have driven by many times, but now that I know what they carry, they will be my go to for project supplies going forward.

[@garyclouse7234]

Before I retired (unfortunately, not in Florida), I was famous in my company, for engineering systems using parts from establishments like this one!

[@callmebigpapa]

I love the smell of powered up old electronic ....you can just smell the heavy metals and ozone.

[@misterwhipple2870]

Nerds get high on that smell. Better than weed! And oooooh, that thermoplastic resin, mmmmm . . . Heaven will smell like that!

[@somecallmeflip]

I have been going to this particular place for better than 30 years. Great information and the first time I have seen it in the new building.

[@SegwayBossk]

I was born in raised in Pinellas. Did you ever check out the place "Chester's Electronics" in a shared plaza with a Bob's Carpet Mart. It was on Missouri road in Largo across from Largo High School

[@JG-iq2qv]

I remember when our lab closed we donated a bunch of stuff to them

[@wk7060]

I could go crazy in that place! Probably could not see it in one day.

[@garyclouse7234]

I used to drive from DeLand to Lake Mary. Sometimes you were not late for work!

[@SS-zm3vi]

I used to live in Kissimmee and went to skycraft all the time. I've moved. I'm now closer to Tampa, well over an hour away. It shouldn't stop me but I haven't been going and I've been ordering stuff on Amazon. I miss skycraft. I haven't even been to their new location. I'm working on a stack of vintage stereo equipment now and everyday I have thought about skycraft the last couple weeks.

[@Pazz_]

I need to find a high voltage ground break! Definitely going to check them out

[@SJFrzrbrn]

It's a neat store, lots of cool stuff... but many things are priced as if they are premium new in box top of the line, except they are aren't.

[@KenKonet13]

We love Skycraft!

[@davidparrish1133]

I've been going to Skycraft for propably twenty years, even though I live just north of Augusta, GA. Day trips once or twice a year.

[@DurzoBlunts]

Bought some kickass 30 gauge Kynar wire from them for modding an Xbox 360 😂 worked wonders ! Awesome to see stores like this still around.

[@nathanmeans1548]

I still haven't been into the new location. Loved the old one on Fairbanks.

[@flyrobin2544]

Sharing this on FB! Thank you!

[@jozimoto]

Awesomeness. Been in business forever!

[@metalhead2102]

What an amazing store . I could spend days n still not see everything. Next time I'm in town I'm going

[@Uneedhelp91]

I have been to skycraft one time. I was there for like 2hrs with my best friend looking around.

[@idigdaytona4478]

I have not been there in years . Tons of cool stuff.

[@williamogilvie6909]

We used to have several surplus/electronics stores in Silicones Valley, Haltek, Halted, Altronics,, RA Enterprises, etc. Whenever I had a project, like fixing test equipment, or building stuff, I could always count on finding just the right switch or whatever at one of those stores. Sadly, they all coalesced into one store in South San Jose. The last time I went there, they were gone.

[@Uneedhelp91]

@14:42 on the bottom shelf are Velcro/hook-loop squares. I bought some of those and the Velcro/hook-loop doesn't hold together after more than 2 pulls. The adhesive holds fine. Buyer beware The cable section is fantastic! Ive order remainder boxes of cable for projects from them. Good stuff.

[@1800imawake]

It would be perfect to have an invention lab close to this place. Anything you could dream up for an invention would have the parts for it here.

[@ssnoc]

Wish it was in NY - what a terrific store 👍

[@waynep343]

In the Los Angeles area. Apex surplus, apex Jr, Luky hardware. Vf sales. And a walk thru Norton prop rentals. Spacecraft stuff from the 60s and 70s. Could take up a wonderful day

[@wasdnc4132]

Haven't been since they moved locations, I should probably get out more.

[@websightdotwebsite]

Man I haven't been in this store in years, I've got to make a stop in and see new skewl

[@vasaricorridor7989]

what ever happened with all the model boats that filled the interior cornice at fairbanks ave

[@jimbotron70]

5:46

[@davidmende4438]

Olson Electronics lives on. Thank you heaven.

[@jondrew55]

Been going there since the 80’s. Have yet to make it to the new store. Miss the flying saucer. Stupid winter park ordinances.

[@offgrid2010]

The Flying Saucer is up on Edgewater Dr. on the edge of the parking lot.

[@jondrew55]

@@offgrid2010 Awsome. More reason to make the pilgrimage. I’m only 8 miles away.

[@DustinCorbin]

My favorite store to visit!

[@waynejohnson5611]

During my 32 years living in the Orlando area, I went to Skycraft many times. Hard to believe the stuff that is there. I built 2 racks for PA eq. for my bands from there. We built lighting for stages from there, just a great place to check out.

[@notscot6788]

We are as obsolete as the inventory! I wander through places like this and sometimes find stuff I designed.

[@FASTPISTOLDRAW]

I wonder if they have a mod board for quangsheng uv-k6 two way radio. And i do love the smell of a electronic store the older the better the smell .

[@abrown5516]

I remember back in the 90's going to Skycraft like going to a candy store. I use to find great stuff until they moved and price went up big time! Still a good store to find unique and hard to find stuff.

[@59phonebone]

Wow I miss places like this. I grew up in Silicon Valley down the street from Apple HQ and we had Haltek, Halted and others, all gone now. 😞

[@aa.design.excellence]

I’m gonna have to go check this out I live in Pasco

[@GameHEADtime]

Cool store!

[@vaalrus]

Nothing like the smell of bakelite in the morning.

[@bobbyross3524]

Thiiis place is the shit I love going to sky craft for all my projects!

[@rockman531]

Hi Mike, It might be a good thing that store is far away! Big kids in big-kids toy stores. Hey - I just took apart a vintage desk-top printer. I saved the nickel-chrome plated steel shafts. Will they work for your new tumbler build?? Let me know. Great video. Thumbs up! Jim

[@electrogeek6437]

Only if the shafts are 1/2 inch or more in diameter and 24 inches or longer. Thanks.

[@WB2BTJ]

Love the video, I go there several times a year.

[@buckeye43210]

Reminds me of Midwest Surplus in Fairborn, Ohio.

[@KnayaMayor]

MacGuyver would take over the world with that place 😅😅😅 great content!!!

[@thomas-i5o7h]

W O W ! ! This place is heaven on earth !!!!!!!

[@mattlevesque5927]

Wow that's a pretty cool store

[@LightningFabrication]

looks like it's far better than the old Chester's Electronics.

[@craigcfl6300]

Do they still have the remote controlled boats on display?

[@frankmccann29]

I bought some connectors for coming out of devices that worked perfectly! Established experimental data. The girl may remember me because I had injured my hand and my bandage leaked blood on the counter. Thanks you'll be in the thanks to.😊😊😊😅😮😢

[@rickeys]

My grandfather's workshop!

[@4speed3pedals]

If you want a good gas can that works, check out Vevor for the Jerry Can. Harbor Freight sells them as well but with HF, there is a safety lid. The Vevor can pours and has a tube to vent internally so it does not go "glug, glug" and splash so it actually pours steadily through a flexible stainless steel tube/cap assembly. I have rubber plug I use to seal the tube. Capacity on both is 5 gallons, both are painted with coated interiors. IMHO, the HF can is better because the can is manufactured by the original maker from WWII with the down fall being the spout.

[@nebulouz1]

I remember the original location. I love going there. You need a flux capacitor? Pick the color. Want build ________, Skycraft has it.

[@darylroberson3799]

I was there just yesterday.

[@davidhilsabeck]

I always allow for a few hours when I visit this place. Wish I didn't have to drive down I-4 to get there...