Overall a fun exploring experience. Lots of random things; tools, beakers, masks, posters, fabrics, plastics, cords, toys, and other miscellaneous stuff. Staff seemed super nice, greeted me upon entry. Things also seemed affordable, and varied in quality. read more

Ax-Man Surplus Stores - Miscellaneous aisle - Hobby Shops Near Me - St. Louis Park, Minnesota

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It's relocated but remains in the Texa-Tonka shopping center. I miss the old location but with the center's recent emphasis on food I can understand why the store moved. I find it an interesting place to wander around and wonder what some items are. There are barrels of stuff, shelves of things and all sorts of blinking lights, electronic parts, miscellaneous military surplus and mysterious things that I simply cannot identify. Quirky labels (some definitely tongue in cheek), and no shortage of humor. Offers for customers to weigh in on their own take of what somethings might be. Staff has always been helpful. Aisles overflowing with an ever changing selection. Plenty of free parking. Rock bottom prices and you might occasionally find just what you need. The Ax-Man exemplifies the classic aphorism that one person's trash is another's treasure. read more

It had been years since we were introduced to this place by our local nephew. We had not been back but today we had time and it was on our way while back in town visiting. It is a fun place to browse for all of those things you really don't need. It is an interesting collection of weird items. The best part are the funny signs advertising the different gems for sale. We always joke about what they must be smoking when creating these signs. Worth a stop to see what treasures you might find... read more

The people working here are so kind! The value teachers in a way that all businesses should emulate. Thanks, Ax-Man!

This is a great place to look for anything you need. I can usually find any old random thing here before having to go to a big box store. The staff is super nice and knows if they have what you need over the phone most of the time. I have brought my kids to just see all of the stuff and they are always amazed. They have everything from small electric motors to packs to dowels that fit Ikea beds to rubber chickens, iPhone cables, and military gas masks. Seriously they have everything. Check them out when you need an odd thing or just for a fun place to shop for odds and ends. read more

The amount of stuff they have here is overwhelming. If you are into electronics of any kind, this is the place to get lots of parts for projects. This is also a fantastic place to get raw materials for various projects. They have scraps and excess parts that are rubber, metal and plastic. There is a lot of old salvaged electronic equipment that can be very useful if you are into building your own projects. This is also a fantastic place to get things for use in your home classroom. It would take many trips to this place to get a little handle on how much interesting and useful raw materials they have on hand. read more

Ax-Man Surplus Stores - Hobby Shops Near Me - St. Louis Park, Minnesota

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Such a fun, weird little store for hobbyists, DIY crafters, and people looking for obscure photo shoot props (like us!). Prices are great. Staff is friendly. Treasures abound! read more

Rude , defensive and ignorant employees. They are infatuated with looking at their cell phones and they argue with you about how they don't know about the products they sell. Recommend you go to the Saint Paul location where the selection is better and the employees are friendlier. read more

This is an odd place. If you're looking for resistors and various electrical components, test tubes, chemical suits, or random ass ball bearings consider this place 5 stars. Their military surplus is fairly limited. read more

Ax-Man Surplus Stores - Hobby Shops Near Me - St. Louis Park, Minnesota

Once again, thanks to Yelp, I've discovered a funky new shop that I probably would never have ventured to if it hadn't been for the fine community of yelpers here in MSP. Ax Man is the randomest of the random. Need a caster? Check. Inside of a golf ball? Come here. Scientific beakers? They've got em cheap. Wires, batteries, tubing, magnets, ski goggles (way retro), army back backs, a working crossing sign, and much much more. Next time I want to trinket around with some wacky invention I've got going on in my head, I'm coming here. If you're in the mood for a good laugh, read their signs for the different products. They're sure to brighten your day. read more

I toured three of the Ax-Man stores in the area, and this one was the worst. It had the smallest selection (I didn't see anything here that wasn't at the other stores, and there was no real good military surplus). The goofy signs that the employees make and place on the racks were completely stupid in this store; vulgar and completely unhelpful (and not even funny). That being said, this is one store in a chain of very interesting electronics/industrial surplus stores, and is better than any Wal-Mart or Target. read more

We are hosting a twenty something teacher from Chile and were looking for some Halloween costumes and decorations so I wanted to treat him to Ax-man. This is a quirky little overstock store where I have bought scrapbook paper for my daughter's birthday party, mailing envelopes, little containers for essential oil potions, weird random electronics for my son to take apart, a disposable clean room suit for a Halloween costume, a year old spiral bound map of the Twin Cities, and most recently ping pong ball eyes for my Halloween punch. No, it is not the cheapest place always, but fun to see the randomness they have bought and the best part is the little signs telling how they think you might use the random items. A classic! read more

This store is really fun. I loved the vibe and found some gifts for family I have never seen anywhere else.

This is quite the fun little quirky place. It's pretty easy to walk around and waste a good hour or more just exploring all of the crazy, off the wall things they have. Looking for a wine glass big enough to hold a whole bottle of wine? They have it.. An aisle dedicated to different patterns of duct tape? They have that too... A pen shaped like a finger with a tip that farts when you pull it? But of course... Any odd little motor/circuit/electrical type thingamajig? Oh yeah, it's there... Seriously, the possibilities are endless. Check it out! read more

Have you realized that you need more awesome junk in your life? Yes? Then you've probably been to Ax-Man before. No? Then you need to make an inaugural trip. Beakers, LED lights, cat calenders, switchcombs, girly metal posters, etc. This place has pretty much everything a nerd could ask for and more. read more

I just love this store. It's filled with tons and tons of gear you never knew you needed. Seriously, I could spend all day in there picking up stuff to building more junk than my heart's content. A little out of the way, but well worth the drive. read more

At a first glance at the tiny shop with the Ax-Mans sign in the window, I was intrigued, just for the fact that I have never seen a store with the word Ax in it... I walked inside... LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! This store is seriously a mechanical persons dream! Every little mechanical piece, from nuts and bolts, to rolls of wire, transistor radio parts, even down to spare motor pieces, Axman does it all. When i walked through there, it was like a kid at a candy store.... except the candy is the little random thing you would think to find at the hardware store, only to go and leave disappointed in disbelief that the hardware store doesnt carry it. AND!!!! AIRSOFT RIFLES! Every little dinky part you may need for any project, or even down to a random gag gift, Ax-Man has what you need!!! read more

This is the strangest place on earth. It is often more of a spectacle than anything, but I have found some pretty great Finds here. read more

Driving up to the store, I knew I would like it. I was looking for random art supplies, and even random junk for art. I found exactly what I needed. A lot of selection, and over flowing with supplies. A lot of it was hardware. I wish there was perhaps more art things, such as brushes or pens and pencils. The workers were nice enough, and helpful. They even checked to make sure my lightbulbs I bought worked before I even asked. Definitely going back when I need more things. I got a huge bag of stuff and only paid $9.95. Definitely couldn't believe the price! read more

Second trip to this store. So unique. Found something I didn't know I needed each time. Definitely worth a look !!

Such an odd little find. It's chaotic, random, and kind of dirty; all of the things I would expect from a good surplus store. I found it to be the perfect place to find some oddities for my Secret Santa gag gifts. The signage on many of the items alone made me debate a 5/5 rating. Go see them for yourself! read more

Ax-Man is a great store for anyone who likes to tinker around with stuff. I'm an artist, crafter and jewelry-maker, so I often visit Ax-Man to find random bits of stuff I want to use in my work. You never know what kind of interesting stuff they'll have in stock, so it's always an adventure. It's kind of like digging through your crazy uncle's attic and garage and finding all sorts of weird stuff he's stashed away over the years. Car parts, electrical wiring, nuts and bolts, tiny bottles, pipe cleaners, pony beads, tiny light bulbs...you can find anything there. read more

This is the strangest place that I can think of, especially for MN. It's basically full of junk and strange partial mannikins. A lot of teachers like this place for buying odds and ends for projects or math manipulatives. I personally think that a lot of the junk there is overpriced. read more

Ax Man is like a thrift store for the quirky/nerdy types. That being said, I love this place. Prices are very reasonable considering it is stuff that you can't find anywhere else. I've saved quite a bit of money by buying my cords etc... from Ax Man rather than Radio Whack. The advertising signs & displays alone are worth a visit. read more

A fascinating shop to spend some time in. I bought a few little things, including a bag of glass marbles (mix and match bulk marbles!) for my daughter. read more

I hadn't been to an Ax Man in years, and so when I drove by, I had to stop. I had forgotten all the weird and random crap they have! It was fun to look through all the interesting things they have. read more

Went in with 10 minutes before close with my very excited husband. The clerks first words to us were that they were going to be closing in a few minutes. With 5 minutes until they closed, they turned the lights off on us while we were walking around. NOT professional whatsoever. I will not be returning or recommending a place with such terrible customer service. You close at 8, not 7:55. I give 2 stars because you may be able to find some fun things, just give yourself a large window of time so you don't irritate the people you are giving your money to. read more

You never know what you'll stumble upon here! Love it! Affordable, fun and unique-my last purchase was a couple science lab beakers that I use as vases read more