Way to go, Dave. Excellent write up on how to do this stuff.
You guys in North America have it lucky with buying quality products easily. You can walk in to a store and see what you need.
I have to phone up a supplier and order using my credit card. It isnt too bad now I know what I want. I use Barnes products which comes over here from Australia....one thing the Aussies do well???
There is an Smoothon supplier here in NZ but he only sells in large quantities. Too large for me wanting to make a few pairs of tires but OK if I was making 50,000pairs.