While both are used to protect machined components, reduce vibration, or act as a sound buffer, washers spread the load of a bolt or screw, and shims take up space and align parallel and angled surfaces of interfacing elements.

Are shims the same as washers?

While both are used to protect machined components, reduce vibration, or act as a sound buffer, washers spread the load of a bolt or screw, and shims take up space and align parallel and angled surfaces of interfacing elements.

What are shim washers used for?

Shim washers, often referred to as shims, are thin washers designed to stack under the head of a screw to create highly precise spacers in a number of applications. They are commonly used to ensure that a surface is level or to remove excess space to play within a mechanism.

What’s the difference between a shim and a spacer?

While shims typically feature a thin profile, spacers are designed with a much wider range of thicknesses from several inches to several feet depending on application requirements. Spacers can also be purposed as sleeves, bushings, axles, or pins.

What’s a shim washer?

Shim Washers are a type of flat washer used for precise spacing or to fill space between mismatched components in an assembly. Shims can be manufactured in many different shapes, sizes and materials such as: Carbon Steel.

What are shim washers made of?

A shim is made of many different materials, such as wood, metal, plastic, or stone. It can be any shape that it needs to be in order to serve its purpose, which is to support something or fill in a space.

What is the purpose of shims?

Plain and simple, a shim is a tapered wedge used for making slight adjustments to home elements, such as door frames and windows, to make them plumb and level. The most common shims are wood (often cut from cedar or pine) and serve well for almost any interior adjustment.

How do you cut metal shims?

Since the material is so thin, stock can easily be cut into custom shapes using standard tools such as metal shears. For more complex shapes, or to achieve greater precision, users may also rely on stamping, laser cutting, water jet, machining, or other metal fabrication processes to customize their shims.

What is the difference between spacer and washer?

Washers and spacers are generally the same thing. Only difference is that spacers have a certain thickness so that they can be used to space something a certain amount. They are consistent in that thickness where washers aren`t. For adapter bolts, they are likely just washers.

What is the function of shims?

What sizes do shims come in?

Measurements of Standard Industry Shim Sizes

• Size A: 2″ X 2″ with a 5/8″ slot.
• Size B: 3″ X 3″ with a 13/16″ slot.
• Size C: 4″ X 4″ with a 1-1/4″ slot.
• Size D: 6″ X 5″ with a 1-5/8″ slot.
• Size E: 6″ X 6″ with a 2.00″ slot.
• Size G: 7″ X 7″ with a 1-3/4″ slot.
• Size H: 8″ X 8″ with a 2-1/4″ slot.

What are the different types of shims?

Different types of shims include arbor shims, variable shims, slotted shims, shim rings, and shim stock. While they are all used to take up excess tolerances, they each provide unique value to specific applications.

What can I use for a shim?

The most common shims are wood (often cut from cedar or pine) and serve well for almost any interior adjustment. Plastic shims are also available and have the distinct advantage of being water and rot-resistant, which makes them ideal for plumbing or exterior adjustments.

Is there such a thing as metal shims?

Metal shims can be made from a wide range of materials, and the best choice depends on the application constraints. Stainless steel: Stainless steel is one of the most versatile metals, offering a balance of strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance with each fabrication.

What are aluminum shims used for?

Using aluminum for your Shims offers incredible corrosion resistance as well as a light weight solution. Structural components made from aluminum and its alloys are vital to the aerospace industry and very important in other areas of transportation and building.

Can I use washers as spacers?

Washers have been used as spacers in the past because they can get the job done. Most people only use washers as a temporary spacer until they can replace it with a more permanent, appropriate part. If you need a spacer right away, you can use the washer and then get a different spacer to replace it.