Stainless steel shims

[chorgy]

Hey,

Does anyone know if there is a local shop that sells tiny (<=.001") metal shims?

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[Brian Wagner]

What about a spark plug gap measuring device? or aluminum flashing from the hardware store?

[SeanMcP]

Many small motor shops have valve shims in the single thousandths, which would work for the depth but maybe not for the orientation depending on the shape you need (round, square, etc). If you think that might work, you might call a couple of places like S&S Powersports, Or you can buy stock shim material and cut your own if you know you need a boatload and they're going to be weird shapes, but doing so w/o bending it beyond usefulness is a trick I wouldn't be up to try :) I'm sure it's possible w/ the right plan, but I don't have one off the top of my head. You can buy shim packs with (usually) 20 shims per size, and a pack usually has 10 or 12 sizes from .001" to .030" or .050".

Here's a stock material selection:

http://www.accushim.com/productDetail.asp_Q_catID_E_80_A_subCatID_E_79_A_productID_E_73_A_6_x_50_Stainless_Steel_Shim_Stock_Rolls_E_6_x_50_Stainless_Steel_Shim_Stock_Rolls

http://www.drillspot.com/products/955270/precision_brand_products_inc_16130_001_x_6_x_100_roll_1008_1010_full_hard_steel_shim_stock?s=1

Here're some of the packs of individual sizes to see if they meet your needs:

http://www.accushim.com/productDetail.asp_Q_catID_E_80_A_subCatID_E_75_A_productID_E_70

Grainger almost always has them on hand or can get them next day, as well, for 2"x2" slotted shims.

Sean

[SeanMcP]

And the Grainger link I missed, of course... They have these in about any thickness you want.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/MAUDLIN-PRODUCTS-Slotted-Shim-2NZJ9?Pid=search

[D.s.]

I'l take a look at the spark plug gauges. The siding won't probably work because I need good consistency on the depth.

Thanks for the idea.

[D.s.]

I need a very small area (~1.5" sq) shimmed .007 to .0075, thats why I was looking for a local shop. Ordering from online it's a set or rolls/stock most of which will never be used. I'll try small motor shops I can snap none square things into a mosaic to cover the area.

[SeanMcP]

For that small a space and that little material, you might also call any of the mechanical contractors (Schardein, etc) as they shim pumps and fan housings all the time and that'd be something they'd have in their shim kits (.001 and .005, etc). They'd prolly sell you a couple for a few bucks.

Sean

[jesco w]

http://www.harborfreight.com/32-piece-sae-metric-feeler-gauge-32214.html

for sure has .007 but i dunno if its big enough for you needs

[SeanMcP]

Only concern I'd have re: feeler gauge is they're not usually hardened steel, but may be mild, etc. They're not generally going to have any serious pressure or vibration to deal with, thus being able to buy a set for $3 when a single hardened notched shim might cost 1/2 that. If this isn't for any long-term or production use, it might be okay. Yes, I'm paranoid, but I'm used to putting shims onto frames to align pump or fan shafts on data centers with million dollar outage costs so it causes that *grin* If this is for a prototype, etc, that set is probably a good spot to get your need solved very fast w/o a lot of expense! Good call :)

Sean

On Monday, April 23, 2012 4:23:24 PM UTC-4, eeee wrote:

http://www.harborfreight.com/32-piece-sae-metric-feeler-gauge-32214.html

for sure has .007 but i dunno if its big enough for you needs