When do you need washers

Before a threaded fastener such as a screw is driven into a surface, a washer may be placed through the end for greater protection. This prevents the bolt head and nut from scratching or indenting the surfaces of the two fastened parts, which could ultimately loosen the fastener. Additionally, driving a screw into wood might cause the wood to crack around the surface and a washer helps to reduce this from happening.

Several different types of washers are available to suit different applications. For example, vibration-isolating washers are designed to absorb vibrations. These components are made of a soft material, such as plastic or urethane. Occasionally, metal washers are also used as spacers to increase the distance between the parts being fastened. Two of the most recognized washers are flat and spring washers.

Looseness can result when the bearing surface sinks under the surface pressure, so using a flat washer diminishes the likelihood of this effect. Since flat washers are generally manufactured by pressing metal, one side has rounded corners and one side has burrs.

There is no fixed rule about which side should be placed up or down but placing the burred side facing down is typically ideal, and especially if bearing surface pressure is a concern. In many cases, you will need to get some help from a vendor to get ideas on which types of washer to use for this. This often depends on what you want the washer to do. For instance, if you want to make sure that the assembly is as tight as possible, you could use a washer that is thick.

In some cases, it may be necessary to use more than one to achieve this. You may also find it necessary to apply some grease on the washer. This serves multiple purposes including reducing the risk of corrosion as well as making it easier to put the fastener in place.

In addition to that, putting some grease on the washer will also make it more watertight, which is important if you are interested in using it to reduce leakage. Measuring the correct washer size is also critical. Using one that is too small or too big is likely to result in less than perfect results. They are often used in water pipes and connections to create a waterproof seal. South Dakota has taken one giant leap towards promoting cleaner, more renewable energy. The American manufacturing industry continues to grow, with analysts shedding new insight into the We use cookies to improve your experience.

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