
A shim stock is a roll of thin gauge metal or foil used to create shims. Thin gauge cut sheet metal may be as thin as 0.0005 inch (0.0127 millimeter) to allow for fine positioning adjustments. Since the material is so thin, stock can easily be cut into custom shapes using standard tools such as metal shears.
What is the difference between shims and shim stock?
Basic Information. Shims and shim stock are used to fill in a space between two mating surfaces or components. Shim stock consists of thin pieces of metal, plastic or other material used to fill space between objects for support, leveling, or adjustment of fit.
What materials are shims made of?
Although shims can be made from plastic or rubber, most are cut from very thin sheets of metals known as shim stock. Trinity Brand Industries offers a full catalog of metal shim stock materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, titanium, and electrical steel.
What is the best material to use for shim stock?
Shim Stock Cut it into custom shapes to fit your application. Sheets come flat packed. For accurate leveling, choose materials such as steel or stainless steel, which are hard enough to resist scratching and deforming.
What is the difference between carbon steel shims and aluminum shims?
Spring steel shim stock is comparable in strength to carbon steel shim stock, but is harder and holds its shape better. It isn't as corrosion resistant as other shims. Aluminum shim stock is lightweight and nonmagnetic. It has good corrosion resistance. Material will vary between Alloys 1100, 1145, and 1235.

What is steel shim stock?
Shim stock is thin precision stock material from which custom shims can be cut for a specific application. This versatile and easy to use material can be easily cut to fit specific needs. Depending on the thickness and material, shim stock can be cut with scissors or metal shears for quick and easy adjustments.
What is a metal shim?
A shim is a thin and often tapered or wedged piece of material, used to fill small gaps or spaces between objects. Shims are typically used in order to support, adjust for better fit, or provide a level surface. Shims may also be used as spacers to fill gaps between parts subject to wear.
How do you use shim stock?
0:111:58Windy City Rehab's Alison Victoria on How To Use Brass Shim ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou could do it with just a flat panel. And then what you do scrape it just like you are real hardMoreYou could do it with just a flat panel. And then what you do scrape it just like you are real hard push that seam.
What do metal shims adjust?
Metal shims are often used in engineering and industry to adjust for better fit or support. Shims adjust clearances, tolerances and alignments, or may act as spacers to fill gaps between parts that are subject to wear.
What are metal shims made of?
Constructed of stainless steel as well as aluminum, brass, copper, and other nonferrous materials to eliminate rust, metal shims shine in industrial applications. Their high composite strength makes them ideal for aligning production and packaging equipment and other automation.
What does shim stand for?
SHIMAcronymDefinitionSHIMSexual Health Inventory for MenSHIMSouth Hills Interfaith Ministries (Pennsylvania)SHIMSelf-Heating Individual MealSHIMSystem Health and Intrusion Monitoring (computer security project)2 more rows
How do you use metal shims?
1:502:50How to Use Spellbinders Metal Shims - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to put your media directly onto the shim and for those detailed dies I still like toMoreYou're going to put your media directly onto the shim and for those detailed dies I still like to use wax paper to help it release a little bit from the die.
How are metal shims made?
Laminated shims are produced by surface-bonding layers of precision-metal foils or composite films and resin adhesive into sheets. The foils can be aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel , and brass, among others. Final shims range from 0.006" to 0.250" thick.
What is copper shim stock?
Shim stock is corrosion resistant. It includes a material certificate with traceable lot number and test report. Copper shim stock is a good conductor of heat and electricity, so it's often used when installing heat sinks. For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
What's the difference between shim and wedge?
The wedge provides any thickness desirable, theoretically to the . 001”, but only one contact point. The shim is constrained to an exact thickness but can make contact with as much surface area as desired.
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.
What are body shims used for?
These body shim spacers are essential for any car enthusiast or professional mechanic to shim body parts, creating even gaps and creases. They can also be used to adjust camber, caster and toe on front or rear wheels.
Why Do We Need Shim Stock?
There may be times where we need to ensure the correct gap for our applications. Tools such as rulers and calipers will not be precise enough when we are dealing with gaps under 0.010″. It is handy to have shim stock laying around to use to set our gaps and distances in engineering.
How Do We Use Shim Stock?
Take a piece of shim stock, and cut it down to size. Insert the shim stock as required to fill the gap. If you are an engineer, some of the systems that are designed will require gaps. These gaps are designed due to ensure clearances or adequate load distribution.
Real Life Applications
The most relatable example for shim stock is furniture. Often times, we all experience moments where we buy furniture such as desks, tables, or dressers and put them together only to find that something is off. Either a table leg length is too short or long or the manufacturer drilled holes in the wrong place.
Best Shim Stock Products To Use
If your mechanical system goes through a lot of vibrations, use something sturdy such as brass shims to fill up the gap. You will need something stronger than a regular pair of scissor to cut these, so make sure you have something on hand.
What is a shim stock?
Shim stock consists of thin pieces of metal, plastic or other material used to fill space between objects for support, leveling, or adjustment of fit . Shims and shim stock can also act as electrical insulation and seal joints.
What is a standard shim?
Aircraft Applications. Standard shims for aircraft can be identified by manufacturer and part number, for example Bell Helicopter 120-062 and 120-098, or Boeing Airplane Company BACF3F or BACF3T.
What is a plastic shim?
Plastic shims are color-coded for quick, accurate recognition of thickness at time of use. Custom shims can be fabricated to required specifications, including material, size, and finish. Slotted shims are used on assembled machine components. The slot aligns the shim to be installed without disassembling the rotating shaft components ...
What is a bearing shim?
Bearing shims are used for bearing adjustment. A shim kit contains shims of varying thicknesses and sizes arranged in a carrying case with labels for easy selection of the right size shim.
What is a valve shim?
Valve shims are used to adjust valve spring pressure. Laminated shims allow layers can be peeled away to produce a shim of required thickness. A carpenter or cabinet-maker can use small pieces of wood (shims) to fill gaps between larger pieces. Bearing shims are used for bearing adjustment.
Can you buy shims in rolls?
Shims and shim stock can be purchased in sheets and/or rolls depending on thickness, color, and tolerance.
What is aluminum shim stock?
Aluminum shim stock is lightweight and nonmagnetic. It has good corrosion resistance. Material will vary between Alloys 1100, 1145, and 1235.
What is the best shim stock for a heat sink?
Copper shim stock is a good conductor of heat and electricity, so it's often used when installing heat sinks. Bronze shim stock is stronger than copper or brass shim stock. Nickel shim stock is our most corrosion resistant shim stock. Titanium shim stock has a high strength-to-weight ratio and good corrosion resistance.
What is PTFE shim stock used for?
PTFE plastic shim stock is slippery, so it can be used to reduce friction between parts. It also has excellent chemical resistance.
Can carbon steel shims be welded?
Carbon steel shim stock has excellent strength and can be welded, but isn't as corrosion resistant as other shims.
What is a shimstock made of?
Firstly, the minimal thickness allows for an accurate registration of the occlusion. Secondly, the shimstock is made of metallic polyester, which adds to its sturdiness when the patient bites.
How thick is a shimstock?
In dentistry, a shimstock measures only 8 mm in width and has a thickness of 12 microns or 8 microns. Following a restoration, a dentist puts the shimstock between the teeth that is restored and the antagonist tooth in the opposite arch. The dentist then asks the patient to bite on the shimstock.
Why is the shimstock moved from one tooth to the other?
The shimstock is moved from one tooth to the other in order for checking the occlusion. An instrument known as Miller's forceps is used to hold the shimstock. When the shimstock is bit upon, the dentist tries to pull the film out. The dentist can encounter three scenarios after this:
What is the procedure called when a patient bites on the shimstock?
This procedure where the patient bites on to the shimstock is called the shimstock hold .
Why do dentists use shimstock?
The use of shimstock is essential for the dentist to evaluate the occlusion both before and after the treatment. It plays a significant role in improving the precision of the given treatment.
Which is better: shimstock or articulating paper?
The only advantage that articulating paper holds over shimstock is that the latter is more expensive. However, given the benefits of the shimstock and the fact that it can be available in 16 feet long rolls that can last for a long time, a shimstock is more preferred.
What is a dental shimstock?
What is dental shimstock. A person whose tooth is structurally impaired needs a treatment which can aesthetically and functionally restore that tooth. In case a tooth is extensively carious, a restoration material is used to restore the tooth structure following the removal of the carious portion. In case a tooth undergoes a root canal treatment, ...
Why cut shim stock?
Loading quite aside, one of the reasons is so that the next Pilgrim who has to check alignment knows it is THERE, and what sort of material had been used.
Is bronze a zinc or tin?
Bronze uses Tin as it most common partner instead of Zinc. Tin is nowhere near the nymphomaniac as Zinc when it comes to chemical bed-partner choices, so the Bronze can be waaay more stable over time.
Does shim stock affect part movement?
I would imagine the extent to which the shim stock contributes to part movement might be an (admittedly) minor element in the decision. Brass and paper are less likely to slip than say stainless. I would also say compressibility of the shim stock could (after vibration and repeated clamping/tightening in use) slightly change the dimensions of the stack-up. So nothing with high plastic deformation where dimensional accuracy is desired and nothing hard and slippery where holding power is more important. Horses for courses.
Do shims rust?
if motor is steel or cast iron i would not worry a lot about shims rusting any more than motor feet will rust.
