Thread: Internal washers/spacers - what do people normally use? what materials?

I bought some #0 wide nylon washers to use as washers/spacers on the blade end of some restorations. What else do people use on the inside for washers near the blade?

What about for a middle pin? Does anybody put something in there to take up space?

What can I try to make wedges out of for the non-blade end?


There are little strips of stainless steel and brass at the hardware shop. They come in widths of 1/4", 1/2" of various thicknesses. I was thinking about picking some up, making little 1/4" and 1/2" squares, drilling a hole in the middle (1/16") and filing/sanding the edges to make it into a washer-type of thing to use in the insides.

Joseph, I think you'd find that many of your questions show up quite a bit in other threads. You may want to search the forums for some of these things.
But I will try to give some help. You can use all kinds of things for the wedge. Just consider how difficult certain materials are to work, or can corrode. People use wood, brass, acrylic, micarta, g10, aluminum, etc.

I have searched the forum and went through the Archive pages where it is just text and I can breeze through them. Some of the threads were a GREAT help.

I wanted to foster communication to see if any new ideas were around or to hear from people who haven't previously posted. I remember before someone used little jewel/bead type things in the middle pin and thought it was really cool but can't find it anywhere...didn't know if things like that are common.

And for wedges I'm looking for a source for thin nylon/plastic to use. I figure filing and sanding it would be easy. I don't remember what I found for that Searching but I'll do it again.

for the inner washers i ues brass washers #2 .090 x 188 x.017 from microfastners.com i flaten them super thin with a hammer and you cant tell them from factory made .

Originally Posted by ronnie brown

for the inner washers i ues brass washers #2 .090 x 188 x.017 from microfastners.com i flaten them super thin with a hammer and you cant tell them from factory made .

Is there an advantage to using those as inner washers? I was going to use the #0 wide nylon, .??? x .250 x .015. I guess on these the inner diameter is open a bit wider than the 0's, any particular reason?

The plastic cases of computer peripherals like scanner, monitor and printers make great wedge… The material is PVC… PVC is tough enough to make wedge and is malleable enough to cut with a knife… also polishes to a brilliant shine… available mostly in black and white… could make “usable” scales too.

Originally Posted by smythe

The plastic cases of computer peripherals like scanner, monitor and printers make great wedge… The material is PVC… PVC is tough enough to make wedge and is malleable enough to cut with a knife… also polishes to a brilliant shine… available mostly in black and white… could make “usable” scales too.

Interesting.....I'll have to go through old PC's at work. It's a good thing I am an IT guy and have access to that stuff.

I bought some plastic shims today at the hardware store. They start out really thin and wedge out. I can cut and shape them, I think, into something usable.

edit: What thickness does a wedge need to be? If I was going to buy some flat PVC somewhere what thickness should I get to where I could sand it down to size?

i have used the #0 brass washers also. it was what i had and it worked well.

For inner washers you might try some shim stock. It comes in various thickness.

For wedges the thickness should be approx 1/2 the thickness of the spine.
That's just a starting point for reference.