Small Precision Washers

pkrankow wrote:I got a bag of tiny washers for some straight razors I repinned.  Good thought on what to do with them as I have about 90 left over.  

http://www.microfasteners.com/home.php?cat=646

Phil

Phil: which ones? the link is to a page that shows choices.

  #0 flat washers             #0 wide flat washers copper            #1 S/S copper plated washers

happydad  

I have the brass washers in #0, not sure which exact ones as I did the razor project several years ago now.

Phil

If we could get a chart indicating which washer to use with each diameter wire that we typically use (1/16", 3/32", etc.), that would be so awesome!

BTW, do they still make those Goldberg LG spring fasteners in different sizes?

Discussions like this always remind me how much I LOVE the metric system

You know, 2mm washer for 2mm wire and so on. Not to mention fuel mixing calculations

VUgearhead wrote:If we could get a chart indicating which washer to use with each diameter wire that we typically use (1/16", 3/32", etc.), that would be so awesome!

BTW, do they still make those Goldberg LG spring fasteners in different sizes?

Sig Mfg. discontinued them unfortunately. There's a chance that Cox International might have found some in that large shipment of hobby-goods they acquired a few weeks ago. Bernie and Theresa are probably still busy cataloguing all of it.

The spring-fasteners can be hand-wound from .015" music-wire though. Just wind it (tightly) around a short post (secured in a vice or chuck).. slightly smaller than the diameter you need the retainer for. Example; use a 3/64" (.047") music-wire winding-post.. for a 1/16" (.062") wire retainer or a 1/16" winding-post for 5/64" (.078").. etc. After removing your "spring" from the winding post, grab a sandwich-bag and side-cutters. Hold the coil inside the bag and cut the length you need. The bag will help from losing the small part when it shears-off.. and is also added protection for your eyes. (always wear safety-glasses when working with music-wire) Form the "tang-loop" by holding the coil with pointed tweezers on a wood-block.. and bend 1 (one) end-coil open with a knife blade. Finish-bend 180 degrees using needle-nose pliers. This "tang" is what takes the pressure off the coil when installing (twisting-on/off).. regardless of whether the coil was made l/h or r/h.

But wait.. there's more..! Since this is a thread on small precision washers.. I had planned on explaining how to make some from plastic-sheet. No.. there not "steel/machine" washers.. but they're great for spacers.. hubcaps.. and they don't rust. Save a flat piece of clear-plastic packaging (you know.. the kind you have to cut open w/scissors to get your stuff out..) Drill a row of holes with the appropriate size drill.. along one edge.. and space them apart at least 1/4". Use the "eye" of a hand-type paper-punch to center the hole, and punch it out. I had to remove the chip-collector on mine, to expose the eye. You'll have a 1/4" O.D.. on all your washers.. but being able to custom-bore the I.D. to size is a nice option.. especially if you have #drills.

These hubcaps were made with the paper-punch method.