Making Washers - How do you do it? or... Where do you source yours?

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I'm having a hard time finding the washers I need. For those of you that make them how do you do it?

I'm considering buying a gasket punch set or having some waterjet cut. I have also found some washer manufacturers that can do the job.

I'm looking for/hoping to make .015" thick, .5" od, .25 id washers by the way.

USAKM used to carry them but I can't seem to find any at all. The 5/8" od ones they have now are too big for my lock side. I have checked with all of the knife supply stores. I found some in .020" but would rather go .015" thick.

Phosphor Bronze is the only material I am interested in...

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

You can mount a stack of 5/8" on an arbor (I'd use a shoulder screw) and turn them down to 1/2" on a lathe. This has the added advantage of squaring up the outside edge better than stock. The last washer in the stack would need to be a regular steel washer to support the cut.

I can help you if you're not setup for this, it's no biggy.

 

[Bob Ohlemann]

Nathan's solution is probably the easiest but, I have also used a 5C emergency collet with a purpose cut pocket to hold washers that needed to be faced to final thickness. I only mention this because you said you found washers in the correct i.d./o.d. but too thick.

Bob

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

You can mount a stack of 5/8" on an arbor (I'd use a shoulder screw) and turn them down to 1/2" on a lathe. This has the added advantage of squaring up the outside edge better than stock. The last washer in the stack would need to be a regular steel washer to support the cut.

I can help you if you're not setup for this, it's no biggy.

Thanks Nathan!

That sounds like a great solution and gives me some idea for when I get a lathe.

I appreciate the offer too, we might have to work something out! I just need that stack of washers...

Nathan's solution is probably the easiest but, I have also used a 5C emergency collet with a purpose cut pocket to hold washers that needed to be faced to final thickness. I only mention this because you said you found washers in the correct i.d./o.d. but too thick.

Bob

Thanks RangerBob! Good idea, that would work in a pinch for few situations. Much appreciated.



Thanks for the help guys!

 

[AVigil]

Dan,

Take a look at this video http://youtu.be/TE6uKsV8f9o?t=2m48s

 

[1SHOT1KILL]

I'm having a hard time finding the washers I need. For those of you that make them how do you do it?

I'm considering buying a gasket punch set or having some waterjet cut. I have also found some washer manufacturers that can do the job.

I'm looking for/hoping to make .015" thick, .5" od, .25 id washers by the way.

USAKM used to carry them but I can't seem to find any at all. The 5/8" od ones they have now are too big for my lock side. I have checked with all of the knife supply stores. I found some in .020" but would rather go .015" thick.

Phosphor Bronze is the only material I am interested in...

Thanks in advance for the help!

http://www.phoenixspecialty.com/washers?gclid=CKO9yZf_qL0CFRSPfgodA6QAQg

Daniel, our company buys a LOT of shim/washers from this company and they have a great online RFQ page. They're worth a shot.

 

[Calvin Robinson]

I use .010" shim stock,cut square pieces the size I want then stack 10 of them in a clamp I made then drill and ream my hole then stack them on an arbor like Nathan said but instead of turning them on a lathe I turn them with a spin jig on my surface grinder.