what's with flatwashers?

[Mutt and Jeff]

Flatwashers They used to fit bolt sizes
nowadays they sell 3 washers 2 too loose and one that looks good till it get's stuck to the bolt cause it's too small?

 

[rustyfarmall]

(quoted from post at 06:25:55 12/27/19) Flatwashers They used to fit bolt sizes
nowadays they sell 3 washers 2 too loose and one that looks good till it get's stuck to the bolt cause it's too small?

Frustrating isn't it? I have no solution.

 

[caterpillar guy]

You could drill your own if you want them to fit a specific size. That is what I have done at times. Other wise they work fine. Or you can buy washers from someplace Like Mc Master Carr. You can get more specific hols size from them at a cost.
But really for bolting a couple of 2x4's together or other non specific sized work does it really matter? If you are going to use them for putting over head bolts or more specific use then you need better washers than TSC has anyway.

 

[Bob]

(quoted from post at 08:25:55 12/27/19) Flatwashers They used to fit bolt sizes
nowadays they sell 3 washers 2 too loose and one that looks good till it get's stuck to the bolt cause it's too small?

Instead of generic "flatwashers", look for "SAE flat washers", they are a more accurate fit to the bolt size.

 

[Aaron SEIA]

I'd bet it has more to do with guys not paying attention and throwing the wrong washer back in the wrong box when they grab a handful. Gotta be careful at the "by the pound" bins at the farm/hardware stores.
AaronSEIA

 

[Leroy]

I don't know the designations but the normal run of hardware store washers will be actually one size bigger than bolt sizes. 1/4" washer fits 5/16" bolt, 5/16" washer will fit 3/8" bolt, 3/8" washer will fit 7/16" bolt, 7/16" washer will fit 1/2" bolt. Now in the small bins or packages you will find them under a different designation and they are sized exactually to bolt size but are very expencive. Normally you should not need them. I have had more problems with thickness out of same bin and they were from different makers but dumped in same bin. In the last several years I have used hundreds of pounds of washers with no problems mostly from Rural King as they are way cheaper than from Tractor Supply and also have a better selection of sizes like 7/16" that I used a lot of but TSC does not carry. When you buy 20 pounds at a clip at 50 cents a pound cheaper it adds up. There are a lot of 5/16" or 3/8" washers per pound. If I would have had to go to a hardware store where they are sold by the piece I could have never rebuilt all the machinery I did. 30-40+ steel wheel hay rakes and other machinery. All on older machinery I was rebuilding for the Amish, Now for tractor work you need the exact fit washers. And that includes both inside and outside diameters as well as thickness.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

From the land of 'almost right'.I think maybe washers are made to fit the SAE and metric size bolts of similar size these days.

 

[Russ from MN]

If you want better quality washers contact Fastenal.

 

[RedMF40]

Similar problem but doesn't deserve its own thread: Opened a box of brand new drywall screws for a project here. Started screwing them in. Wobble wobble wobble. Looked at the screw. Bent. Picked out another. Yes, also bent. No, I didn't reclaim a bunch of used screws and throw them in the box, although that's something I would do. Brand new box, bunch of bent screws.

 

[Destroked 450]

(quoted from post at 09:57:00 12/27/19) If you want better quality washers contact Fastenal.

We used Fastenal bolts and washers at the mill, their common grade 5 washers were no better, used a lot of 5/16 flats one 3/8" bolts, 7/16 flats on 1/2".

 

[Steve@Advance]

There are different specs for inch flat washers, and probably for metrics too.

Most hardware and big box stores don't know or care, and then there is the "mix up factor".

If you want a tighter fit, look for SAE washers. If you want a bigger OD, look for USS washers.

There are also different grades, specialty washers, too many to list.
USS SAE Washers

 

[Steve@Advance]

RedMF40, pretty common to get defective screws, something was out of adjustment on the machinery, didn't get caught before they were boxed and out the door.

I've got a lot of deck screws that the heads were so full of coating they couldn't be driven.

Bought a 7/16-20 grade 8 bolt once, went to use it, it wouldn't screw in... Looking at the threads, they weren't threads, just rings!

But the strangest, a box of small worm screw hose clamps, all had left threads!

 

[4wdtom]

I don't know how the standard sizes for washers if figured but for years if I wanted a good git I have used a size smaller washer than the size of the bolt or screw. If you want to purchase a good fitting washer you need to buy from a company that lists the specs, ID, OD, and thickness. McMaster Carr is one such company. Or take a dial caliper with you to the store.

 

[old]

I buy washers all the time by the pound and they have the sizes I want/need. Be it 1/4 inch or 1/2 or for that matter 1 inch. I buy most from Orscheln's $1.99 per pound

 

[WGM]

Our local Ace Hardware sells USS washers by the pound from the bins or SAE washers by the piece from the little drawers.

 

[buickanddeere]

(quoted from post at 09:25:55 12/27/19) Flatwashers They used to fit bolt sizes
nowadays they sell 3 washers 2 too loose and one that looks good till it get's stuck to the bolt cause it's too small?

Try metric washers to adjust the fit .

 

[guido]

Hello Mutt and Jeff,

Not all washers are created equal. SAE washers are a real fit for the size, and high grade to boot. They are used where cap screws are torqued, and chassis fastener applcations,

Guido

 

[jeffcat]

Give a measure with your micrometer. One store I found the stocker put metric in the standard. If you pulled the tray out and look at the boxes behind...sure enough, metric label.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

$1.79 @ Rural King sometimes cheaper.

 

[old]

Not if you do not have one around. Nearest TSC is 50 mile round trip and who know where one of the one you say are

 

[oldhammerhead]

The last flat washers I bought were stamped UAE.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

United Arab Emirates. Got some 3/4 iron pipe from home dweebo for my bar clamps and that was painted on them. Don't think I'd use them for a water system.

 

[Texasmark1]

When I built my house in 1979, I noticed that the 50# box of 16d nails came from Poland. My gripe currently is 5/16" washers in the 1/4" bin and the 5/16" bin.

 

[fixerupper]

The oversized hole in a washer makes for easier installation and removal. When the nut is tightened down on a soft washer with an exact hole size to the bolt, removal will be hard because the washer is squished tight to the bolt threads. If we want to use a washer that fits exact we need to use a hardened washer if that bolt is to be removed anytime soon. We have all been there at some time or another trying to hold the washer from turning with a pliers while we are unthreading the bolt from the washer.

 

[bison]

I can't find any 1/4" flat washers anymore already for years, the ones they sell as 1/4" are 5/16.and every other size fits the bolt size below it.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

(quoted from post at 18:13:16 12/31/19) I can't find any 1/4" flat washers anymore already for years, the ones they sell as 1/4" are 5/16.and every other size fits the bolt size below it.

I can pull flat washers out of our Lawson bolt bins that have been there for 45 years, and they are the same. 1/4" washer fits 5/16" bolt, yada yada yada.

It's nothing new. Has nothing to do with "cheap" or "land of almost right." Lawson is hardly a cheap brand, and in 1975, made in the USA for sure.