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Moddhayward
Tinkerer
Username: Moddhayward
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 04:58 am: | 
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Hi.
I'm in the middle of fixing up an old rolleiflex. It looks like someone else was here before me and lost some of those tiny brass ring shims because I've had to use the ones directly behind the faceplate to bring the lenses forward slightly to get infinity focus at full knob rotation and proper focus down to 2 2/3 feet. Now of course I need some more to lift the faceplate slightly or it is jamming the aperture adjustment mechanism!
So does anyone know where I could get a small bag of like a hundred or so assorted brass ring shims? These ones are about 4mm with a 2mm hole, but I can see this is going to come up with future projects too and it seems worth getting in a pile of them.
Many thanks!
Mike |
Charlie
Tinkerer
Username: Charlie
Post Number: 243
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 07:35 am: |
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A google search will bring up several sources, some for laminated (peel apart) washers which may satisfy your need. |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 230
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 08:22 am: |
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You may have to make your own out of various thickness brass shim material. Your local friendly hobby and model shop should have a supply, if not try K&S Engineering of Chicago. Even here in UK the model shops stock K&S product range. |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 857
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 08:30 am: |
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Shim washers like this can be made quite simply from brass shim stock if one has a few basic tools. For the centre hole make up a punch and die from a length of suitable diameter silver steel and two pieces of rectangular steel bar stock. The object of the tool is to clamp the shim stock firmly between the steel bars and then hammer the punch through the prior drilled guide holes. The two die bars are located on smallish pins so that the punch will easily go through both bars without fouling. My homemade punch and die set will produce clean holes of 1mm/15mm diameter in both brass and steel shim stock.
Using the punch one produces a strip of shim stock full of holes, the holes are spaced such that one can produce shim washers that are square in shape and just over the required finished diameter. The outer diameter is easily produced as follows - Using a piece of silver steel of the correct diameter produce two circular spacers about 10mm/1/2" long with a hole of correct internal diameter drilled out and then fully harden these spacers by heating to red heat and dropping into cold water. Note that you do not need a lathe to drill out the centre holes, a small hand drill will suffice. Now place one spacer on a long bolt of the correct diameter followed by all the 'square' shims, place the second spacer over the shims and clamp the column down using a nut. The shims can now be rounded off using a file, linisher belt or sanding disc, the hardened spacers will act as a guide and help produce the correct diameter.
Those of us with a lathe can show off and mount the stack in the chuck and turn the outer diameter up; however, I prefer the lazy way and use a linisher belt.
The above method will produce both brass and steel shim washers for very little outlay in both money and time. The method will also produce much larger diameter shim washers on the same basis if the contents of the scrap bin yields suitable materials for the punch and die blocks. The largest I have seen made were 65mm internal diameter and the repair only required four to be produced - hence the cost effectiveness of the scrap bin. |
Moddhayward
Tinkerer
Username: Moddhayward
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 11:44 am: |
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ah.
Charlie - I have used Google for about an hour and had real trouble finding anything that wasn't an engineering works who wanted to take my 'custom order' (no stock). The other problem is these sizes are very small. If you have anyone specific in mind that would be very helpful.
Gez/Glenn - whilst I appreciate the do-it-yourself approach, this seems to require a workshop and tools which I don't have, so 'very little outlay' becomes 'outlay to construct workshop and equip it'. Just to get some shims hardly seems cost effective, plus I don't have a spare room or garage. 
Not that I wouldn't love a workshop...
Am I back on the Google then? |
Mareklew
Tinkerer
Username: Mareklew
Post Number: 185
Registered: 03-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 12:53 pm: |
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Back to google, but this time don't look for shims, look for shops with scale models, flying models etc. They usually have or can get small shims in ready form.
Other than that machine shop supplies should carry shim stock on a reel - get thin one and make shims yourself, you can use scissors to cut V-shaped shims. They are not as nice as O-shaped, as they will fall out as soon as you loosen the screw, but can be cut easily without special tools.
Marek |
Epatsellis
Tinkerer
Username: Epatsellis
Post Number: 17
Registered: 01-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010 - 05:49 am: |
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depending on thickness needed, you may want to look at aircraft spruce or wick's aircraft. Aircraft grade washers come in two thicknesses, one rather thick and the other somewhere around .003. They are frequently used as shims and are extremely consistent. I'd think (off the top of my head) that a #2 or #4 washer would be in the ballpark |
Rlc
Tinkerer
Username: Rlc
Post Number: 123
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010 - 07:16 am: |
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Seems to me that one could use paper impregnated with CA glue -and allowed to dry- as a sustitute. Think outside the box.
Richard. |
Rlc
Tinkerer
Username: Rlc
Post Number: 124
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010 - 04:06 pm: |
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Mike; A possible source for your washers: Watch makers suppliers or a friend who does watch repairs. Dial washers -which are wave washers- used under the dial to keep the hour wheel engaged. They are supplied in sizes varing from ladies bracelet watches up to size 18 pocket watches.
I have dozens of assorted sizes varying from about 4mm O.D. to about 10mm O.D. They are approx. .003" thick.
You might search eBay under "Watch dial washers"
Or Google Watch makers supplies.
Hope this helps.
Richard. |
Rlc
Tinkerer
Username: Rlc
Post Number: 125
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010 - 05:13 pm: |
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Had nothing better to do so did an eBay search.
This sounds like just what you need.
http://cgi.ebay.com/100-Assorted-Swiss-Made-Pocket-Watch-Dial-Washers-/190451976 744?pt=UK_Jewellery_Watches_WatchAccessories_SpareParts_SM&hash=item2c57d28a28
Good Luck, Richard. |
Moddhayward
Tinkerer
Username: Moddhayward
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 03:46 am: |
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Thanks Guys! I'm currently phoning up RC model places, so far none of them has anything this small.
Epatsellis/Rlc - will widen search to include watchmakers and aircraft! Have mailed the ebay guy to find out size. I did consider card and plastic as alternatives, but it just seemed cheap for a Rollei! 
Will keep you posted! |
Moddhayward
Tinkerer
Username: Moddhayward
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 06:27 am: |
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BTW - one manufacturer kindly offered to make 100 for me. Cost? £100! |
Hanskerensky
Tinkerer
Username: Hanskerensky
Post Number: 57
Registered: 05-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 01:55 pm: |
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When it's not possible to scavenge from "junkers" i sometimes buy these small fixation parts from a webshop here in The Netherlands which is specialised in those.
Have a look here :
http://www.microscrews.nl/site_2009-1/ringen_2009-2.html
A washer is called "sluitring" and he has them starting with M1.
The thickness can be found on another page here :
http://www.microscrews.nl/site_2009-1/afmetingentabel_2009-2.html
Again look for "sluitring" or use Google Translations. The smallest M1 are 0,3mm thick, the biggest M4 are 0,8mm. |
Paul_ron
Tinkerer
Username: Paul_ron
Post Number: 223
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 03:50 pm: |
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You can get brass shim stock in various thickness at a hobby shop. A pack of 5 assorted sheets costs about $3. |
Mareklew
Tinkerer
Username: Mareklew
Post Number: 189
Registered: 03-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 01:40 pm: |
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Forgot to mention: baking paper (double sided) or waxed paper (old type label backing) is a good shim stock in a pinch. Doesn't take water and can be easily cut.
Don't use plastic (LDPE/HDPE/PVC) foil for shims, because of two reasons:
- where it doesn't need to be pressed hard, the edges after cutting will have a grade making the shim thicker
- where it is under pressure, it will flow, slowly changing thickness.
Polycarbonate foil is better, but harder to cut clean and can only be used where UV don't go.
Shim stock is best, just don't use your lady's cosmetic scissors from the manicure set, even if they have the perfect size for this job ;PPPP
Marek |
Norman
Tinkerer
Username: Norman
Post Number: 35
Registered: 03-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 16, 2010 - 02:09 pm: |
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If you are looking for a very thin shim, aluminium cooking foil measures .01mm aluminium drinks can measures .05mm. You can make the hole by filing the end of a nail square and using it as a punch on a piece of end grain hardwood or a block of lead. Then cut the outside with a pair of sharp scissors. |
Moddhayward
Tinkerer
Username: Moddhayward
Post Number: 5
Registered: 10-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 06:15 am: |
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@Hanskerensky - that was super many thanks - I found a local supplier for M1.6 brass washers which is exactly what I need.
@Marek - thanks for the advice - I nearly gave in and made some plastic ones.
Thanks again to everyone - I think I shall get some shim materials as sheet too! Thank you
Mike |
