What Is Shim Stock and How Is It Used?
Shim stock, derived from the phrase “shimmy”, is a thin strip of metal or plastic that comes in rolls, sheets or strips. It can also come pre-cut into individual rectangular blocks. Shim stock is used as a type of gasket and spacer to fill in the small gaps between two components, allowing them to fit tightly together (like a jigsaw). In this guide, you'll learn more about shim stock and how it is used. 1. Understand What Shim Stock Is Shim stock is simply defined as a flat sheet material usually made out of stainless steel, brass, aluminum or plastic that can be cut into different shapes for use with many different applications. A shim is designed as a way to make precise adjustments when constructing things like machinery parts, tools, and engines by filling in small gaps between two surfaces. 2. Choose The Right Shim Stock for Your Project Since shims are usually made out of metals such as stainless steel, aluminum or brass (depending on their intended application), selecting