Where to buy big thick washers?

[qqzj]

I need some of them to press bushings in. Spent 1 hour in HD only found these bearing plates. The holes in the middle are too small and I would prefer the shape to be round. But all the washers in HD are thin and small. So my question to the forum members is where to buy big and thick washers of various diameters? The holes in the middle should be as big as possible. Thanks!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Take a look at TSC. Sometimes, the washers are thicker than normal.

 

[alex71]

Check out the link in my sig. Search for "plate washer"

 

[ace10]

Do you have a Fastenal store? Or go to their website.

Around here, HD has terrible selection. Lowes has abt 2x the aisle space and better organized.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Mcmastercarr


Lathe.....

 

[Forgottonia]

Farm and ranch supply stores have all sorts of large washers--Tractor Supply, Rural King, etc.

 

[Sumboodie]

Cut some out.

 

[Tools4Me]

Large thick washers are often hard to find and their cost can add up quickly if you need a few different sizes. You might want to look online at bearing/seal/bushing driver sets. They aren't very expensive and there isn't really much to go wrong with them if you buy one of the cheaper options. Use them without the "hammer shaft" attached if you want to do the work with a press. They are also often made from aluminum, so it isn't hard to drill a larger sized hole through the center of one of the adapters if you need to make a custom setup for a certain application.

Many people also use regular or deep sockets to push in bushings and seals with a press. If you really need a large center hole in order to work around something like a protruding shaft, it also sometimes works to find pieces of conduit or pipe at HDepot that can be cut and used as sleeves to apply pressure to the seal or bushing without the shaft getting in the way.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I make my own non standard washers. BUT, I have several lathes and a milling machine. If a person has a drillpress, it would be easy enough to make washers.

 

[nadogail]

Do you know someone who has an Iron worker, or a Punch Press?

If you are shopping at Home Depot your options become very limited.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Search for hardened washers, they are usually thicker than normal. You may also want to search for spacers, which may cost more. I also have gotten very thick washers from Caterpillar tractor dealers but took some work to find part numbers of the size I needed.

 

[Walkers]

I just burn them out on my CNC plasma.

 

[slowtwitch73]

You could also get a length of tube/pipe that fits your needs and chop saw off 'washers'.

 

[BillK]

Dont know where you are located but Tractor Supply or any larger John Deere dealer. Washers are not really the right thing to use for that job though. You really need some harder bushing drivers. What size are the bushings you are working with ?

 

[LG63]

Check the plumbing aisle. You might be able to get to the OD/ID combination you need with galvanized or black iron pipe fittings and reducing bushings.

 

[qqzj]

Dont know where you are located but Tractor Supply or any larger John Deere dealer. Washers are not really the right thing to use for that job though. You really need some harder bushing drivers. What size are the bushings you are working with ?

Need one about 2.5 inches od. Inside hole should be relatively big. Thanks

 

[LXCam]

Try searching structural washers.

 

[pbon]

Mcmastercarr

I have bought from them before — 3” diameter and 1/4” thick and they have many other sizes

 

[matt_i]

Carr-Lane has a good selection of "tooling washers".

A strut-channel washer is thick and in various sizes although not round.

I have had washers laser-cut when I didn't have the time to machine them.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I feel like you are using the wrong tool for the job and you're not going to be happy with the results.

 

[gearhead1]

I bought a cheap 3/4“ drive socket set just for the shop press just to press bearings/bushings in and out. I don’t think I’ve ever turned a nut or bolt with that set ever. It was the fastest and cheapest way to get a bunch of sizes. Once in a while I run into something I have to make, but cheap sockets are not a bad way to go.

 

[Buckaroo5]

Very large selection and good prices.

Bolt Depot - Product Catalog

www.boltdepot.com

 

[2ndGearRubber]

You need a bearing driver set. That and an on car wheel bearing press kit like what astro sells is great for pressing. Theres also an XL kit available.

Red case is rebadged around 70 bucks, XL kit about 150 when they're in stock. On car wheel bearing kit will give you a lot of options, but not as good of coverage as the XL kit.

 

[LG63]

Very large selection and good prices.

Bolt Depot - Product Catalog

www.boltdepot.com

Looks like a good fastener source. I've never seen them called dock washers before.

 

[kelpaso1]

I just burn them out on my CNC plasma.

Irrelevant post. Like everybody has one of those in their garage.

 

[Steve_P]

You need a bearing driver set. That and an on car wheel bearing press kit like what astro sells is great for pressing. Theres also an XL kit available.

Red case is rebadged around 70 bucks, XL kit about 150 when they're in stock. On car wheel bearing kit will give you a lot of options, but not as good of coverage as the XL kit.

This^. If you want washers, then McMaster. If you want to press bushings, then get a generic set like above on Amazon for less than $100. Also consider the tube sets for pressing- I have both the round plate set and the tubes and they make life so much easier and well worth the $ after you've used them a few times - and saved hours over running around town looking for pipe *******, couplings, washers.....

 

[qqzj]

What's the links for the Amazon drive set and tube set? I can search but I can make mistakes. Thanks!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

What's the links for the Amazon drive set and tube set? I can search but I can make mistakes. Thanks!

Bearing press tool.

Astro 25 piece kit is the wheel bearing on car press tool I'm talking about. 52 in 1 custom bushing driver kit for discs.

 

[seber]

I just use sockets.

 

[Walkers]

Irrelevant post. Like everybody has one of those in their garage.

Not irrelevant, as so many do that it is likely he may know someone, or simply PM me what he wants I will burn one out and drop it in the mail.

 

[ItsNemo]

Isn't the right answer here on Garage Journal to buy a lathe and make your own?

 

[qqzj]

What is the difference between these two sets? Look the same to me except one is $10 cheaper? If so, I am going with the 1st set. One question left. These disc in the set have a much narrower center hole than the drive shaft of the Astro 25 piece tool set. But that is not a problem because we are going to use a cup to push on the disk? Thanks.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JL93XFK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CNQB3M2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Those are the same kit. Rebrands abound for generic tools.

You got to watch a video of the astro tool. The discs it uses do not push, they're pulled together by the tension of the center bolt. Unless the disc has a suitable center hole, it will not work with the astro tool.

 

[dr_clyde]

Irrelevant post. Like everybody has one of those in their garage.

Not irrelevant. Lots of people have a plasma in their garage, lots even CNC.

For the size washers the OP is looking for, a plasma is a very reasonable approach, even if they don’t have the CNC part. A circle cutting attachment and some thick plate will make quick washers.

FWIW, I have my thick or large diameter washers laser cut at the local laser shop or I punch them out on a punch press.

 

[danski0224]

^^^

"Lots" as defined by what metrics?

While that stuff is more approachable now than even 5 years ago, I certainly wouldn't say that it's common to see it in a garage.

 

[dr_clyde]

^^^

"Lots" as defined by what metrics?

While that stuff is more approachable now than even 5 years ago, I certainly wouldn't say that it's common to see it in a garage.

I would bet a full third to half of people here have a plasma cutter in their garage. Perfectly useful for making the occasional large washer. At least a dozen or more members here have full CNC setups.

A simple circle cutting jig and a plasma torch or even an oxyfuel torch could make OP’s washers.

CNC Laser and plasma are more accessible than ever.

Ever heard of SendCutSend? They’ll make you all the washers you want in whatever size you want out of any metal.

Just because you don’t have a 5’X10’ fiber laser in your home garage doesn’t mean there aren’t thousands of guys with a torchmate or something similar.

Hobby grade CNC has been around for YEARS and will only get cheaper.

 

[dr_clyde]

I also can’t stand it when people post **** like “irrelevant post”.

Maybe it doesn’t pertain to YOU or even the OP, but if it’s relevant to the topic at hand, someone might find it useful. Millions of eyes see this forum.

We can’t encourage people to use the search function and contribute to old threads and then simultaneously discourage related or tangential relevant posts or old thread revival.

 

[qqzj]

Those are the same kit. Rebrands abound for generic tools.

You got to watch a video of the astro tool. The discs it uses do not push, they're pulled together by the tension of the center bolt. Unless the disc has a suitable center hole, it will not work with the astro tool.

AP has two kinds of tools. This won't work with the type that has a center hole. But it will work with the kind using a big C frame.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

AP has two kinds of tools. This won't work with the type that has a center hole. But it will work with the kind using a big C frame.

Gotcha. You could probably rig these up in a c-frame for stuff that isn't super tight.

 

[danski0224]

I would bet a full third to half of people here have a plasma cutter in their garage. Perfectly useful for making the occasional large washer. At least a dozen or more members here have full CNC setups.

A simple circle cutting jig and a plasma torch or even an oxyfuel torch could make OP’s washers.

CNC Laser and plasma are more accessible than ever.

Ever heard of SendCutSend? They’ll make you all the washers you want in whatever size you want out of any metal.

Just because you don’t have a 5’X10’ fiber laser in your home garage doesn’t mean there aren’t thousands of guys with a torchmate or something similar.

Hobby grade CNC has been around for YEARS and will only get cheaper.

"Here" is not relevant to the rest of the general population in the USA (at least).

Nor is "here" an accurate sample of the amount of money people have to sink into a shop or shop equipment.

Yes, I have heard of "Send Cut Send". For simple parts like washers that can be ordered from their site, fantastic.

For other parts, things that need to be drawn in CAD, that can be an obstacle.

The washers can get expensive if you only need a couple (minimum charge, shipping).

There is a huge difference between someone that is mechanically inclined and someone that isn't.

Yes, there is the internet and YouTube. But, when you don't know what it's called, searching can be difficult.

I'm glad that I can do what I can do, but that doesn't mean that anyone else should be able to do it too. There's also many, many people that know more.