Shim stock offers both cost and time savings by providing a means for making quick mechanical spacing adjustments between two materials. Most material welds easily and cuts to your required form with shears, snips or scissors. For example, instead of grinding the bottom of machine or table legs to level with the floor, simply measure, cut and place shims underneath. Shims also maintain a buffer zone to suppress vibration, noise and wear.

Buy shim stock based on thickness, width and length in standard or metric sizes. Get metal, plastic or laminated shim stock for your business requirements. When looking for shims consider the following:

1. Choose aluminum or stainless steel shim stock for its anti-corrosive properties.

2. Order industrial shims made of various metals, alloys, plastic and laminates in large rolls for better discounts.

3. Locate a shim stock manufacturer who will work with you for custom sizes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase industrial shim stock in sheets or rolls

Typically, sheets come 10 per package, with rolls up to 120 inches. Inquire about special sizes as needed.

I recommend: Buy shim stock online at J & L Industrial Supply, with a large selection of sizes up to 100-inch rolls. From the dropdown menu enter your parameters for brand, thickness, width, length and material to see pricing for shim stock at Enco; buy online. Order stainless steel, carbon, brass, plastic and laminated shim stock from Aloma Shim and Manufacturing, or fill out the form and click “Submit Form.” Look at prices, sizes and product number by clicking “View Products” on same page.

Get aluminum shim stock in standard sizes up to 100 inch rolls

Aluminum provides resistance to corrosion and it's very malleable. Broaden your inventory by ordering assortments with different widths.

I recommend: Go to Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., for number 1100 aluminum shim stock and fill out the “Quote Inquiry”; then follow instructions to select products. Request a quote for 1100 H-18 aluminum shim stock in 6 x 100 inch rolls or economy 6 x 50 inch assortments from Lyon Industries Chicago, Inc.

Work with shim stock manufacturers for standard sizes and custom solutions

Find color-coded plastic, stainless steel, nickel and copper shim stock in standard 12 or 6 inch widths.

I recommend: Order plastic shim stock with thicknesses ranging from .005 to .060 inches in standard sizes up to 50 inch lengths at The Auburn Manufacturing Co.; click “Request a Free Quote from Auburn” on the same page. Go to Daemar, Inc. and fill out the request form for aluminum, blue tempered and brass shim stock; click “Shims” under the product line for details.

Place small or large orders with shim stock distributors

Find special No. 2 steel shim stock or order bundled assorted sizes of various materials.

I recommend: Contact Delco Fasteners, Inc., for wholesale pricing on shim stock, slotted shim stock and assortments. Get SAE 1010 steel shim stock in 6 x 18 inch sheets or assortments at Small Parts, Inc.; order online.

Buy metric or inch sizes from shim stock suppliers

Order 1010-carbon steel, 304-stainless or brass metric sized shim stock from 0.05 to 2.00 mm thick. Also, choose from a nice selection of materials and sizes in inches.

I recommend: Click “Request A Quote” on the metric, cold rolled shim stock page that includes carbon, stainless and brass shim stock at Parker Steel Co. Contact Artus Corp. by form or phone for standard and custom sized sheets in plastic, brass or stainless steel shim stock.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In some working environments, laminated shims offer several advantages over plastic and metal. You peel away layers for a more precise fit and a quick fix with less downtime.