Sourcing Gearbox Shims

[Zarrin]

To quote 'Burt Gummer' in Tremors 2: "I am completely out of ammo....   that's never happened to me before" 

Searching through my little tub of shims, I cannot find a single sliver (0.1mm).. and there has gotta be at least a hundred in there!

I don't think I've had to stock up on these in a decade or so - checking the prices online and they have certainly gone up. I used to get them from ehobby for $2/3 a bag I think.

The other annoying thing is they always sell them to you in all three thicknesses; I've got plenty of the thicker ones, just need the 0.1mm!

Anyway searching on ebay, I found these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-50X-M2-M40-Stainless-Steel-Ultra-Thin-Flat-Washer-Ultrathin-Shim-Plain-Gasket/114590536320?var=414806532531

With my callipers I measured both some shims and some gear posts from different brands.

The posts are usually just sub 3mm and the overall width of the standard shims (not the wider spur gear ones) is about 6mm - so it's the M3x6x0.1 I ordered - pack of 50 for £2.27 from China - not bad tbh.

Just thought if anyone else was facing the same issue.. stocking up on endless thick shims and out of slivers, this might be useful! Enjoy! 

 

[Speedbird_666]

I was in the same boat - I only use 0.1mm shims and was fed up of having to order packs with multiple thicknesses.

I've ordered a couple of bags of 0.1mm from here: https://springfasteners.co.uk/product/shim-support-washer-3mm-x-6mm-x-0-1mm-din-988/

A bit more expensive (when you factor the £3 quid postage) but it's a UK company and they arrived within a day or so after ordering.

Since then, @ak2m4 has started stocking packs of 100 x 0.1mm shims for £8 here: https://www.ak2m4.co.uk/internal-parts/bushings-shims/xt-shims-01mm

 

[Zarrin]

I was in the same boat - I only use 0.1mm shims and was fed up of having to order packs with multiple thicknesses.

I've ordered a couple of bags of 0.1mm from here: https://springfasteners.co.uk/product/shim-support-washer-3mm-x-6mm-x-0-1mm-din-988/

A bit more expensive (when you factor the £3 quid postage) but it's a UK company and they arrived within a day or so after ordering.

Since then, @ak2m4 has started stocking packs of 100 x 0.1mm shims for £8 here: https://www.ak2m4.co.uk/internal-parts/bushings-shims/xt-shims-01mm

Ah, in all fairness I should have checked in with ak2m4 as I do like his shop and services, It's just that I have never seen an actual airsoft shop just sell the slim ones alone so did not dig very much, it's always the multi spec packs! Good on him though for actually selling something the community wants! - oh well in another 10 years I'll pick up a pack from him ?

 

[Speedbird_666]

Ah, in all fairness I should have checked in with ak2m4 as I do like his shop and services, It's just that I have never seen an actual airsoft shop just sell the slim ones so did not dig very much, it's always the multi spec packs! Good on him though for actually selling something the community wants! - oh well in another 10 years I'll pick up pack from him ?

I think he only listed them in the last week or so.

Up 'til then it's been multi-thickness packs, which I hate too. I have hundreds of shims in a jam jar that I'll probably never use.

 

[Zarrin]

I think he only listed them in the last week or so.

Up 'til then it's been multi-thickness packs, which I hate too. I have hundreds of shims in a jam jar that I'll probably never use.

Hehe, me too, i use one of those little sample honey jars