When most people think of washers, they envision flat disc-shaped fasteners with a hole in the center. All washers do, in fact, have a hole in the center. With a hole in the center, you can use them in conjunction with a threaded fastener, such as a bolt. While some washers are flat, however, others are dimpled. What are dimpled washers exactly?
Overview of Dimpled Washers
Dimpled washers are distinguished from other types of washers by their dimpled shape. They aren’t flat. Rather, they are raised or dimpled.
Like other types of washers, dimpled washers are designed to distribute the load of a threaded fastener. The threaded fastener’s head will press against the dimpled washer. Dimpled washers simply have a dimpled shape.
How Dimpled Washers Work
Why should you choose dimpled washers instead of traditional washers? With their dimpled shape, you can use them in fastening applications where a detent is present. The dimple will align with the detent around a threaded fastener. And when properly aligned, dimpled washers will remain in place.
Dimpled washers still work like most other types of washers by distributing the load of a threaded fastener. The only difference is that dimpled washers have a ring-shaped dimple around the center, whereas traditional washers do not. Traditional washers are flat without a dimple. Because they have a dimple, though, dimpled washers can slide into a detent.
What to Look for in Dimpled Washers
You can find dimpled washers in different materials. Stainless steel is a common material in which they are made. Stainless steel dimpled washers are strong and naturally resistant to rust and corrosion. With that said, stainless steel isn’t the only material in which they are made. While many dimpled washers are made of stainless steel, others are made of carbon steel, aluminum and other materials.
Dimpled washers are available in different sizes. Some of them have a larger hole than others, for example. The hole size, of course, will determine the size of the threaded fastener with which they can be used. When choosing dimpled washers, you should pay close attention to the diameter of the hole.
In addition to the diameter of the hole, you should consider the outside diameter. The outside diameter refers to the total diameter of a dimpled washer. It represents the total size of a dimpled washer. A large outside diameter indicates a large dimpled washer.
