Washers play an important role in protecting equipment and related parts from damage. These ring-shaped fasteners are designed to distribute the load of a threaded fastener.
Rather than placing a bolt directly through the equipment or parts, you can use a washer. The outer diameter of the washer will spread the load of the washer so that damage is less likely to occur. While all washers have an outer diameter, however, some of them have a larger outer diameter than others.
What Are Wide-Area Washers
Wide-area washers are characterized by a large outer diameter relative to their open hole. They are also known as fender or flat washers.
All washers have an outer diameter. The outer diameter is the ring-like part of a washer. In the center of a washer is a hole, which is designed to accommodate a threaded fastener. Wide-area washers have a large outer diameter and a small hole in the center.
How Wide-Area Washers Work
Wide-area washers work by distributing the load of the threaded fastener with which they are used. When you drive a threaded fastener, such as a bolt, through two or more objects, you’ll expose those objects to tension. The threaded fastener will press against the surface of the adjacent object, and depending on how much you tighten it, the fastener may cause damage. A simple solution, though, is to use a wide-area washer.
Normally, the head of the load of a threaded fastener will be distributed across the fastener’s head. Because bolts and similar fasteners have small heads, the load will be focused across a relatively small area. When you use a wide-area washer, you’ll spread the load across a larger area. The outer diameter of the wide-area washer will absorb and transfer the fastener’s load to the objects.
Common Applications for Wide-Area Washers
With their large outer diameter, wide-area washers are often referred over traditional washers. They are commonly used in the automotive industry. Automobile fenders, for instance, are often attached to using wide-area washers. Fenders are used to frame wheel wells on cars, trucks and other automobiles. They often feature wide-area washers to protect against tension-related damage, such as stress fractures.
Another common application for wide-area washers is to fix rusted or corroded holes. When a hole begins to rust, threaded fasteners may no longer stay in the hole. Placing a wide-area washer over the hole offers a quick and easy solution. The washer’s larger outer diameter will provide a new “gripping” surface for the fastener so that it doesn’t fall out of the hole.
