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Affordable Shim Stock

H

highlander44

Member
Hi everyone,
I have a 12” Atlas lathe, and having a heck of a time leveling it.
Does anyone know where I could get an affordable shim kit? I see the shims at Acklands, and some of the shims are $50 each!
Looking for an affordable kit that has a variety of thicknesses.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thx
Mike
 
You can use almost any sheet metal for shim, but if you want to be able to put in precise amounts old (or new) feeler gauge blades work well.
 
highlander44 said:
That will likely get me started, thank you very much. I’d still like to find some stock that is 0.001-0.005” thick. Maybe princess auto has something there also?
Click to expand...

Buy an inexpensive set of stainless steel feeler gauges on amazon. I do that all the time. Most of them will come apart easily but even if not, you can cut them out. I do this all the time albeit not for Lathe levelling.

XIANHU 32 Pieces Metric and Imperial High Precision Feeler Gauges https://a.co/d/firLrAa

They even sell extra long sets. They are a lot more money but if you need the length......

Stanley Proto J000TL 25 Blade Long Feeler Gauge Set https://a.co/d/gIMa8nS
 
Susquatch said:
Buy an inexpensive set of stainless steel feeler gauges on amazon. I do that all the time. Most of them will come apart easily but even if not, you can cut them out. I do this all the time albeit not for Lathe levelling.

XIANHU 32 Pieces Metric and Imperial High Precision Feeler Gauges https://a.co/d/firLrAa

They even sell extra long sets. They are a lot more money but if you need the length......

Stanley Proto J000TL 25 Blade Long Feeler Gauge Set https://a.co/d/gIMa8nS
Click to expand...
That is great- thank you very much.
Mike
 
amazon carbon steel large shim variety pack.

Precision Brand Carbon Steel 1008 Shim Stock Assortment, Full Hard Temper, AISI 1008/AISI 1010, ASTM A109 for Chemistry, 0.001", 0.0015", 0.002", 0.003", 0.004", 0.005", 0.006", 0.007", 0.008", 0.010", 0.012", 0.015", 0.020", 0.025",/0.031" Thick, 6"

Precision Brand Carbon Steel 1008 Shim Stock Assortment, Full Hard Temper, AISI 1008/AISI 1010, ASTM A109 for Chemistry, 0.001", 0.0015", 0.002", 0.003", 0.004", 0.005", 0.006", 0.007", 0.008", 0.010", 0.012", 0.015", 0.020", 0.025",/0.031" Thick, 6" Width, 12" Length (Pack of 15) : Amazon.ca...
www.amazon.ca
 
I was going to suggest the lee valley option too. I bought that assortment many years ago, and it's been a game saver on a few occasions. Buying a feeler gauge set or three has worked well for me also. I used to run CMM's checking and setting large assemblies, and sometimes one can never have enough shims to set blocks and stuff in position for final doweling. Pop cans, cig papers, card stock, anything thin and measureable can become a shim when needed.
 
Mcgyver said:
KBC used to a sell a variety pack of Precision brand shims, several sheets of different gauges in brass, maybe also in steel. It wasn't too much money.

see here, click on the sheet size you want https://www.precisionbrand.com/product-category/custom-shims/

KBC's online catalogue search isn't great; it can't find it listed. They will though order whatever you want if you call them.
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I have the variety pack that I bought years ago it may have come from Acklands
 
I was going to recommend the $50 pack of brass shim stock I bought from amazon 6 months ago, even though it seemd very expensive to me. But when I looked yesterday, it's now over $100. so either brass prices are escalating more than ever, or the amazon pricing bot is at work. Fuggetaboutit. :)

"See, honey, I told you it was an investment!" :)
 
VicHobbyGuy said:
I was going to recommend the $50 pack of brass shim stock I bought from amazon 6 months ago, even though it seemd very expensive to me. But when I looked yesterday, it's now over $100. so either brass prices are escalating more than ever, or the amazon pricing bot is at work. Fuggetaboutit. :)

"See, honey, I told you it was an investment!" :)
Click to expand...
That is crazy…..
 
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