Shims: Guide to Choosing and Using for Home Projects

Ever thought about the minutiae that contribute to the flawless finish of your favorite furniture or the sturdy structure of your home? Among these unsung heroes of construction and home remodeling: thin wedges that play an indispensable role in framing and fine-tuning buildings and furniture. This post is your ultimate guide to understanding, choosing, and using shims, ensuring your home projects have a professional edge.

Key Takeaways

Essential components for construction and home remodeling projects, available in wood, plastic or metal.
Consider factors such as load bearing capacity and environment.
Proper installation techniques should be used to ensure secure alignment that can withstand pressure. Purchase online or in-store with price comparison across suppliers.

Materials and Applications

Levelers, thin wedges crafted from materials such as kiln-dried wood, plastic, or metal, do the heavy lifting in construction and home remodeling projects. They fine-tune and align building components, ensuring that they are vertically upright and horizontally even before being fixed in place. The choice of material depends on specific project needs, with each material offering unique qualities. They find use in various applications, including:

Aligning cabinets
Leveling base and wall cabinets
Adjusting subfloors and floorboards
Eliminating deck creaks
Precisely installing windows and doors

The significance in ensuring alignment and stability during renovation and installation projects is immense.

Wooden

Wooden, crafted from pine or cedar wood, are popular for their versatility and ease of customization. Their natural friction allows for easy stacking and gluing when needed, providing stability without slipping. The manufacturing process involves cutting thin strips of wood to the desired dimensions, followed by sanding to achieve smooth edges and surfaces. Wood is an essential tool for various applications in construction and woodworking projects.

The process to cut and remove excess wood is quite straightforward. One can use a utility knife to score the wood along the desired line and then snap it off at that scored line.

Plastic

Plastic brings their own set of advantages to the table. Their advantages include:

Waterproof and rot-resistant properties
Well-suited for outdoor use
Providing support for heavy objects
Recommended for exterior projects like decks, siding, or roofing
Suitable for use in damp environments due to their water resistance.

If the pre-scored lines in a plastic floor are not ideally placed, it is generally advisable to snap off at the inward point to prevent any potential interference with project elements such as a door frame or window frame due to excess shim material.

Metal

Metal are the heavy-lifters of the family. Their strength and durability make them preferred for heavy-duty applications, enabling them to withstand heavy loads. Stainless steel offer excellent corrosion resistance, making them suitable for harsh environments, while aluminum shims provide reliable support for heavy-duty uses.

Metal is frequently utilized in construction or industrial environments for various purposes, including:

Aligning and leveling machinery
Adjusting the height or angle of structural components
Filling gaps
Providing support and stability
Compensating for uneven surfaces
Absorbing vibrations

Selecting for Your Project

Choosing the appropriate leveler for your project is a significant step. The shim should have the ability to endure load or pressure without compressing or contributing to structural problems. When selecting, it’s important to consider factors such as load-bearing capacity, environmental conditions like corrosiveness, and the type of load environment.

For example, thick, stainless steel is recommended for use in corrosive environments, and copper may also be suitable due to its corrosion resistance.

Trim Work and Lightweight Applications

Wooden levelers are favored for trim work because:

They have a snug fit, effectively sealing gaps behind the trim
They elevate the overall visual appeal
Their natural appearance allows for seamless integration with other wooden components
They create a cohesive aesthetic
They are recommended for lightweight applications because of their ease of adjustability and installation without adding extra weight.

They provide stability, support, and natural friction, reducing the risk of slipping, making them a dependable choice for such projects.

Heavy Objects and Outdoor Use

For heavy objects and outdoor use, plastic or metal levelers may be more suitable. Plastic levelers, for instance, can support up to 2,000 lbs, and certain types, like Wobble Wedge, are crafted from durable, weather-resistant materials, making them particularly effective for applications such as:

precast tilt-up concrete panels
heavy machinery
construction equipment
industrial equipment

These shims can endure weights of up to 20 tons.

As for metal levelers, they offer durability, corrosion resistance, and a high load-bearing capacity, making them suitable for providing long-term stability and support for heavy structures.

Proper Installation Techniques

Proper installation is critical in order to obtain a stable and aligned outcome. The process involves positioning the shim under the object that needs to be leveled, aligned, or adjusted. Levelers can be adjusted by tapping or wedging until the desired position is achieved.

The leveler should have the ability to endure load or pressure without compressing or contributing to structural problems.

Positioning and Adjusting

Positioning, opening and adjusting the shim correctly is important to achieve the desired alignment or leveling. The shim should be inserted into the gap until it makes contact with the surface, then gently withdrawn to ensure it provides room for minor adjustments.

Common errors to avoid include:

Neglecting to touch up the lock phase before making final adjustments
Failing to align the shims correctly to correct cam lean in archery equipment
Placing bevel gears in incorrect positions

Securing

Securing the leveler in place effectively prevents movement and ensures the stability of the object being shimmed. This can be done by tapping the shim into place using a rubber mallet. However, the amount of force required to secure or tap a shim varies depending on its thickness and material, as well as the specific application.

Cutting and Finishing

Cutting and finishing the excess shim material is essential for a clean and professional appearance. The necessary equipment for cutting shim material includes sharp scissors, a utility knife, or a saw, and a file or sandpaper for finishing. The appropriate techniques for cutting wooden, plastic, and metal shims vary based on the material and thickness.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even though levelers are useful tools, they are prone to misuse. Typical errors encountered during shim insertion involve the utilization of incorrect type or size of shims, inadequate use of shims, and improper insertion direction.

Selecting improper materials for shims can result in bending, misalignment, failure in high temperatures, and environmental degradation. Insufficient securing of shims may result from improper alignment during installation, incorrect fastening, or inadequate clamping pressure.

Incorrect Insertion

Incorrect insertion of a leveler can result in various issues, such as:

Machine sliding or instability
False soft foot
Incorrect adjustment and response in specific applications
Damage to molds
Shims falling out of position
Measurement problems

Proper insertion is assured by using the correct number and type of shims, sliding them in the right direction, consolidating if possible, and regularly checking for obstructions with the necessary permission to access http.

Inappropriate Material Selection

Selecting inappropriate material can lead to various problems like bending, misalignment, failure under high temperatures, and environmental degradation. The appropriate material is chosen by evaluating the specific needs of the application, such as utilizing plastic for waterproofing and opting for metal for heavy loads or welding applications. The price, availability, and specific demands of your project should guide your material choice.

Insufficient Securing

Inadequate securing can result in shifting or movement, destabilizing the object being shimmed. To prevent this, it is essential to ensure accurate alignment, proper fastening, and adequate clamping during the installation of shims.

The type of leveler used directly influences the method of securing it. For instance, wedge-shaped wood levelers often are designed for friction or adhesive securing, whereas metal may necessitate the use of a screw or bolts for stability.

Creative and Alternative Uses

You can use levelers creatively in various home projects beyond construction and remodeling. Craft rustic frames for photos or chalkboards, create unique wall art, or incorporate decorative elements in DIY projects using wooden shims. Use metal and plastic shims for leveling and stabilizing catering trays and serving dishes, scraping off sticky substances, shimming up cabinets or subflooring near water sources, and bridging gaps and leveling surfaces when installing trim, doors, windows, or cabinetry projects.

Tips for Purchasing and Storing

Numerous factors must be considered when buying and storing shims. Buying online offers convenience, a broader range of options, the opportunity to conduct research and review product feedback, more reviews and potentially more competitive prices than those available in-store. Prices are determined by various factors including the material, size, thickness, manufacturing process, market supply and demand, and any special features or coatings.

Online vs. In-Store

The choice between buying online or in-store depends largely on your individual preferences and needs. Here are some factors to consider:

Online shopping offers the convenience of having delivered directly to your location.
In-store shopping allows you to physically inspect the shims before buying.
When purchasing shims online, it’s important to consider potential limitations such as imprecise sizes and limited availability of certain types or materials.

Price Considerations

Purchasing levelers in bulk is more cost-effective than buying them individually. However, the price of shims can vary based on factors such as items such as the material and size. Various materials, including wood, plastic, or metal, may have differing price points.

Furthermore, the factors that can impact the price include:

The material it is made of
The size and dimensions of the shim
The quantity being purchased
The brand or manufacturer

It’s always worth doing a price comparison across different suppliers or retailers to get the best value for your money and ensure you have access to the most competitive products and deals, including delivery options.

Storage Tips

Finally, storing your shims properly is essential to maintain their quality. The recommended methods for storing include:

Keeping them in a clean and dry location to prevent accumulation of dirt
Ensuring they aren’t stored where they can get bent or otherwise damaged
Organizing them separately from other materials
Using new levelers for each project for consistent thickness.

Summary

In summary, levelers are an indispensable tool in construction and home remodeling. By understanding the different types of shims and their specific applications, you can ensure your projects are aligned, stable, and professionally finished. With the right shim selection, installation techniques, and avoidance of common errors, you can leverage the versatility of shims in your home projects. Armed with these insights, you’re now well-equipped to nail your next DIY project!

Certified MTP offers a full line of Construction Shims, including horseshoe shims, wood shims, Wobble Wedges, clear plastic shims, Precast Shims, Leveling Shims, Aluminum Shims, and Key Slot Shims.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of a leveler?

The purpose of this item is to fill small gaps or spaces between objects, providing support, adjusting for a better fit, or creating a level surface. Levelers are thin, tapered, or wedged pieces of material commonly used in various applications.

What do metal levelers adjust?

Metal is used to adjust clearances, tolerances, alignments, and act as spacers to fill gaps between parts that are subject to wear. They are often used in engineering and industry for better fit or support.

How do you cut them off?

To cut off, use a table saw or electric miter saw with the wood grain parallel to the blade, ensuring your fingers are kept a safe distance from the blade.

How do I choose the right leveler for my project?

Choose the right leveler for your project based on its weight, pressure, and environmental factors. Wooden works well for lightweight applications like trim work, while plastic or metal levelers are more suitable for heavy objects and outdoor use.