For any product manufactured from stainless steel, it is important to consider if it will be visible in the finished assembly. This is especially true for Anchor Bolts, Turnbuckle Rods and Clevis Rod Assemblies. If so, the fabricator should know that to prevent rust from appearing on the surface, the item should be passivated after all fabricating and machining is complete.

Most steel wedges are hard enough to perform a variety of tasks. Our customers are Steel Fabricators, Steel Erectors, Concrete Contractors and a variety of other construction trades. We’ve seen them use steel wedges for everything from leveling staircases to elevating entire structures. Often steel erectors and Concrete Contractors will have them at the jobsites not knowing what they will be used for, but knowing for sure they will be used.

In selecting shim material, an important consideration is Fire Rating. For Concrete Contractors, shims often are used in the forms prior to pouring concrete. Since they will not be a permanent part of the structure any material that provides the necessary spacing should be acceptable. For steel Fabricators and Erectors, the shims are more often permanent and required to last the life of the structure. This requires proper material selection not only for Compressive Strength and Durability but also for Fire Rating.

Note: For the purposes of this article we will refer to them as Wedge Inserts. They are also known as Lintel Inserts, Relieving Angle Inserts, Shelf Angle Inserts, Malleable Iron Inserts and Concrete Wedge Inserts.

The typical Hillside Washer, also known as a Bracer Rod Washer, is made from ductile iron and serves the purpose of providing a perpendicular surface regardless of the angle of the Turnbuckle Rod they are anchoring. As shown in the illustration, the oval surface will allow a nut and washer to seat itself at the proper angle just by the tension created when tightening the turnbuckle.

The typical Slide Bearing design used in Steel Fabricating, whether Teflon®, Virgin PTFE or Fluorogold®, is 7/32” thick. This is comprised of a 1/8” thick steel backing plate and 3/32” Teflon® bonded to it. Most often, they are in pairs with the Teflon® surfaces in the middle as shown in the illustration.

Galvanized Vent Hole Plugs, whether Aluminum or Zinc, will seal themselves very tightly with normal installation. The slight taper in the body allows the plug to be driven into the hole like a wedge. Each successive hammer strike drives the plug in slightly further and makes it a little tighter. As well, both Aluminum and Zinc Vent Hole plugs are relatively soft, malleable metals. While being driven in, they conform to the minor irregularities of the hole. In this way with normal installation, the plug is sufficiently tight to remain in place for the life of the fabricated steel.

Whether Slotted Shims or Solid Shim Plates, common selections for shim material include Plastic, Carbon and Stainless Steel. Each has a specific benefit and when used properly, can provide adequate service for the entirety of the structure’s life.

A question frequently asked, regarding the placement of EZ Sleeves, is the required depth. In actuality, the required depth does not change whether the hole is created by using EZ Sleeves before pouring concrete or Core Drilling after the concrete has cured.

Whether it is PTFE (Teflon®) Slide Bearings, Elastomeric Vibration Absorbing Bearings, AASHTO grade Neoprene Bearings or any other bearing, it is imperative that the substrates are accounted for if the bearing is expected to function properly and serve to the longevity it is capable of.