The Steel Supply Company provides steel wedges to Steel Fabricators, Concrete and Masonry Contractors and the general construction trades. Often the customers' requirements can be met with stock sizes as shown in our catalog.

Maskote Zinc Stop-Off is the best solution we have found for keeping Hot Dip Galvanizing Zinc off areas of steel where it is un-wanted. Figure 1 shows tests that were performed in  our factory. The Zinc Stop-Off was applied, the steel sent out for galvanizing, and when returned wire brushed to remove any residue or caked on zinc.

Paint and Coatings are a universe of options and complexities. Fortunately for the steel fabricator the scope is limited by the requirements. Priming forms the basis of the coating system and often that is the only coat the steel will receive. Most of our customers prime steel in red or gray. Some of the miscellaneous and ornamental fabricators choose black. A few, for marketing purposes, choose their own color, such as green or blue to stand out on a job-site so anyone seeing the steel knows it was their work. Regardless of the color the basic primer has one function. Prohibit rust until the structure is enclosed.

When manufacturing made to order steel wedges there are a number of ways it can be done and usually the configuration dictates what method is selected. Some of these are outlined in a previous blog, Steel Wedge Manufacturing. The Steel Wedge we are focusing on in this conversation is required as part of a Fluorogold® or Teflon® Slide Bearing Assembly. Length is 20", Width is 14". Thickness starts at 1/2" and tapers down to 1/16". The unique size of this wedge dictates the manufacturing process.

Vent Hole Plugs in Drilled and Punched Drain Holes vs. Plasma Cut Holes

The Steel Supply Company provides shims to a variety of construction trades. Solid or Slotted, Plastic or Steel. It should be noted that by solid we mean non-slotted, or what is sometimes called "Plate Shim." The plastic version of these plate shims is still solid throughout. This is differentiated from some plastic shims on the market that are actually hollow in the core. Shims that are not solid cannot deliver the compressive strength required for most construction projects. The plastic shims shown in Fig. 1 are all solid throughout. Note the slotted plastic shim on the left of the image. It's actual dimensions are 4" x 6" x 1/2" thick, solid throughout, and is compression rated to support 90,000 lbs. before permanent deflection occurs. Based on its surface area, that is approximately 4,500 psi.

The Steel Supply Company manufactures steel wedges both as standard stock sizes and made to order per customer's specifications. A wide range of tools and manufacturing processes are employed and, as with any process like this, costs are kept to the minimum that will allow a high-quality finished part. Nonetheless customers are frequently surprised at the difficulty of wedge manufacturing.

When shims are required to be angled, wedge shaped, or anything other than flat squares and rectangles, specific steps have to be taken to offset the difficulty these angles create.

As described in an earlier blog, 5/8" Diameter Askew Head Bolt published on July 20, 2013, in new construction embedded Wedge Inserts will require 3/4" diameter Askew Head Bolts. The only time a project requires 5/8" diameter Askew Head Bolts is during a renovation where the Wedge Inserts are pre-existing. Usually this would be a structure constructed prior to approximately 1970.

We often see RFQ's and Purchase Orders for Teflon® or Fluorogold® Slide Bearing Assemblies where the configuration appears to be carried over from a previous project. Sometimes, without intending to, the plan as shown is overkill for the application at hand. In cases like this we usually give the customer the option of allowing The Steel Supply Company to engage the engineer, architect or designer to introduce alternatives. Below are some examples of common situations. As in all cases, whether they are Slide Bearings, Thermal Break Bearings or any other product line, we will only make suggestions. Changes in design should always be approved by the E.O.R.