Fabricated steel is usually primed in the shop and at times requires welding in the field. Most alkyd (oil) based primers will burn away immediately and turn to dust. This leaves the weld and weld area without any corrosion protection. Often, it will begin rusting within days. There are a number of factors that cause weld material to rust. For a better understanding of what causes Weldment Corrosion ASM offers an in-depth review “Basic Understanding of Weld Corrosion.” (click)

Unlike any of the other bearings mentioned in this discussion, thermal break bearings are built to handle static loads only.

Rubber Bearing Pads

Teflon® Slide Bearings / Fluorogold® Slide Bearings

To the Steel Fabricator, Steel Erector or any construction trade, the category “Bearings” is comprised of many different products. Some, like elastomeric bearings, are made to order and are not re-sized or adjusted in any way by the end fabricator or erector. For purposes of this article we will focus on the bearing materials that can be cut to size, drilled and shaped by the fabricator.

Initial installation of a Slide Bearing Assemlbly can be very different from the eventual replacement of the very same bearing. Virtually, all bearing assemblies are intended to be replaced at some point during the life of the structure. This is true of Teflon® Slide Bearings and the more durable Fluorogold® Slide Bearings. It also holds true for Elastomeric Bearings, Viblon Shims and Bearings and Commercial Grade Neoprene. In our experience, we have not seen an application where a bearing assembly was intended to be permanent.

Weld-on Rebar Anchors can be specified in several types and styles. In each case, there are advantages and disadvantages. What is important, and of utmost concern to the architect and project engineer, is the strength of the connection between the structural steel and the rebar. The strength is designated by the connect type.

Steel Shims and Steel Wedges are two Steel Supply Company products that cut across the lines of hard and soft tooling. Both items are made in standard sizes and kept in stock. As well, we often get requests for specific made to order sizes.    

Teflon® or Fluorogold® Slide Bearings are engineered to wear out. Like any sacrificial structural component, the idea is to protect the more critical, expensive or impossible to replace members. By design, the Teflon® surface should be where all the wear occurs. Ideally, the steel backing plate should never be the part that causes the bearing to be replaced.

The Steel Supply Company produces Slotted Steel Shims that get used across a variety of industries, but primarily in the construction trades. They are used in everything from Moment Connections and Relieving Angles, to concrete shoring forms. For many construction industry applications, the surface of the shim is not an issue. Among the most common uses for these shims are Relieving Angles or Lintels, where they are typically Hot Dip Galvanized so surface features are not an issue. In more specialized cases, the eventual use should be considered when ordering.