Packing Shim
Suitable for a huge range of applications, packing shims are a versatile and extremely flexible tool. Each shim and shim kit in our range is produced using quality materials and production methods to ensure superior performance.
Browse our range of packing shims online and find just what you're looking for from well-known brands, like Artus®, Indexa® and our own brand, Kennedy®.
What are packing shims?
Packing shims are lengths of material used to level and fill a space between objects. Produced in a wide range of materials, they have a myriad of uses, including stabilising machinery, levelling window and door frames during fitting, and packing and stabilising products for shipping purposes.
Why packing shims?
Made from strong materials, packing shims are a reliable product. Extremely durable, they hold up under heavy-duty conditions, and, when used correctly won't tear, break or shatter. Made in a wide variety of sizes and in a range of materials, they can be purchased for a specific task, but also trimmed, nailed and drilled if required.
When are packing shims used?
Used in a wide variety of industries, these versatile tools are invaluable for a range of applications. Businesses use them for packing products securely for safe shipping. Joiners and fitters use them for permanently levelling kitchen cabinets and door frames, as well as many other installations.
Also available as shim kits, these are used as individuals or in layers to reach the desired padding height. Where fixings or heavy machinery are involved, horseshoe shims conveniently slot around any bolts, pipes or nails to give the desired support, but also provide a smooth surface for machine feet or act as padding to align machinery.
Packing shim types
There are six types of packing shims available on the market. Shims made from polypropylene are usually colour-coded to identify thickness, while metal shims are often supplied as a coil to be cut to size.
• Traditional shims - Usually made from steel; these shims are one of the most common on the market. They're designed with precision sizing to suit the application
• Horseshoe shims - Also called an alignment shim, these shims are shaped to fit around any fixings that may inhibit the packing process
• Half shims - A reduced size variant to fit into smaller spaces
• Tapered shims - Featuring a tapered edge, these shims are used widely in assembly applications to pry apart gaps and ensure tight fitting
• Edge bond shims - Made for precision assembly; these shims comprise of layers of foil that are sealed at the edges with glue. To ensure the correct sizing, engineers can peel away the unwanted layers to ensure an exact fit
• Peelable shims - Much like edge bonded shims, this variant is made of 3D glued layers that can be peeled away to achieve the correct thickness
Considerations when choosing a packing shim
• Application - It's important to choose the right shim for the right application. For example, steel shims are ideal for raising and lowering heavy machinery where polypropylene shims would eventually fail under the weight.
• Location - If the item to be packed or supported has any fixings, such as bolts or pipes in the way, a horseshoe shim may be a good solution.
• Density - Packing shims come in a wide range of sizes to suit the required space. They're also available in shim kits, which can be layered to suit the size required.
FAQs
Are shims and spacers the same thing?
While spacers and shims essentially do the same kind of job, spacers feature a much thicker profile than shims. Depending on the application, spacers can be several inches thick, to several feet.
What's the difference between a shim and a wedge?
Shape is the major difference between shims and wedges. A wedge is designed to increase in thickness, prying apart the gap between two objects and creating a tight fill at the widest point of contact. A shim, on the other hand, has a constant thickness and is often chosen specifically for its size.
