A friend was talking about a debate that he was a part of. Thought I would post it here...

Flat washers. Based upon the premise that one side is just about always rougher than the other.
Does the rough side face the metal?
Does the rough side face the nut or bolt head?
Why?

Discuss.

The flat side. Did you not sleep off the drugs? Where are you buying washers, anyway? Unless these are going into suspension assemblies, it doesn't matter.

If you buy the cheap Chinese made washers, they'll usually be slightly cupped. The higher side goes on the nut or bolt side.
If you have perfectly flat washers, the smoother side goes on the nut or bolt side.
Try this brain teaser next: From what direction does the sunrise appear first?

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 06-29-2012).]

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: Try this brain teaser next: From what direction does the sunrise appear first?

The west. Reflective light.

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: The flat side. Did you not sleep off the drugs? Where are you buying washers, anyway? Unless these are going into suspension assemblies, it doesn't matter.

I wouldn't be so sure about that Michael, my washer is flat, that's where I put laundry detergent. If I turned it over, I doubt it would do it's job.
Disclaimer: You results may vary.

------------------
Ron
We learn good judgement by exercising bad judgement. Such is the human condition, as sad as that sounds.

quote Originally posted by NEPTUNE: If you buy the cheap Chinese made washers, they'll usually be slightly cupped.

But you are saying they aren't flat, while Raydar specified flat washers. If you are using cupped washers where flat washers are specified you are throwing money away, even on Chinese washers.

Ron, are you saying you use detergent on even your washers? No wonder your bike looks so nice.

Raydar, did this question come off a forum? Are you telling us you are on an internet forum dedicated to washers? Does your wife know you don't have nearly enough to do?

i prefer my laundresses with curves, not flat.
there's got to be a risque' picture for this somewhere on the net.

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: ... Raydar, did this question come off a forum?

One of my gearhead friends at work mentioned a debate he and some others were having. Not sure if it was on a forum or not. (Rumors of Maytag.com are greatly exaggerated. Or are they?)

I decided to post it here, and see where it went. I'm seldom disappointed.

I like my washer to be blonde, and back side up.

Jim

Put the rough side away from the bolt head. There should be a small radius on the washer from the stamping die on the smooth side. There is also a small radius on the bolt where the head meets the shaft. If you use the rough side you can put a nick or scratch in the radius of the bolt. This will create a stres raiser which can weaken the bolt. The radius under the head of the bolt is already a high stress area. If you use the smooth side this will not happen.

P.S. I do failure analysis for a Cat dealer so I have a pretty good Idea on this.

Flat washers are usually punched from sheet stock so there is a slight ridge on the edge on one side. The edge can be toward the installer who could be cut by it or toward the surface which may be marred by the ridge. Your choice.

Washer is next to the dryer...

quote Originally posted by crashyoung: Washer is next to the dryer...

That was true back in the day, when the sun and air were above the water flow. Today, sometimes my washer is in front of the kitchen sink, .
In answer to the original question, tomato is pronounced tomato.

quote Originally posted by Fiero STS: Put the rough side away from the bolt head. There should be a small radius on the washer from the stamping die on the smooth side. There is also a small radius on the bolt where the head meets the shaft. If you use the rough side you can put a nick or scratch in the radius of the bolt. This will create a stres raiser which can weaken the bolt. The radius under the head of the bolt is already a high stress area. If you use the smooth side this will not happen.

Excellent post ... explaining both what to do and why. Here's a pic of both sides of an AN960 (aircraft spec) flat washer. You can clearly see the radius on one side.



Incidentally, some AN/MS/NAS (aircraft & aerospace) flat washers are ground after stamping so that both sides have identical radii; that's one reason why they can cost ~20x as much as ordinary hardware store flat washers.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 07-01-2012).]

Even the Chinese ones?

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: Even the Chinese ones?

Must be the ones I'm familiar with:

quote Washers (high quality) are made in compound washer dies and are flat on both sides with very little roll over at the edges. That is because the compound (washer) die hits home and the shedder acts as a flattening agent. However cheap washers punched out in a progressive die can have quite a roll over at the edge because depending on the material thickness you have to leave a clearance between the punch and the die - usually 6% total on perforations. If you use the washer with the roll over side down against the surface, you will loose some of the contact surface which can be quite significant. Quite often one die is built to accommodate a wide range of material thickness and so the die is made with a clearance for the thickest material to be punched resulting in a large roll over for thinner materials. Some (cheap) washers look absolutely terrible.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=287063

lurker, jimbolaya, cliffw: you guys are on the edge of way TMI! I do like the way jimbolaya thinks, though.