Question for Shim gaffers

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Question for Shim gaffers

Postby stepSeven » Dec 26th, '06, 11:47



Does anyone know if I can get paper (maybe even tissue thin) shimming? I'm sure I could from an industrial stockist but I don't fancy buying 4000 units as I reckon I only need 32 sq. mm of the stuff.

Secondly assuming I can get it, what is it like to work with?

Would I stand a chance of cutting perfect rectangles (shape, flatness etc.) of 1mm x 4mm from a sheet and gluing 8 of them perfectly flat to an English tenner say?*


*A crazy-random hypothetical just to get a measure of the workability of such a shim you understand :wink:



:oops: Edit--I see they have it at NUMS 0.05mm, which sounds really slim (compared to avg. printer paper = 0.1mm thick).

Question about practicallity of gluing tiny pieces and having them stay flat still stands - if any takers, cheers.

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Postby Sir_Digby_Chicken_Ceaser » Dec 26th, '06, 12:34

Some strong scissors, glue, tweezers and you're in buisness

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Postby cajmagic » Dec 31st, '06, 19:55

Just curious

I have never shimmed a card before

Does the glue make the card overly stiff? Cracking?

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Re: Question for Shim gaffers

Postby Tomo » Dec 31st, '06, 20:09

stepSeven wrote: :oops: Edit--I see they have it at NUMS 0.05mm, which sounds really slim (compared to avg. printer paper = 0.1mm thick).

Question about practicallity of gluing tiny pieces and having them stay flat still stands - if any takers, cheers.

0.05mm would be about the thickness of typist's copy paper.

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Postby seige » Dec 31st, '06, 21:06

cajmagic wrote:Just curious

I have never shimmed a card before

Does the glue make the card overly stiff? Cracking?


Use a VERY thin layer of rubber cement/contact adhesive on BOTH SIDES of the gaff, and also on the shim. Wait until tacky-dry, and close together the halves sandwiching the shim inside.

Done properly, a shimmed card is almost indetectible from a regular card, and handles the same.

Personally, I cut the shims to about 1/3 inch squares, and place them centrally.

DO NOT over flatten the finished card, as the shim will leave an indent in the card surface.

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