Shoulder Washers

The RS hard-wearing range of shoulder washers are on hand to protect and insulate your components and screws. Useful in a wide range of settings, from electronics and construction to plumbing and manufacturing, our nylon shoulder washers are stable and reliable.

The high-quality shoulder washers in our selection are produced by leading companies like Abbatron, Essentra Components, Wakefield and the ever-dependable RS PRO. We have both individual pairs and kits, in several colors. All are made from strong and insulative nylon.

Read on to learn more about shoulder washers, their types and how they're used, or view our products below, using the filters to speed up your search. For more information visit our expert hub or get in contact today.

What are shoulder washers?

Shoulder washers are flanged tubes that insulate components. They can protect against heat or electricity, physical damage and corrosion. They can also reduce the effect of outside vibrations or isolate vibrations within them, provide a seal and space out or guide parts or materials.

What are shoulder washers used for?

Washers with shoulders can be used across a range of applications:

• Electronics - Shoulder washers are commonly used by electricians wanting to isolate wiring or components, so they don't get snagged or broken. This also reduces the risk of short circuiting or fire. They can also be used to provide spacing between electronics plugged into PCB boards.
• Screws and rivets - Where screws and rivets need to be isolated from heat or electric signals from nearby thermal or electrical assemblies, shoulder washers can act as screw insulators. That's why they're sometimes referred to as insulating screw joints, preventing screws from contacting other metal parts.
• Housings - When placed inside a housing, shoulder washers can be used as a bearing for rotating components.
• Bearings - Shoulder washers typically feature a flange on their end that acts as a surface to bear thrusting forces.

What are the different types of shoulder washers?

Shoulder washers typically follow the same design of a cylindrical tube with a flange at one end (the shoulder).

They come in a range of circumferences to accommodate different components and materials, alongside several thicknesses for when more or less insulation is required. Various lengths of screw insulators are on offer, to suit different sized screws, rivets, wires and more. Nylon shoulder washers are the most common type too, given the material's inexpensive yet reliable insulative properties.

Why choose RS shoulder washers?

Protect and isolate your components and materials with the RS extensive inventory of shoulder washers.

Our insulating screw joints and washers come from top manufacturers and can be relied upon to perform, even in the most adverse environments. Thanks to our long-standing partnerships with several of the best shoulder washer suppliers out there, you can get hold of parts from top manufacturers including Wakefield, Essentra and Aavid.

Choose from a wide range of shoulder washers in plenty of shapes, sizes, colors and series using the search filters on the left-hand side of the page. Full stock information is available in our listings - simply click the PDF icon to view each item's technical datasheet. For customers considering buying in bulk, do so today for a considerable saving.

Look through our tough and dependable nylon shoulder washers and install peace of mind into your assemblies. For more information on which of our products is best for your specific requirements, don't hesitate to get in touch with our helpful and experienced team today. Alternatively, to learn more about various components, be sure to read our wide range of guides and articles in our expert hub.