Articles 

Seal Screws Economically

2011-02-23

Whether containing static or pressurized wet or dry fluid, maintaining a hermetic assembly, or withstanding vacuum, many common applications call for sealing through joints and the easiest and most available surface is beneath the head of the screw. Typical areas could be marine applications, bleed or venting ports, weather protection, threaded openings in reservoirs, holdings tanks, etc. Here we’ll define inexpensive benefits available from a simple screw and thermoplastic washer combination. Thin nylon flat washers are common in the marketplace and very compatible with the underside of standard small diameter screw heads of the 90 degree bearing surface configuration. As a gasket they are very successful in eliminating leak paths to prevent fluid passage if some basic practices are adhered to.