Shims

[Von]

A discussion about shims has emerged over in gee-dubs dresser build thread and being a fan of shims I thought I'd pop it out into its own thread and welcome others contributions.

Some handy items already discussed in the thread:

• Old gift cards: ~1/32"
• Playing cards: close to 1/100" I believe
• Business cards: ~1/64"

I second all the above. I'll also add:

• HandiShims: a commercial product in a variety of fractional sizes. I like these because you can easily screw them to something to hold them in place and I find they are a nice size for a lot of uses. I used these recently installing my slat wall when my slats turned out 1/8" narrower than before so I screwed 1/8" shims to my spacers to compensate.
• Feeler stock: Like feeler gauges but loose and in long pieces 1/2" wide. I picked up some at a garage sale originally and have since added to my collection from ebay. Measured in thousandths and handy in set up situations where that sort of precision matters. I use these setting up the L-fence on my table saw for flush cutting (I find the blade needs to be about 1/100" of an inch offset from the edge of the fence, probably due to blade wobble).
• Auto body shims: handy for permanent installations where they will take some abuse. I'll put these behind drawer slides when a drawer is just a little too narrow.

[gee-dub]

I also use wedge shaped cutoffs.  I have a plastic shoebox full of them.  For incremental shims I favor old business cards, gift cards if they measure to spec, Random pieces of hardboard, etc. 

[curlyoak]

I like plastic laminates. (Formica etc.)  I created a friendly relationship with a production cabinet maker. I wanted to buy some scraps but he refused money and gave me all I wanted. Over time I ran out and he provided me more. I like the 2 different gauges. I think approximately 1/16 and 1/32. Not sure. I mainly use them in drawer slides. And from time to time I have found many other uses. I like the consistency of thickness.

[wtnhighlander]

Stock cut from aluminum drink cans works well in a pinch. The main body of the can is ~0.1mm or 0.0038".

[Dave H]

I use playing cards and drywall shims.... they sell the sheet rock shims at any lumber yard, I get mine at HD. They are made of card board 1/8" thick 1 1/2" wide and 4' long they come in a bundle, one bundle will last you for years and, are not very expensive, I just cut whatever length off I need from one strip. I also use door shims, you can buy those at any lumber yard or, HD. I always have 2 x 4 off cuts kicking around so I make my own shims, I made a jig out of plywood scrap for my bandsaw, cut a 1' length of 2x4 and I get a lot out of one chunk of 2x4 when I start getting low on shims, I just make more out of scrap 2x4 or any 2x- material I have kicking around and, no trip to the store.

[Dave H]

I was out in the shop and measured the thickness of the drywall shims they are 1/16". 

[fcschoenthal]

On 5/31/2026 at 8:33 AM, curlyoak said:

I like plastic laminates.

I've gone into Home Depot and liberated them of some of the sample chips. Not only are they good for shims, but scrapers and spreaders as well.

[gee-dub]

On 5/31/2026 at 7:05 AM, wtnhighlander said:

Stock cut from aluminum drink cans works well in a pinch. The main body of the can is ~0.1mm or 0.0038".

I have totally used coke can aluminum for shims when setting up machines. They have worked reliably for years. Many shims installed in the early 2000s are still in place.

[Coop]

All great ideas. I like playing cards myself. Last resort is the ROS.