STAINLESS STEEL CRINKLE WASHERS BS 4463

Crinkle Washers BS 4463 — A crinkle washer takes the wave-washer idea and applies it at a lighter, smaller scale - pressed into a repeating wavy profile rather than a flat disc, so it flattens progressively as the fastener is tightened, generating a light, continuous spring force rather than a rigid, flat bearing surface. That spring action takes up minor tolerance in thin-sheet assemblies and gives some resistance to loosening, though meaningfully less than a proper split or toothed lock washer would provide - it is a light-duty solution, not a heavy-duty locking device, and should not be specified where genuine anti-vibration performance is the requirement. Where it genuinely earns its place is in electrical enclosures, cable management and cable tray fixings, and general light assembly work on thin sheet metal, where a compact, gentle spring washer is exactly what is needed and a heavier lock washer would be disproportionate to the fixing. Compared with a DIN 137B wave washer, which serves a broadly similar function, crinkle washers to BS 4463 tend to be lighter-duty and are more commonly associated specifically with electrical and general light fixings, while DIN 137B turns up more often in mechanical and bearing applications where a slightly more defined spring rate matters. It is not the right choice for structural or heavily loaded bolted connections - a flat washer, or a heavier spring or lock washer suited to the actual load, should be used instead wherever the joint is carrying real structural load rather than a light cable or panel fixing. Material selection is usually straightforward given the light-duty role: carbon steel with a plated finish covers most indoor electrical and panel work, while A2 (304-equivalent) stainless is worth specifying wherever the enclosure or cable run is outdoors or exposed to moisture. A4 (316-equivalent) is rarely necessary on a washer this light-duty, though it remains an option for genuinely coastal or chemically exposed installations. To choose correctly, match the bore to the fastener diameter and confirm the fixing is genuinely light-duty rather than structural before specifying a crinkle washer over a heavier alternative.

FAQs
What are crinkle washers used for?
They are commonly used in electrical enclosures, cable management and cable tray fixings, and light general assembly work, where a compact, light-duty spring washer is needed rather than a heavy-duty locking device.

How does a crinkle washer compare to a DIN 137B wave washer?
Both use a wavy profile to generate spring force, but crinkle washers to BS 4463 are typically lighter-duty and more commonly associated with electrical and general light fixings, while DIN 137B is more often used in mechanical and bearing applications.

Are crinkle washers suitable for structural or high-load joints?
No. Their light spring action makes them suitable for light-duty and electrical applications, not structural or heavily loaded bolted connections, where a flat washer or a heavier spring or lock washer is required.