Shims

Orders placed before our daily cut-off are dispatched the same day. Metro delivery is typically 1–2 business days. Regional areas can take a little longer, depending on distance and freight schedules. Need it fast? Use a 60-minute call-and-collect from Melbourne or Sydney, 6.30 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday. Place your order before 3 pm for same-day pickup. Orders placed after 4.30 pm are ready from 7.30 am the next business day.

Plastic shims keep their thickness, do not absorb moisture and handle weather without swelling. Wood can take up water, split under load and vary in size. If you need repeatable, accurate packing or you are working outdoors, plastic is the safer, more consistent choice.

Yes, you can screw through shims. Pre-drill if needed and avoid overtightening. Keep the fixing at least 10 mm from the edges to reduce the risk of cracking. For heavier loads, spread the load with a full shim rather than a horseshoe, or add a washer under the screw head. The goal is a secure hold without crushing the packer.

A shim adjusts the level or height. You add or remove shims until the element sits where it should. A spacer holds a fixed gap. Think of rebar chairs or façade stand-offs that maintain cover or a uniform cavity. Use shims for set-out and correction. Use spacers when a constant separation is required.

Capacity depends on thickness, footprint and how the load is applied. Full shims carry more than horseshoes because they spread the load. As a guide, quality plastic packers support loads of 20 tonnes when used correctly. Always check the product data for the exact rating and base your limit on the smallest shim in the stack and the bearing surface beneath.

Yes, you can stack plastic shims. On concrete jobs, these same packers are commonly referred to as concrete shims, and stacking them is standard practice to reach the required height. Build stable stacks on a sound surface, align edges and avoid tall, narrow columns. Use fewer, thicker shims for heavy loads and finish with a full shim on top to spread the pressure. If you are using horseshoes, rotate them so the openings do not line up under a point load.