Square Beveled Washers
What are square beveled washers? Square beveled washers are square washers with an angled, tapered face that compensates for sloped or non-parallel surfaces. Most often used on the flanges of I-beams and channels, the bevel lets the nut or bolt head bear on a level surface, improving seating and preload in structural connections.
When do I need a beveled washer?
The inner flanges of American standard I-beams and channels are sloped, typically at about a 1 to 6 ratio, so a flat washer would sit at an angle and load the bolt unevenly. A square beveled washer has a matching tapered face that corrects for that lack of parallelism, letting the nut or bolt head bear squarely and hold consistent preload. This makes beveled washers a structural staple for beam and channel connections. Malleable iron beveled washers suit most structural work, while hardened F436 beveled washers are required with high-strength A325 and A490 bolts. Choose the material for the environment, with stainless for corrosion resistance and galvanized for outdoor structural use.
Material choices for square beveled washers
- Malleable plain iron: the standard structural beveled washer.
- 304 and 316 stainless: corrosion resistance, with 316 for coastal use.
- Hot dipped galvanized: durable coating for outdoor structural work.
Common applications for square beveled washers
- I-beam and channel flange connections
- Structural steel bolting
- Sloped and non-parallel bearing surfaces
- Bridge, building, and heavy frame work
For flat, non-angled surfaces, see square plate washers, and browse every option on the main square washers category.
Square Beveled Washers FAQ
What is a beveled washer used for?
Its angled face compensates for sloped or non-parallel surfaces, such as I-beam and channel flanges, so the nut or bolt head bears on a level surface with consistent preload.
When do I need a hardened F436 beveled washer?
Use hardened F436 beveled washers with high-strength structural bolts such as A325 and A490. Malleable iron beveled washers suit most other structural work.
What is the bevel angle?
Beveled washers typically have a 1 to 6 ratio taper to match the sloped inner flanges of American standard beams and channels.