External Tooth Lock Washers, Marine Grade
What are marine grade external tooth lock washers? External tooth lock washers have their serrated teeth around the outer edge, giving the largest biting circle and the most aggressive grip of the tooth washers. Those teeth dig into the fastener head and the surface to resist rotation directly, making them the strongest lock where vibration is severe and appearance is secondary. In marine service they come in 316 stainless, so the teeth keep their bite in salt. AlbanyCountyFasteners.com stocks these in 316 stainless steel.
When you want the strongest tooth lock
Putting the teeth at the outer edge gives them the biggest circle to work around, and a bigger circle means more leverage against rotation and the most aggressive lock of the tooth washers. Where a joint vibrates hard, on an engine, a pump, or equipment taking wave impact, that maximum grip is what resists loosening best. The teeth are visible around the head rather than hidden, so external tooth washers trade the neater look of the internal type for grip; on structural and mechanical connections that is the right trade. The wide tooth circle also makes them effective for electrical grounding on larger heads, cutting through coating to bare metal over a broad contact. In 316 the teeth keep their edge in salt, where corrosion would dull an ordinary washer and let the joint creep loose.
Why choose marine external tooth lock washers
- Largest biting circle for the strongest tooth lock
- Most aggressive grip against severe vibration
- Teeth bite head and surface to resist rotation directly
- Effective electrical grounding over a wide contact
- 316 stainless keeps the teeth sharp in salt exposure
Common applications
- Marine engine and pump mountings
- Hard-vibrating equipment and machinery
- Structural and mechanical connections
- Electrical grounding on larger heads
- Hardware taking wave impact and shock
- Any joint needing maximum tooth grip in salt
Marine External Tooth Lock Washer FAQs
Why are external tooth washers the strongest?
Their teeth sit on the largest circle, at the outer edge, giving more leverage against rotation than an internal tooth circle. That makes them the most aggressive tooth lock, best for hard vibration.
External or internal tooth, how do I choose?
External for maximum grip where appearance is secondary, such as engine and equipment mounts. Internal for a neater look and smaller heads. Both bite; external grips harder, internal hides the teeth.
Do these work for electrical grounding?
Yes, and the wide tooth circle makes solid contact over a broad area, cutting through coating to bare metal. 316 keeps that ground from corroding in a salt environment.
Why is 316 important?
The lock depends on sharp teeth. A corroding washer dulls, loses bite, and lets the joint creep loose, and a corroded ground fails. 316 resists salt so the teeth keep working.
Will they mark the surface?
Yes, external tooth washers bite hard and leave visible marks, which is how they lock and ground. Where the surface must stay unmarked, use a split ring with a flat washer or a locking nut.
Can I reuse them?
Once the teeth flatten they lose grip, so replace rather than reuse for a reliable lock. A flattened tooth washer no longer bites.