Washers have great utility in mechanics and DIY. They are designed to withstand the pressure exerted by a screw. Due to the large number of screws, there is consequently a large number of washers whose use depends on the desired purpose. For example, there are flat washers that improve the performance of a screw by increasing the contact surface. One can also find Grower washers which are designed to prevent loosening.
Screws can automatically loosen due to vibrations. These vibrations are even more pronounced on moving parts or parts fixed to a vibrating assembly (an engine, for example). To ensure the fixation of these assemblies, it is necessary to use a system that prevents loosening. When it comes to parts that are not meant to be permanently fixed, the use of specific washers is required: Grower washers. These washers are designed to prevent any loosening of the screw after assembly. To achieve this, they adopt a rather peculiar shape: they have the shape of a single-coil spring or a simple split washer. This shape, which may be off-putting at first glance, blocks loosening but allows tightening. Their effectiveness can be optimized by embedding the edges of the washer into the nut or the screw head. On the market, these particularly effective washers are sold individually or in sets. Since they are metallic parts intended for strictly mechanical use, they all have a metallic finish (stainless steel or zinc-coated).