Set Accurate Gaps Between Components

When a bracket sits 5mm too close or a guard needs another 10mm of clearance, the smallest component can solve the biggest fitment problem. Securefix metric spacers create a defined separation between compatible components, helping fabricators, mechanics, maintenance teams & equipment builders position parts without relying on improvised packing.

The current Securefix range covers multiple inside diameters, outside diameters & thicknesses, with metric sizes extending from M6 through to M20. Whether you're replacing a missing spacer or designing a new assembly, those three dimensions are the numbers worth checking before the toolbox opens.

Choosing by bolt diameter alone can lead to an assembly that technically fits but doesn't sit where it should. Inside diameter determines the fastener fit, outside diameter affects clearance around the spacer & thickness establishes the separation between adjoining components.

► Metric sizes from M6 through to M20 across the current range
► Multiple ID, OD & thickness combinations
► 5mm & 10mm thickness options across numerous sizes
► Useful for brackets, guards, plates & equipment assemblies
► Practical for fabrication, mechanical & maintenance work

What Are Securefix Metric Spacers?

Think of the empty space between two components as a measurement that needs to be controlled. A metric spacer is positioned around a compatible fastener to maintain a deliberate distance between parts within an assembly.

Unlike a nut, the spacer isn't there to tighten onto the bolt. Its job is to occupy a defined amount of space while allowing the compatible fastener to pass through the centre.

Product dimensions are therefore especially important. Securefix metric spacers are identified using measurements such as ID, OD & thickness, giving buyers the information needed to compare the spacer with the bolt, available clearance & required gap.

Imagine mounting a plate that needs to stand 10mm away from the surface behind it. A correctly dimensioned spacer can establish that offset with one component rather than building the distance from a collection of miscellaneous washers.

Before choosing the spacer, check the fastening hardware around it too. Hex Bolts provide a useful starting point when the assembly also requires compatible metric bolts.

Why Choose Securefix Metric Spacers?

A spacer earns its place when “close enough” isn't good enough for the finished assembly. Using a defined component gives you a repeatable separation instead of leaving the final position dependent on improvised packing.

Repeatability becomes particularly useful when several assemblies need to match. A fabricator building multiple brackets or equipment mounts can work from the same spacer dimensions rather than recreating the required offset by eye each time.

Fewer loose components can also make an assembly easier to understand. Where a specified spacer is appropriate, one correctly dimensioned component is generally clearer than a pile of washers being used solely to create distance.

Different spacers with the same nominal inside diameter can still behave very differently in an assembly. Outside diameter may determine whether the spacer clears nearby components while thickness directly affects where the mounted part finishes.

Buying replacement hardware for an existing assembly? Take the old spacer to the bench & measure it rather than relying on appearance. Calipers (Digital / Manual) can make ID, OD & thickness comparisons considerably easier.

Common Applications

Look around a workshop & you'll find plenty of places where two parts shouldn't actually touch. That's where a properly selected spacer can become a simple solution to a very specific dimensional problem.

Guards & Covers

Machine guards often need enough clearance to sit away from moving, hot or projecting components.

A spacer can form part of the mounting arrangement where the design requires the guard or cover to remain a defined distance from the surface behind it.

Brackets & Mounting Plates

Ever tightened a bracket only to watch it pull out of position?

Where a deliberate offset is required, correctly dimensioned spacers can help establish the intended mounting position rather than allowing the fastener to draw the parts together.

Machinery & Equipment

Small dimensional changes can influence how equipment components line up.

Suitable spacers may be used around housings, mounts, brackets or fabricated assemblies where a defined separation is part of the design. Critical machinery should always be assembled according to its specified components & requirements.

Automotive & Mechanical Projects

Accessories, fabricated brackets & mechanical components sometimes need to stand away from an existing mounting surface.

Replacing a missing spacer requires more than finding something with the right hole through the centre. Match the relevant dimensions so the component returns to its intended position.

For a look inside the practical realities of workshop work, read A Day With An Automotive Mechanic Peninsula.

Fabrication

A drawing might show two plates separated by 10mm. Turning that dimension into a repeatable physical assembly is where the spacer becomes useful.

Once the correct dimensions have been established, matching spacers can help reproduce the same separation across multiple fabricated assemblies.

 Maintenance & Repairs

Missing hardware has a habit of becoming obvious only when reassembly starts.

Record where spacers are removed from during maintenance & keep similar-looking components separated. Moving a 5mm spacer into a position intended for 10mm can change the geometry even though the bolt still passes through perfectly.

Product Selection Guide

Forget the colour & overall appearance for a moment—three measurements should drive the decision.

Start With ID: Inside Diameter

The inside diameter is the opening through the spacer.

Begin with the compatible fastener used in the assembly. Securefix options in the current collection cover multiple metric sizes from M6 through to M20.

Nominal size is a useful starting point, but check the actual product dimensions when fitment is important.

Move to OD: Outside Diameter

Clearance around the spacer can matter just as much as clearance through it.

Outside diameter determines the physical footprint around the fastener. A larger OD may interfere with a narrow bracket, recessed mounting location or neighbouring component even when the ID is correct.

The live range includes combinations such as M6 ID x 16mm OD, M8 ID x 18mm OD, M14 ID x 25mm OD, M16 ID x 28mm OD & M18 ID x 30mm OD.

Measure the space available around the intended mounting point before assuming two spacers with the same ID are interchangeable.

Finish With Thickness

Thickness establishes the physical separation created by the spacer.

Numerous Securefix options are available in 5mm & 10mm thicknesses, giving buyers different offsets while retaining appropriate ID & OD combinations.

Picture the finished assembly rather than the loose hardware. If a guard needs 10mm clearance, selecting a 5mm spacer because the hole diameter is correct still leaves you with the wrong geometry.

Recalculate the Fastener Length

Adding space to an assembly also adds distance to the fastener's journey.

Once spacer thickness changes, review the required bolt length & thread engagement. The original fastener may no longer be appropriate after the fastening stack becomes thicker.

Consider the complete stack:

► Mounted component
► Spacer thickness
► Supporting surface
► Flat washers where specified
► Nut or threaded connection
► Required thread engagement
► Available clearance behind the assembly

For supporting fastening components, compare Nuts & Washers.

Want more context on how bolts, washers & other components work together? Fastener Guide Bolts Screws Anchors covers practical fastener selection across common trade applications.

Expert Tips

Most spacer mistakes aren't complicated—they usually begin with one dimension being overlooked.

Measure All Three Dimensions

Two spacers can look almost identical in the parts drawer while producing different results once installed.

Check:

► Inside diameter
► Outside diameter
► Thickness

Recording all three dimensions is particularly worthwhile when dismantling unfamiliar machinery or equipment.

Don't Turn Washers Into an Improvised Spacer by Default

A stack of washers can look like a quick solution when the correct spacer isn't immediately available.

Where the assembly calls for a defined spacer, however, use the component specified for the job rather than assuming several loose washers provide an equivalent replacement.

If washers are genuinely required elsewhere in the fastening stack, browse Flat Washer.

Watch the Assembly While Tightening

The moment the bolt starts pulling everything together can reveal a problem that wasn't visible during the loose fit-up.

Look for brackets twisting, plates drawing out of alignment or spacers moving away from their intended position.

If something changes unexpectedly, investigate the cause instead of trying to correct it with additional tightening force.

Keep Similar Sizes Separated

A drawer containing M8, M10 & M12 spacers in multiple thicknesses can quickly become a guessing game.

Label workshop storage using ID, OD & thickness where practical. Technicians can then identify repeat-use components without measuring every loose spacer before each repair.

For workshops carrying a wider assortment of fastening hardware, Tools Sets can complement a more organised approach to assembly & maintenance work.

Check Alignment Before Final Tightening

A bolt passing through every component doesn't prove the finished geometry is correct.

Stand back from the assembly before final tightening. Check that brackets remain square, guards have the intended clearance & neighbouring components aren't being forced out of position.

Treat Critical Assemblies Differently

A spacer selected for a simple workshop bracket isn't automatically appropriate for an engineered or safety-critical assembly.

Where structural performance, machinery safety or another critical requirement is involved, use the dimensions, materials & components specified for that application.

Good hardware decisions often come down to details that seem insignificant until the equipment is back in service. Read Why Good Fasteners Matter More Than the Tool You Drive Them With for a broader look at the supporting components behind reliable fastening.