What are these called, and can I buy some?
January 2, 2024 4:33 PM   Subscribe

I'm making a bunch (+50) outlet covers for my sister. I've seen that some outlet covers have their screw(s) attached with what I can only describe as a paper retaining washer (here.) Is it possible to buy these anywhere? I could make them, but I'd rather just buy them.
posted by Marky to Shopping (10 answers total)
 
I can't find that exact type (it probably has a specific name), but Mcmaster Carr is the place to go for the Weirds when it comes to hardware like this. Type of retaining ring maybe?
posted by furnace.heart at 4:43 PM on January 2, 2024 [1 favorite]


Best answer: The screws used in a US outlet cover are usually 6-32 screws. The diameter of the threads in a #6 screw is 9/64", which is about 3.5 mm. It your position, I might try paper washers sized for an M2 or M3 metric bolt. A washer for an M2 bolt will have a hole that is slightly more than 2 mm (3mm for M3) — these washers might be weak enough that you can screw through the too small hole but strong enough to not fall off the screw.
posted by RichardP at 5:28 PM on January 2, 2024 [1 favorite]


Those are typically a rubbery flexible plastic, not paper. In case that helps with a search.
posted by amaire at 5:55 PM on January 2, 2024


I think that photo is the back of a standard outlet cover. The screw (visible from the front) is being held in with a plastic washer. You can see a similar item here.

I’d be surprised if you can find a cover that’s not ultimately fastened with some sort of metal screw.. They do make decorator outlet covers with no visible screws, but they require a certain style of outlet.
posted by JohnFredra at 7:18 PM on January 2, 2024 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Last time I noticed one of those, I think it was made out of some kind of fiberboard. Perhaps an electrical supply business sells them by the bag full? These places tend to be wholesale houses around here, but you might get lucky. Alternative might be to search ebay. Lots of odd fasteners can be found there from comparable business.

Another alternative: Self retaining washers? McMaster might even have something more akin to what you're looking for that I can't properly search for.ETA: duh, rectangular retaining rings?
posted by 2N2222 at 7:45 PM on January 2, 2024 [2 favorites]


Is it a captive screw? (spring is optional)
posted by ctmf at 11:53 PM on January 2, 2024


Best answer: The easiest solution is to use fiber washers with an inner diameter just less than the screw size. Plastic washers will usually work too, provided they're thin enough to fit between the socket cover and the mount point inside the socket.
posted by Stoneshop at 12:59 AM on January 3, 2024 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I'm with JohnFredra on this - that pic is of the back of the outlet cover. (Note the raised area between the two outlet holes, that would fit into a slot in the duplex outlet.)

Usually the outlet has a threaded insert in the middle, the screw screws into that, which is what holds the outlet cover onto the outlet. I suspect that little retaining washer is just to keep the screw with the cover during transport and sale, not a crucial part of the cover.

I'll also second 2N222, I've seen them made out of some kind of fiberboard (but also steel), and that "rectangular retaining ring" is probably the best name for them.

Here's a picture of the front and back of a duplex outlet as you would see when opening a box of new ones. You can see the threaded insert in the middle for the cover screw. You can also see a couple of those little square washers on the backs of the screws in the top and bottom. Those top and bottom screws are used to mount the outlet to a box installed in the wall. Often those mounting holes are threaded, or the screw is self-tapping (meaning it cuts its own threads as you screw it in), and those little square washers are just a little bit of added security for residential outlets that don't see a ton of use, people aren't plugging and unplugging things from them constantly. (If you're going to have outlets with heavy use you would use a locking nut behind the screw.)

Attached to new outlets is about the only place I've seen these little square fiberboard washers.

Source: IANAelectrician but I have DIY'd & repaired about 9000 duplex or quad boxes for portable power distribution.

TL;DR - Unless your sister has something fairly odd going on with her outlets you shouldn't need that piece.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:19 AM on January 3, 2024


Best answer: As you refer to it as a retaining washer, I think you already know this, but the only point of that little washer is to keep the screw attached to the cover before it is installed, to make installation simpler (so you aren't losing the screw, etc). It's completely unnecessary once the cover is in place. That said, if you want to include it for whatever reason (I get it, sometimes when I am making things I want to make them as ~complete~ as possible), I would echo RichardP and Stoneshop and use any paper or fiber washer that is slightly smaller than the screw.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:35 AM on January 3, 2024 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks folks, the key was "M3 fiber washer" as a search.

Ebay for the win, about $2.

I just wanted to put them on so it would be easier for me to paint the plates and not lose the screws, and simpler for my sister to install.
posted by Marky at 10:03 AM on January 3, 2024 [2 favorites]


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