Washers under nuts n bolts to protect paintwork

Hi,
   Maybe a stupid question, but have to ask! After painting a Lister D, a few months back, and leaving paint to cure for a month, I did have a slight problem when tighten nuts n bolts up, the nut or bolt would cut into paintwork leaving a ragged edge ect, I was thinking maybe a preventative measure,to place a brass or standard washer under the bolt to prevent it scrapped off the paint, theses washers would be placed over all crankcase covers, and likely over any areas where paint is involved.
Has anyone done this? And was it worth it, I suppose it’s heading to the cosmetic side of things, but it’s annoying when theses bolts decide to rip into your nicely painted Lister!
Cheers
Mark

If Lister didn't use washers originally it was probably because it saved a ha'penny per engine...

I personally tend to use washers under all nuts and bolts if possible, it just seems 'right' from an engineering point of view.

washers will leave an indentation in the paint as well, I build my engines, Lister, as Lister intended, there are no Toque settings for the fixings, as long as a gasket is fitted they only need nipping up.

Maryalice

The problem is us !
We tend to paint the parts then assemble.
Lister would have assembled the engine and then painted it, so no damage to the paintwork from nuts.

Yes, good point made! Well I shall continue painting before re-assembly, but I shall give washers a try, I’m ok if they leave a slight indentation, but as Matt said earlier, it all comes down to the engineer ing point of view!
Cheers
Mark

If you paint before assemble you effectively have a layer of "squashed" paint under every washer.
Is this good practice...?? Surely a metal to metal contact is a more solid and permanent assembly ....?

Less ripping occurs when the underside of the nut/bolt has a chamfer extending to the flats of the hexagon, it's the corners that do most of the tearing - a lot of nuts already have this 'feature' although not sure if that's what it is intended for.

If you are a river counter, and there many, you would be picked up on the use of washers, brass tank straps and what ever else they could find .

Maryalice