We are your specialist mail order shop for all your woodturning supplies, lathes, woodturning tools craft supplies, pyrography, scrollsawing and much more.

These are axially assembled. To install they are squeezed into the groove in the housing/bore using pliers in the lug holes. Heavy duty versions of internal rings are available for heavier vibration resistance.

There are many styles of retaining rings which are commonly referred to as snap rings. They’re typically made of stainless steel or steel with a phosphate, plain, or zinc finish. Retaining rings are installed into a groove on a shaft (external) or into a bore (internal) to keep the assembly in place. We review some of the most common types and styles below. If you don’t see the style you need, let us know and we can probably source it for you!

See some of the retaining rings we have available here. If you need a different type, size, or material, let us know and we’ll get started on sourcing it for you!

Bowed rings can come in internal or external styles. These are curved versions of standard retaining rings which act like a spring. This type of a curved design allows for a tighter hold.

These are also axially assembled. To install they must be opened/expanded with pliers in the lug holes, then they will snap into place. Heavy duty versions are available which are thicker for heavier vibration resistance.

This ring goes right onto the end of a shaft and is self-locking. Various styles available in internal or external. It should be used for lighter duty applications where there is no groove machined into the bore or shaft.

These axially installed rings can be single-turn or multi-turn and are wound into place to install since there is no lug. Thicker, heavy-duty versions are available.