Brass versus Steel Shimstock

[whitmore]

I mostly like brass shim stock because it is easy to cut out with common scissors

Yep, that's a consideration. SS in thin bits is hard to cut with my metal shears, and in thick SS can
defeat common scissors. Cardboard from pizza boxes is good enough for woodworking (sneaking up
on a tight fit, with washers between blades of the dado set).

For accurate shim washers, it's possible to etch SS stock and make nice circles with holes, using
printed negatives, photoresist and ferric chloride or other chemistry; otherwise,
the burr at the cut edge is a terrible nuisance. Burrs on brass go down with modest handtool
burnishing.

 

[westerner]

McMaster-Carr sells shim stock in many varieties and shapes, including washers! I love that store. Grainger's without a tax license. Not cheap, but their inventory and shipping speed cannot be beat.

 

[Billh50]

I like McMaster when I need something right away. If I order before 2pm est I have it the next day. Weekends excluded of course.