# How do you buy a small rubber rounded-torus shaped washer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025 "2019-10-20T00:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/1 "2019-10-20T00:41:02Z")
I need a small one of around 1/4 inch or so. It slide on and acts as a seal for excess air. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/2 "2019-10-20T00:45:06Z")
Try electrical supplies for water tight fittings for boxes. Or try this: [https://www.ruralking.com/midwest-fastener-1-8-x-1-4-x-1-16-o-rings-83292?utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_source=google&utm\_campaign=shopping&utm\_content=5120736&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6KrtBRDLARIsAKzvQIGnHtFDAWSedFzESjDpwB\_IB52gvbdrNyTsABImWO5EnnlShsHNeY4aAthJEALw\_wcB](https://www.ruralking.com/midwest-fastener-1-8-x-1-4-x-1-16-o-rings-83292?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=shopping&utm_content=5120736&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6KrtBRDLARIsAKzvQIGnHtFDAWSedFzESjDpwB_IB52gvbdrNyTsABImWO5EnnlShsHNeY4aAthJEALw_wcB) ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/3 "2019-10-20T01:04:50Z")
Look for O-rings. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/4 "2019-10-20T01:36:25Z")
(I take it to the hardware store and show it to the nice folks.) Are you talking about the fittings that go on water lines for fridges and water dispensers? ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/5 "2019-10-20T02:22:14Z")
Don’t ask for a round torus. They’ll have no idea. As Napier says, ask for an [O-ring](https://www.google.com/search?q=o+ring). ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/6 "2019-10-20T02:52:45Z")
Yeah, O-ring is a good tip. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/7 "2019-10-20T02:58:49Z")
> [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > Don’t ask for a round torus. They’ll have no idea. As Napier says, ask for an [O-ring](https://www.google.com/search?q=o+ring). I would have said not to ask for a round torus not because they’ll have no idea but because it’s redundant. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/8 "2019-10-20T11:22:30Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Look for O-rings. Or grommets ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/9 "2019-10-20T12:41:27Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > (I take it to the hardware store and show it to the nice folks.) Best case scenario, he knows exactly what you need and takes you right to it. Worst case scenario, he’s stumped and has to go find Stan, and he’ll know.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/10 "2019-10-20T15:20:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Best case scenario, he knows exactly what you need and takes you right to it. Worst case scenario, he’s stumped and has to go find Stan, and he’ll know.🙂 Having grown up working in the hardware store that my father and my uncle owned, I approve this message. (In our case, it was my uncle Brian who would have known where to find it. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/11 "2019-10-21T12:07:15Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Or grommets A grommet is sort of like a thick O-ring, usually with somewhat flattened surfaces on its top and bottom, that’s got an annular groove cut into its perimeter. [Here’s a good example.](https://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Grommet-040416-2555-Panel-Hole/dp/B01M6CTV42) It’s good for lining holes in thin sheet metal or plastic so the wires or hoses you pass through don’t get cut on the sharp edges of the hole. It’s not the best match for what the OP wants. He should definitely be looking for an O-ring. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-a-small-rubber-rounded-torus-shaped-washer/842025/12 "2019-10-21T12:16:58Z")
Go to a True Value and find one of the old guys at the back of the store. Bring in the part you want to replace, or whatever it is you’re trying to put this washer/o-ring on and let them figure it out. Between the hundreds of little bins near the back and the secret ones they have behind the back counter, they’ll be your best bet for finding it locally and being able to see/touch/feel it before you buy it. Otherwise you’re going to end up having to go to pro-plumbing stores, Grainger, McMaster Carr or some random website.