• Skip to main content
The Nelson Wood Shims logo

Nelson Wood Shims

Excellence in Building

  • Home
  • Products
    • Pine Shims
    • Contractor Shims
    • Composite Shims
    • New Products
  • Sales
  • Contact
  • About
  • Careers

About

Welcome!

We’re glad you’re here. Let us tell you a little bit about who we are…

Our Mission Is:

To make high quality products at a fair price, delivered on time, in a clean and safe workplace where people care about each other

We Envision A Company That:

Is rewarding and meaningful to all of our employees

Fosters great relationships inside and outside the company

Demonstrates a caring culture with many examples of concern for one another

Provides continual growth opportunities

Maintains stability and profitability

Encourages creativity and collaboration

Understands that the marketplace is dynamic and embraces positive changes

Is known as a premier company in our fields of endeavor

Is known as a valued corporate citizen—a company our community is proud of

Our Values Include:

Honesty and integrity as the cornerstone of all we do

Serving each other, our customers and our community

Treating our employees fairly, honestly, respectfully and generously

Treating our vendors as well as we hope to be treated by our customers

Nelson Wood Shims Founded

January 1, 1960

Nelson Wood Shims was started by Wilbert Nelson in the garage of his Mountain Iron, MN home

Company Moved to Cohasset, MN

April 23, 1983

Company Moved to Cohasset, MN

Operations moved from Mountain Iron to Cohasset, MN

Office Expansion

January 1, 2006

Office space expanded to keep up with demands of business growth

Increasing Production Lines

January 1, 2011

Second production line added to diversify products in response to customer needs

Sawmill Built

January 1, 2015

Sawmill Built

Nelson Wood Shims sawmill installed in order to keep up with demands and vertically integrate the manufacturing process

2018 and Beyond

January 1, 2018

2018 and Beyond

Nelson Wood Shims continues to be an industry leader in the manufacturing and marketing of shims and other products

History

Nelson Wood Shims was founded in 1960 by Wilbert Nelson. Prior to starting the shim business, Wilbert made his living for many years as a carpenter on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota.

Having used thousands of shims in his career, he was unsatisfied with the inconsistent quality of the shims in the market. He decided to make an improvement and started his own business. Nelson strived to make a true shim—consistent in width and length and feathered ends. The Nelson shim was an instant hit with contractors and lumberyards.

Though Wilbert is no longer with us, his tradition lives on. Nelson Wood Shims is still making the same true shim in a variety of sizes and styles. Our shims are cut from top quality coniferous wood grown in North America and around the world. We test the shims for the proper moisture content, and then inspect them for quality and function to ensure they meet the “Nelson” standards.

Nelson Wood Shims is the largest shim manufacturer in North America. Our state-of-the-art, high volume facility produces quality products for distribution nationwide. Contact Nelson Wood Shims today to learn how our quality products, display techniques and cross merchandising programs can increase your sales and profits.

Copyright © 2022 · Nelson Wood Shims · P.O. Box 395 Cohasset, Minnesota 55721 · 800-441-7390 · All Rights Reserved