Tooth Lock Washers are often used with machine screws in electrical applications, and are usually smaller diameter An Internal Tooth Lock Washer has teeth around the center hole, while an External Tooth Lock Washer has teeth around the outside. Sometimes tooth lock washers can be concave, and have both internal and external teeth. Larger diameter External Tooth Lock washers are often used to lock nuts onto shafting. In this case the external tabs are bent up to lock the nut in place.