Exhaust gaskets- shop bought vs. home made?

[vyv_cox]

For cutting stud holes put the gasket on top of the manifold. Put a small ball-pein hammer onto each stud hole in turn and tap the business (flat) end with another hammer. The ball will cut a perfect stud hole. Best to put some bolts of the same size in each one as it is cut to ensure the others go in the right place. The hole for the exhaust gases is easily cut with a small pair of scissors.

 

[vyv_cox]

If its in good condition why not reuse the old one,possibly with a bit of gasket goo,always works for me.

On that engine, same as mine, the OP will be very lucky to get the gasket off in usable condition. Mine came off totally destroyed. The modern equivalent of Klingerit is perfectly OK for the exhaust gasket, although the gases are hot the flange heat is mostly absorbed into the cylinder head.