Food grade silicon....

BarryH

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.......ok to use on a galvanized water tank or not? I've cleaned the tank out but the rubber gasket is shot. After 30 odd years I doubt I'll be able to get another.
 
I would be making a new seal rather than silicone, the problem being it sticks to anything but nothing sticks to it.

Leaving a just a trace on a painted surface will cause major problems when re coating or attempting to stick anything in the contaminated area.

On my list of banned substances on board.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
Silicone sealants usually produce acetic acid while curing ........ maybe detrimental to the galvanizing esp if that's not too good.

But maybe food grade does not do that ????
 
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Silicone:
On my list of banned substances on board.

If only my boat's previous owner had had such a policy. And how often do you read recommendations for the awful stuff on these pages :mad:

Silicone sealants usually produce acetic acid while curing ...But maybe food grade does not do that ????

Maybe it's food-grade vinegar :)
Of course some silicone sealants produce alcohol, which is more to my liking. That'd be drinks-grade, I suppose.
 
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there's no way the miniscule amount of acetic acid released in curing a bead of silicone sealant could have a significant effect on your galvanising. Even if you were concerned about this then ventilating the tank after a day or so of curing with a vacuum cleaner or perhaps with a tiny computer cooling fan plumbed into one of the vents (with paper and tape) would ensure a clean air flush, and filling it with water (into which acetic acid readily dissolves) and pumping it out would take you from the totally practical to the statistically impossible. probably overkill all the same.

just use the silicone and flush once with water after a couple of days if you're that concerned. That'll be more than enough.
 
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