Gasket Paper - Which Types?

[Tim Good]

I need to change some heater exchange elbows and replace the gaskets. Off the shelf are not available so I want to pick a selection of gasket papers for general engine maintenance for those easy to cut out ones.

Is there some that are specifically better than others or is ebays finest fine? What about thickness? Does it vary from application to application?

 

[Billjratt]

I usually just make them up out of whatever packaging comes to hand. Cereal packet stuff is good. Shape it (including the bolt holes) by laying on the flange and tapping with a ball-pein hammer then grease before fitting. I stopped using Hermetite-type products years ago because of the mess next time round. Precision gaskets like the one on your salt-water pump should be made from a lighter material - I still have some 80-column punch cards in stock for that purpose.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

A traditional and good source is an outdated chart. Before putting it in place I usually smear it with varnish using my fingertip; this soaks into the paper and seems to preserve it.

 

[vyv_cox]

If you want the 'real' stuff, motor factors used to sell it off the roll. In modern times this may no longer be the case. I always use as the others suggest, cereal packets and old charts for thin gaskets and I still have Klingerit bought at a factor for thicker ones.

 

[scottie]

I usually just make them up out of whatever packaging comes to hand. Cereal packet stuff is good. Shape it (including the bolt holes) by laying on the flange and tapping with a ball-pein hammer then grease before fitting. I stopped using Hermetite-type products years ago because of the mess next time round. Precision gaskets like the one on your salt-water pump should be made from a lighter material - I still have some 80-column punch cards in stock for that purpose.

Impeller gaskets are thickness sensitive as they are a shim for impeller clearance as well

 

[Spyro]

I used glossy front page magazine paper for that once. Worked fine

 

[Lakesailor]

I have sheets of proper gasket paper. (Warning: looking at this site can get you drooling) http://www.beal.org.uk/index.php?searchStr=gasket+paper&act=viewCat&Submit=Search

 

[ghostlymoron]

What thickness of gasket is required for a raw water pump cover?

 

[Billjratt]

IBM cardstock is 6 thou before squeezing. and is a bit thicker than the original paper I think. However I prefer to err on the roomy side rather than wearing the backplate.

 

[peteK]

What thickness of gasket is required for a raw water pump cover?

I just used some fine wet and dry paper for pump cover as waterproof .

 

[NormanS]

What thickness of gasket is required for a raw water pump cover?

Brown parcel paper is ideal for that. I have used Corn Flakes packet stuff which is a lot thicker, without any problems. After all, the pump is only pumping water through the various parts of the cooling system. It's not as if it was pumping water up hill.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

A traditional and good source is an outdated chart. Before putting it in place I usually smear it with varnish using my fingertip; this soaks into the paper and seems to preserve it.

The engineer on our RYA Diesel engine course recommended old charts, and showed us how to make a gasket using one!

 

[Tim Good]

The engineer on our RYA Diesel engine course recommended old charts, and showed us how to make a gasket using one!

I knew I'd find use for those YM shorebased charts with ridiculous islands named after rugby players!

 

[wazza]

I've used silicone gasket, comes in a small tube so just spread it on. It's worked fine on my exhaust elbow, raw water pump and so on..

 

[Billjratt]

What thickness of gasket is required for a raw water pump cover?

For info, I've just mic'd a brand new one at 8 thou and it's made from paper that doesn't feel as if it will compress. The pump is a Jabsco 3270 by the way
A typical gloss photograph is printed on 10 thou stuff but feels a little softer so may equate if you're worried about wearing the backplate/wearplate.
As previously mentioned a bit of clearance isn't going to significantly alter the flow in most yacht installations.
Apologies for my post about the cardstock which obviously is 2 thou thinnner - I still use it, but everything is worn now anyway.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Does the silicone stick to the metal? Is this the stuff you use?http://www.eurocarparts.com/mobile/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-maintenance-accessories/car-adhesives-tapes-sealants/quick-gasket/?549773371&0&cc5_139

I've used silicone gasket, comes in a small tube so just spread it on. It's worked fine on my exhaust elbow, raw water pump and so on..