Making your own gaskets?

[Stihlhead517]

For those that make their own gaskets? Carburetor and intake gaskets. Base gaskets would be a different topic. I ordered a new carburetor for my Husqvarna trimmer that come with a gasket, I believe it's made by Interface Solutions N-8090. I did find something on eBay but compared to what I'm used to buying it is more expensive. What brand do you use, price and where do you get it?

 

[Vintage Engine Repairs]

The only brand I have had problems with is flexoid and ironically it’s the most expensive. It compresses a lot, is weak, tears after one use / disassembly and doesn’t seal as well as others I’ve tried. If you use cereal boxes etc, use a gasket dressing compound.

I don’t recommend it unless you really have no alternative, but my last gasket was for the fuel pump side of the carburetor.

 

[Chevboy0167]

LOL.... I have an Interface facility here in my town. It used to be the old Cooper Manufacturing.

I even worked there in the first school to work program at our high school. Got paid and earned some college credits which led to me to become a teachers assistant for the Industrial Maintenance Program professor. Got paid from the college also all while still attended high school!

https://www.timesrepublican.com/new.../interface-celebrating-100-years-in-business/

 

[Chevboy0167]

I think I am still using an OLD roll of Mr.Gasket stuff if I need to make one. Had that roll for at least 25 yrs or so. Can't recall the thickness but it is just standard grey stuff from any auto parts store.

Got some Grafoil from that Cooper/Interface place to make push mower head gaskets. Such a treat.....

 

[Stihlhead517]

I think I am still using an OLD roll of Mr.Gasket stuff if I need to make one. Had that roll for at least 25 yrs or so. Can't recall the thickness but it is just standard grey stuff from any auto parts store.

Got some Grafoil from that Cooper/Interface place to make push mower head gaskets. Such a treat.....

I also have an old roll of grey gasket material I bought at the local auto parts store. It works in a jam but it seems to wick up fuel and you can see a wet spot all the way around the carburetor. And then is like a soggy piece of cardboard.

 

[Bludenz]

For simple gaskets, as most others do, just gasket paper. You can usually trace it if it is simple enough, however you can also position the gasket paper on top of the surface and gently tap around the edge with a ball peen hammer. It will leave a mark where you can then cut it, or if the edge is sharp enough, tapping around the edge will cut the paper.

 

[Okie]

I make lots of my own gaskets and usually make more than while all the tools are within reach.
I have several gasket making tools, some of my own design and sheets of gasket material that I've acquired over the years.

Simple gasket prices are jaw droppers now days.

 

[Orange Ripper]

I use the wifes Cricut machine to cut out my gasket paper, just have to put a little time into making the template on the computer program

 

[Vintage Engine Repairs]

I use the wifes Cricut machine to cut out my gasket paper, just have to put a little time into making the template on the computer program View attachment 1208447View attachment 1208448View attachment 1208449

What is the model of that machine? What a great tool to have access to.

 

[Orange Ripper]

What is the model of that machine? What a great tool to have access to.

This model is actually the “Cricut explore air 2” but she recently bought the more expensive model the “ Cricut maker 3” from a friend, I’ve yet to try that one but the first one works wonders!
Just have to mess around with the design part of the program to get your shapes and cut patterns!

 

[Vintage Engine Repairs]

This model is actually the “Cricut explore air 2” but she recently bought the more expensive model the “ Cricut maker 3” from a friend, I’ve yet to try that one but the first one works wonders!
Just have to mess around with the design part of the program to get your shapes and cut patterns!

Thank you!

 

[Orange Ripper]

Thank you!

Anytime my friend!

 

[Stihlhead517]

I use the wifes Cricut machine to cut out my gasket paper, just have to put a little time into making the template on the computer program View attachment 1208447View attachment 1208448View attachment 1208449

I use the wifes Cricut machine to cut out my gasket paper, just have to put a little time into making the template on the computer program View attachment 1208447View attachment 1208448View attachment 1208449

That's the cats meow, will that cut a radius? Is it any easier if you have a new gasket for a template?

 

[sean donato]

This model is actually the “Cricut explore air 2” but she recently bought the more expensive model the “ Cricut maker 3” from a friend, I’ve yet to try that one but the first one works wonders!
Just have to mess around with the design part of the program to get your shapes and cut patterns!

The maker 3 is a nicer machine, my wife upgraded a few months ago. She seems to like it a lot more then the old machine. I wanted to keep the old one for gaskets (thanks for the idea) but she ended up giving it to a friend. It's a great idea and given these machines capabilities to cut heavier papers pretty ideal use for them. Side note, she won't let me use her maker 3 yet, but one day. Really a top notch idea.

 

[Orange Ripper]

That's the cats meow, will that cut a radius? Is it any easier if you have a new gasket for a template?

It is quite the handy machine for sure!
And I’m quite sure it would cut a radius yup! Can do basically any shape you want I believe!
I’ve been told it can go off of a picture of the gasket and it converts the image to a template on the program, but I’ve yet to figure that aspect out, just using my digital caliper and old or new gasket to go off of!
Definitely good for cutting multiple gaskets of the same shape and having them all dead on exact ! Lot of trial and error with the template making process but the end result is just as good as any other mass produced precision cut gasket in my opinion
These are rough drafts cut from just plain construction paper of the intake block gaskets for my 254xp

The maker 3 is a nicer machine, my wife upgraded a few months ago. She seems to like it a lot more then the old machine. I wanted to keep the old one for gaskets (thanks for the idea) but she ended up giving it to a friend. It's a great idea and given these machines capabilities to cut heavier papers pretty ideal use for them. Side note, she won't let me use her maker 3 yet, but one day. Really a top notch idea.

It definitely takes the precision work out of cutting it by hand with an exacto knife like I said now, if you don’t mind putting in the time to create your templates, and trial and error process in terms of fitment, then it’s definitely worth the time and money you can save by not having to order and wait, or pay top prices for something that should only be about 25 cents lol