ePTFE as gasket

[MisterSteve124]

Hey guys, I was just wondering what you think about this to use as a gasket. http://tinyurl.com/ePTFEsealant Says its made in USA 100% Virgin PTFE. The price isn't bad too

[blind drunk]

Have you seen this -

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=24199

[MisterSteve124]

Yes I have, unfortunately I went ahead and ordered the ePTFE before I saw that haha. I checked it out after and I plan on making one as well and comparing

[cob]

search expanded ptfe in the search box there are a couple threads with a little info on eptfe. now that you are the proud owner of a roll of eptfe you can be the first to evaluate it. samahon's method is going to be pretty tough to beat though.

[astronomical]

i tried 1/8" virgin ptfe plate that I had and it was extremely rigid... i wonder how the consistency of this expanded product is

[Samohon]

I guess what makes the method I use so practical, is its ability to deform (softness). The PTFE gaskets that I have for tri-clover fitting work well, but they are stiff and do not bend easily, there also a lot more expensive. The beginner, who has made his still and connects it to the boiler via an Easy Flange, has really no room for error when using a tri-clover gasket, so his easy-flange had better be relatively flush when mounting to the keg, or whatever. The gaskets I make allow for some margin of error on the fabrication of the easy-flange.

They can even be made to any size imaginable... Just made one for a guy in the UK, the diabeter of his pot was 420mm x 18mm wide...

[banter_king]

+1 i have used one that i made for my pot twice no with no issues. Its about an 8" diameter

[MisterSteve124]

ePTFE is supposed to be more foamy. If I understand correctly it has micro air bubbles inside or something, which gives it softness and flexibility. But if this does not work I am planning on making one of the gaskets with your method Samohon. Wish I saw it before I made the order, if I did then I would have just went ahead with that. Ill let you guys know what it is like once it arrives.

[Samohon]

I'd be interested to hear if you can re-use it after a run MisterSteve124...

At least you can always fall back on the PTFE gaskets on HD...

[cob]

I'd be interested to hear if you can re-use it after a run MisterSteve124...

At least you can always fall back on the PTFE gaskets on HD...

the venders say it is one time use due to lack of rebound after compression but their frame of reference is high pressure flange seals with high torque specs. and gland packing in valve stems and they are in the business of selling product. it is the approximate texture of a dinner table place mat or 3m two sided foam tape. cob

[MisterSteve124]

Alright well I put the ePTFE on the lid of my pot today, looks great. I won't have a chance to test it out till later this week, but I'm sure it will work no problems. It is very smooth and has a nice firm foamy feel to it. I'm also going to make one of the PTFE gaskets for where I attach my column onto the lid since that is a much smaller space. But I'd say if you are looking to seal a larger gap like a lid for a pot the ePTFE works great.

[Samohon]

Looks good MisterSteve124, keep us posted on how it performs during a run...
Especially how re-usable the ePTFE is...

Thanks for sharing...

[MisterSteve124]

Tried out the EPTFE last week but forgot to post about it. It worked great, I used it for 4 runs and had to reclamp the lid each time with time in between. The only thing I would watch out for is the gap or overlap between the starting and ending of the material around the lid. I just used a couple extra clamps around the overlap since it was a little bit thicker. But I would definitely recommend this, it was much easier than dough