Expanded PTFE gaskets - Cheap!

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dstaines
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Expanded PTFE gaskets - Cheap!

Post by dstaines »

Hey I found a pretty good source for PTFE gasket material. Although I love my 2" "Everlasting PTFE gasket" that I made with direction from this site, I had been stymied by finding a replacement for those little 1/2" silicone O-rings for those of us who have weldless bulkheads on our rigs. Damn things are so small, and I got these big fat sausage fingers.

Till I found this!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0075ZN0SC/ref=biss_dp_sa1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Just ordered a 6"x6" sheet of expanded PTFE, 1/8" thick. $27, free shipping. That will be good to cut at least a dozen little gaskets, and a hell of a lot easier than wrapping tiny cardboard rings with teflon tape. It comes in 1/16" thickness, and larger sheets too, but I bought the thicker stuff since this will sit on the curved inside surface of my pot.

It's not cheaper than flour paste, but it will last a lot longer, and will keep SWMBO's kitchen splatter free! (and if you believe that, I'd like to talk with you about an exciting investment opportunity)
I buy all my liquor at the hardware store.
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bearriver
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Re: Expanded PTFE gaskets - Cheap!

Post by bearriver »

http://www.amazon.com/PTFE-Sanitary-Tri ... +tri+clamp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
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dstaines
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Re: Expanded PTFE gaskets - Cheap!

Post by dstaines »

Bear;

That's a good 2" gasket, for sure. It's nice that it's preformed with a ridge to mate with the tri-clamp fittings.

What I'm talking about though is these little bastards:
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/weld ... g-set.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Those o-rings are silicone, fine for beer makers but not so good for us. They're 1/2" ID and they come with the 1/2" weldless bulkhead/ball valve kits that a lot of people use. I've seen people replace these with hand-cut gaskets made from natural cork sheet, but that's pretty precious stuff, and I understand it will dry out and need to be replaced regularly.

The expanded PTFE sheet that I posted above is the same material as the gasket in your link. Carefully cut a set of 1/2" washers from that stuff and they should (ideally) last the lifetime of your pot. Or use it to make custom PTFE gaskets in any weird shape or size your rig might need. The 6" square is pretty cheap, but if you've got the cash they come in much larger rolls too.

This is the type of pricey industrial product that you usually have to fill out an identfication form, request a quote, and explain to a salesman what you're using it for. Now it's True that Amazon keeps a record of what you're buying, and anyone who's job it is to care ought to be able to figure it out from my orders. But if it ever gets to the point where Amazon has to turn over my account history to the Feds, there's not a farts chance in church they don't already know enough to get a warrant for my house anyway.
I buy all my liquor at the hardware store.
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bearriver
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Re: Expanded PTFE gaskets - Cheap!

Post by bearriver »

Ah, I get it. Good find. :thumbup:
cob
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Re: Expanded PTFE gaskets - Cheap!

Post by cob »

every o-ring you can buy in silicone, buna, epdm, viton, or any other material can be found in ptfe.
http://www.interplastinc.com/temp14.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. many other suppliers.
eptfe's advantage is its flexibility.
be water my friend
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