How to make an everlasting PTFE gasket, Very Easily...

[opus345]

Thanks for replies.

I wonder if I could reuse my All Bran cereal box.

[squigglefunk]

fwiw, I used PTFE tape on my still. The white part flaked off and it turned clear.

[S-Cackalacky]

Someone mentioned mat board earlier. That's what I've been using for sealing the lids on my stock pot still and thumper for several years - works well. Mat board can be found in most any art frame shop.

A tip - you can keep them nice and flat by storing then between two pieces of plywood clamped together with spring clamps. It makes them much more manageable when setting up for a run. Otherwise it can be like a monkey screwing a football.

[Bushman]

Someone mentioned mat board earlier. That's what I've been using for sealing the lids on my stock pot still and thumper for several years - works well. Mat board can be found in most any art frame shop.

A tip - you can keep them nice and flat by storing then between two pieces of plywood clamped together with spring clamps. It makes them much more manageable when setting up for a run. Otherwise it can be like a monkey screwing a football.

Do you wrap the mat board with PTFE tape?

[S-Cackalacky]

Someone mentioned mat board earlier. That's what I've been using for sealing the lids on my stock pot still and thumper for several years - works well. Mat board can be found in most any art frame shop.

A tip - you can keep them nice and flat by storing then between two pieces of plywood clamped together with spring clamps. It makes them much more manageable when setting up for a run. Otherwise it can be like a monkey screwing a football.

Do you wrap the mat board with PTFE tape?

Yes, sorry. I do 3 or 4 wraps.

[River Rat]

Have any of you all noticed a residue left by the PTFE tape on the sealing surfaces? I decided to try one of these gaskets instead of flour paste for sealing my homemade copper cone to the top of a SS keg. It sealed nicely but every time I take it apart to clean up after a run there is an "imprint" of the gasket on top of the keg. It's a discoloration that is the mirror image of the spiral wraps of teflon tape. It is VERY hard to get off the keg. It's not really causing me any problems but it makes me wonder how inert and stable PTFE tape really is.

[Bushman]

Have any of you all noticed a residue left by the PTFE tape on the sealing surfaces? I decided to try one of these gaskets instead of flour paste for sealing my homemade copper cone to the top of a SS keg. It sealed nicely but every time I take it apart to clean up after a run there is an "imprint" of the gasket on top of the keg. It's a discoloration that is the mirror image of the spiral wraps of teflon tape. It is VERY hard to get off the keg. It's not really causing me any problems but it makes me wonder how inert and stable PTFE tape really is.

No but I only use mine on my. Essential Oil still which is water vapors not alcohol if that would make a difference.

[Yummyrum]

Can’t say I have River Rat .
I usually get a imprint if the flange on my gasket .
Maybe try a different brand of tape incase the one you are using is not good teflon .

[River Rat]

I have tried two brands with the same results. I'm sure the residue is probably from condensed vapor trying to seep under the gasket rather than the teflon leaching something onto the stainless. It's just so dang hard to get off.

[Old Man Bakke]

Is this what folks are using as a gasket when it comes storing their high abv spirits in glass jars? Looking to replace the rubber one that comes with the glass lids.

[squigglefunk]

Have any of you all noticed a residue left by the PTFE tape on the sealing surfaces? I decided to try one of these gaskets instead of flour paste for sealing my homemade copper cone to the top of a SS keg. It sealed nicely but every time I take it apart to clean up after a run there is an "imprint" of the gasket on top of the keg. It's a discoloration that is the mirror image of the spiral wraps of teflon tape. It is VERY hard to get off the keg. It's not really causing me any problems but it makes me wonder how inert and stable PTFE tape really is.

i had issues with the teflon flaking off the tape in tiny white pieces and leaving only a clear material behind. I know it's so safe you can drink it but I don't want to.

[RC Al]

Came across some tape marked 100% teflon, I haven't managed to get some yet, but I dare say if the label doesn't say that, then it isn't.

Do some research on the brands available to you and see if they list it as 100% and that the company is standards certified - ANSI, ISO AS/NZ etc - this will imply that they aren't lying.

I tried some generic tape on the plates in my glasser and it turned clear, so ive been putting up with my (internal) plate leak for now, going to track some good tape down soon, I miss my 2% lols

[Yummyrum]

Gasket was getting a bit compressed so time for its biannual re wrap . Same one been using for over 10years now .
Getting a bit fatter than the flange now , but still clamps up perfectly .

[Bushman]

I did the same thing with mine. Also made a backup just in case it fails at some point in time. Mine is a 6” diameter that covers my 5 gallon milk bucket that I use for gin.

[Dancing4dan]

Getting a bit fatter than the flange now , but still clamps up perfectly .
IMG_0257.jpegIMG_0256.jpeg

Looks like me in my old blue jeans

[Red23]

How to make an everlasting PTFE gasket, Very Easily...

Thought I would share my PTFE gasket/Washer with yall.
I have been using a gasket I made the very same way as depicted on the photo's.
It shows no sign of ware and has never let me down once.
The gasket could be made to any size and works great for my VM extension pipe held together with a couple of OD's easy flanges.
Its very flexible and hard waearing, wont leech any baddies into our product and cheap to make...
This wouldn’t work for the gaskets in the glass column that hold plates would it ?
Heres the materials you will need. You will also need a full roll of 10mm wide PTFE/plumbers tape.
A compass to draw the OD/ID of the washer would also help. (forgot to include them in the photograph...)

ptfe-washer1.jpg

After cutting out the cardboard washer, you will need to cut excess plastic from your spool of PTFE..
This will help us feed the spool through the hole while wrapping...

Now, very carefully wrap the PTFE around the cardboard washer, taking care to overlap the tape 50/50.
ptfe-washer2.jpg

Keep wrapping the PTFE tape around the washer until it becomes a lot thicker.
It usually takes a whole spool. Heres one finished for this blow by blow...
ptfe-washer3.jpg

And heres the same gatket with one of OD's easy flanges sitting on top...
ptfe-washer4.jpg

The gasket will flatten out over time with use/heat, but it will still compress to give us a vapour free seal.
You could also use a copper washer made from thin sheet, remember to cut the ID hole of the washer first, then trim off the OD.
Got the idea for a copper washer from Myles... Thanks goes to Olddog and Myles...

@Beginners/Novices:
Only use PTFE tape to make this gasket.
Do Not try to substitute the PTFE for silicone, plastic, rubber, or any other non tested compound...

Hope it helps to make the hobby easier and safer...

[Jaktpanda]

Thanks for the instructions on making a PTFE gasket. I spent far too much time finding a ready-made gasket, but finally just went ahead and lasercut some thick carton and wrapped it in a whole bunch of teflon tape. Five runs in and it still works a treat!

[Reefer1]

I may try this technique i got a hold of some solid ptfe triclamp seals for my 2" column, they do seal ok but you have to apply a lot of pressure to the clamp screw to get a good seal.
Nice one.

[kiwi Bruce]

PTFE sheets are also available now
https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item. ... emid=23210
1/32" x 12" x 12" Mechanical-Grade PTFE Sheet are $13.00

[shadylane]

I may try this technique i got a hold of some solid ptfe triclamp seals for my 2" column, they do seal ok but you have to apply a lot of pressure to the clamp screw to get a good seal.
Nice one.

Often DIY gaskets are used with DIY flanges, so there's little or nothing to keep things lined up.
Tweaking, as in rotating the 2 flanges, clamp pressure and/or whatever is needed must be used.

[Reefer1]

+1 on that Shady

[WillieP]

The first time I read this thread was back in 2018, I was impressed with it then, and I still am today.
When I wanted to try and seal my 8-gallon brew kettle to the SS salad bowel I was going to use, I didn't have a clue how to do it. Knowing that it was not going to be on the high proof side of things, but still wanting to be safe, I decided to go this route.
I tend to go overboard with the way I do things, and that is the case here as well.
I cut segments of copper sheeting that would form a ring with the ID and OD that I wanted to match the rim of the salad bowel, (that matched the rim of the brew kettle). I then soldered the segments into a ring. Next, I cut out segments of sheet cork to match the copper ring, covering both the top and the bottom. While holding the cork in place on the copper ring, I then wrapped the whole thing in multiple layers of the PTFE tape. It fit up perfectly with just being held in place with spring clips.
The odd part of this story is that I never have used it. (Needed to step away from the pursuit of distilling for a while) But I am back on the path of attempting to make a good likker and will eventually be putting the same gasket into play.
I just thought that I would share my experience here.
Cheers,
WillieP