Cork for gasket

[PatchOnKnee]

I've seen that its possible to use pure cork safely as a gasket for boilers. What should be the thickness of the cork? I'm planning on using this: https://portugalcork.com.au/collections ... cork-sheet to seal a 50l pot.

The description says that it is "100% Natural Cork, no nasty additives."

[NZChris]

Can you provide a link to that statement?

[PatchOnKnee]

Can you provide a link to that statement?

viewtopic.php?t=19740 - User: rad14701 multiple comments but mainly:

Solid cork is fine... Any solid natural cork... The problem only arises when attempting to use composite cork that is held together with a binding agent, like glue...

[Yummyrum]

Can you provide a link to that statement?

viewtopic.php?t=19740 - User: rad14701 multiple comments but mainly:

Solid cork is fine... Any solid natural cork... The problem only arises when attempting to use composite cork that is held together with a binding agent, like glue...

I think Chris is asking where on the Website does it say it is all natural cork ?

I have to ask the same thing because it does look like sheets of reconstituted cork . Sold in boxes as Cork tiles .

If they really are pure cork without binding agent then thats great .

Out of interest , I used a sheet of cork as a gasket on my first reflux still build . I thought it was pure cork . Well after a few years it started to leak . I pulled it apart to find it had all disintegrated into a disgusting hard cracked lump . Fortunately I had Teflon tape wrapped around the bolts heads that passed through it so I don’t think I ingested any of it . Just saying , that if it is not real cork , it won’t last long .

[PatchOnKnee]

Ah my bad Chris, I was operating off the "Product specs" tab, where it states "Made With: 100% Natural Cork, no nasty additives.", but I have also sent an email asking for more indepth info

[NZChris]

You want to use it for contact with hot solvents, so it needs to be better than ‘food safe’.

[PatchOnKnee]

You want to use it for contact with hot solvents, so it needs to be better than ‘food safe’.

I'm aware of that, I'm not basing it off 'food safe', I've linked a discussion on the forum where someone has said that 100% cork is safe for use in the vapor path. The listing states that it is 100% natural cork.

[NormandieStill]

The only cork sheet I've seen which is not agglomerated is sold for musicians. Saxophonist use it and it needs to be solid cork. But the biggest sheets that I've seen are about 10cm on the longest side. I think you'll struggle to find a sheet of real cork big enough to cut out a gasket for a pot.

[shadylane]

Plan B is to wrap layers of PTFE tape around the cork gasket.

[NZChris]

. The listing states that it is 100% natural cork.

Where do they say that? I can’t find it. Have you got a link?

[PatchOnKnee]

. The listing states that it is 100% natural cork.

Where do they say that? I can’t find it. Have you got a link?

The link that was in the opening post https://portugalcork.com.au/collections ... cork-sheet

Explanation of how to find the information:

Ah my bad Chris, I was operating off the "Product specs" tab, where it states "Made With: 100% Natural Cork, no nasty additives.", but I have also sent an email asking for more indepth info

Image of the sentence will be attached to the post as well

[NormandieStill]

There is a type of agglomerated cork product that uses pressure and heat to bond the grains with the lignin present naturally in the cork. I'm not sure how well it holds up to alcohol but there is at least nothing present that wasn't in the original unadulterated cork. The problem is finding out what binder was actually used is non-trivial. I've been trying to source natural (not agglomerated) corks for my demi-johns for about a year now. I've seen products sold as all-natural cork that are agglomerated and no-one talks about the binder. As far as the industry is concerned, the alternative to "all-natural" is the bio-sourced plastic ones.

[MooseMan]

There is a type of agglomerated cork product that uses pressure and heat to bond the grains with the lignin present naturally in the cork. I'm not sure how well it holds up to alcohol but there is at least nothing present that wasn't in the original unadulterated cork. The problem is finding out what binder was actually used is non-trivial. I've been trying to source natural (not agglomerated) corks for my demi-johns for about a year now. I've seen products sold as all-natural cork that are agglomerated and no-one talks about the binder. As far as the industry is concerned, the alternative to "all-natural" is the bio-sourced plastic ones.

Hey NS, try these guys for natural corks for demijohns.
https://hilltop-products.co.uk/high-qua ... #1011=8978

[NormandieStill]

Hey NS, try these guys for natural corks for demijohns.
https://hilltop-products.co.uk/high-qua ... #1011=8978

Thanks for that. Shipping is a little pricey for Europe, but I think I can bounce them off my folks for less.

[MooseMan]

I'm in Montpellier most of next week if you're anywhere near enough I'll drop some off!?

[NormandieStill]

I'm in Montpellier most of next week if you're anywhere near enough I'll drop some off!?

About 10 hours south of me! I think the shipping would be cheaper.

[The Booze Pipe]

In my experience cork doesn’t hold up for long in this application I’d be willing to bet you’ll be replacing it before too long. Consider making a gasket before you spend too much money. Check this link

viewtopic.php?t=92060

[MooseMan]

I'm in Montpellier most of next week if you're anywhere near enough I'll drop some off!?

About 10 hours south of me! I think the shipping would be cheaper.

Haha oh definitely not then!