DIY gaskets

[wadsapple]

I have had to make my own exhaust gasket but I had a devilish job drilling the bolt holes in the composite material. It wanted to separate the composite has any body done this and have a better technique than just drill a hole that was my approach. Mine is the one on the right as if you can't tell Ha Ha Ha

edited to put in the pictures. Sorry....

Edited by wadsapple on Thursday 12th September 09:03

[phillpot]

Hole punches

[Terminator]

phillpot said:

Hole punches

Bloody Hell, almost two and a half million feedback!

[thegamekeeper]

Terminator said:

Bloody Hell, almost two and a half million feedback!

Dont understimate the popularity of a well punched hole. You can beat an egg but you cant beat the right sized hole.

[heightswitch]

Machine mart, hollow hole punch kit, only about a tenner and look really professional.
N.

[TVRdaydah]

A technique I was taught as an apprentice many years ago is to lay the gasket material on top of the component to be gasketed then tap round the edges with the ball end of a ball pein hammer. This works for internal and external profiles as well as holes.

[wadsapple]

Hole punch it is never came to my mind, old age you see. Thank you chaps

[wadsapple]

TVRdaydah said:

A technique I was taught as an apprentice many years ago is to lay the gasket material on top of the component to be gasketed then tap round the edges with the ball end of a ball pein hammer. This works for internal and external profiles as well as holes.

That would work brilliantly on softer material like card board or paper gasket but the exhaust metal gasket is a bit tuffer.

[brownspeed]

TVRdaydah said:

A technique I was taught as an apprentice many years ago is to lay the gasket material on top of the component to be gasketed then tap round the edges with the ball end of a ball pein hammer. This works for internal and external profiles as well as holes.

Alternative method to this would be to use a ball bearing, over the gasket, then hit the ball bearing with a "stout" hammer. - also best if you use a "dummy" hole rather than the head itself to avoid damaging the head threads;- drill a hole of the size you want into a scrap piece of steel, then place it on a concrete floor before you hit it.

[TVRdaydah]

Where really tough materials are to be used the ball pein hammer method can be used with something thin to make a template.

[pridaux]

brownspeed said:

Alternative method to this would be to use a ball bearing, over the gasket, then hit the ball bearing with a "stout" hammer. - also best if you use a "dummy" hole rather than the head itself to avoid damaging the head threads;- drill a hole of the size you want into a scrap piece of steel, then place it on a concrete floor before you hit it.

Any time i have taken two pieces of steel drilled the correct size hole in both pieces of steel sandwich gasket material between the two pieces pop in vice and drill through nice clean hole sorted.
Andrew