Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Howdy,

Rather sick of cutting gaskets and trying to get precision on hand cut is well, time consuming.

More a question for a guru on the tools, is there such a thing as a cutter that's variable size so you can cut a circle in any size...unlike holes saws which are fixed.
Almost like a scribe tip for a slow speed drill was about all I could think of. Or hand held either way.

seeking,
bt1

I'm gonna take a stab here but the boys at work when making up some seals for us use a hole punch. I'm talkin small size here thou, not 4".

Maybe you can find something that big?

There is such a thing BT, they were used years ago for cutting gaskets from leather, They worked a bit like a compass with a blade in one end and could be used in an old hand drill or brace. Not sure if they would work so well on modern materials.


More of them in this link
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=circu ... 66&bih=638

Reckon these would cut cork ok

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suction-Cup- ... 978wt_1163

There's stacks on ebay, these were just the first set I looked at.

There a lots of these adjustable ceiling hole cutters

EG this one ,bit Exxy though http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?a ... m&id=T2314

could leather be used as a gasket instead of cork?

bear74 wrote:could leather be used as a gasket instead of cork?

Or even copper, as a gasket?

Head gasket on my old Bonneville is copper & is sweet as when set up right :angry-banghead: :laughing-rolling:

I was wondering leather the other day, copper you would need alot of.pressure on the clampto seal I'd imagine.

The trouble with leather is the chemicals and process used to treat it, I wouldnt use it ;-)

MacStill wrote:The trouble with leather is the chemicals and process used to treat it, I wouldnt use it ;-)

hmm Ok my gasket for my old leibig may or may ot have come out of an old Rossi boot :silent:
Yeah I got one of them SBB , to tellya the truth I never though of testing it on silicon sheet, may work :handgestures-thumbupleft:

SBB wrote:There is such a thing BT, they were used years ago for cutting gaskets from leather, They worked a bit like a compass with a blade in one end and could be used in an old hand drill or brace. Not sure if they would work so well on modern materials.


More of them in this link
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=circu ... 66&bih=638

I know them as a trepanning tool, when set up with the right tools to cut metal. They can be a bit unwildy though. I've used them to cut mild steel, but I couldn't wait to finnish the job so I didn't have to use it!
They are ok at slow speeds.

Empty there are a few different types of this tool, some of the more moden are made for metals, those usually have a drill bit in the center. The type shown in the photo is of the older type designed for leather and soft materials only. They were used a lot by old school pump and wind mill mechanics to cut round gaskets.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/t/100520674
I use this for cutting holes and disks in sheet metal and copper. Might tear cork, as the cutting bit is essentially a drill bit. Might be worth a try, I have some cork about....will report back.

What about making an everlasting gasket?

Basically you cut out your gasket from cardboard like a cereal box. Then wrap it with PTFE tape. Round and round and round. Use a full roll of tape and the gasket will last for ages.


iPhone Tapatalk

ErnieV wrote:What about making an everlasting gasket?

Basically you cut out your gasket from cardboard like a cereal box. Then wrap it with PTFE tape. Round and round and round. Use a full roll of tape and the gasket will last for ages.


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I tried making those things, bastards took over an hour each, then started coming apart after an few runs. I'm may be because of my massive incompetence, but I'm a silicone guy now.

blond.chap wrote:

ErnieV wrote:What about making an everlasting gasket?

Basically you cut out your gasket from cardboard like a cereal box. Then wrap it with PTFE tape. Round and round and round. Use a full roll of tape and the gasket will last for ages.


iPhone Tapatalk

I tried making those things, bastards took over an hour each, then started coming apart after an few runs. I'm may be because of my massive incompetence, but I'm a silicone guy now.

:text-imwithstupid:

bt1 wrote:Howdy,

Rather sick of cutting gaskets and trying to get precision on hand cut is well, time consuming.

More a question for a guru on the tools, is there such a thing as a cutter that's variable size so you can cut a circle in any size...unlike holes saws which are fixed.
Almost like a scribe tip for a slow speed drill was about all I could think of. Or hand held either way.

seeking,
bt1

Why dont you design your own cutter wouldn't be hard , could have two blades running at same time so it will cut gasket in
one revolution and use cheap replaceble blades . some thing similar to Macs idea but don't use vacuum that won't stick to cork i wouldn't think and make up a twin blade holder. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Making a ghetto die cutter which could stamp them out on a drill press (a robust one) is fairly simple.

using the separation blades from a dead printer, you could tape them in the right diameter, then epoxy the 2 onto a block of timber with a nail out the other side (for the press chuck to centre and grip)

just sayin

Dont turn drill press on, just stamp them

Howdy,

Final solution used and tested as we cut 16 gaskets in silcon was to use a compass, mark it out and using a fairly inexpensive scapel set had cut. Simple fast worked!

the issue with some of the processes is the variety of materials used.

The new glass column still using the red silcone sheets...works a treat.

total investment 2 hours & $20

cheers
dave w

http://www.fluidsealingservice.com/ProG ... d%20M4.htm a serious bit of gear :handgestures-thumbupleft: