The Best Gasket Scraper Ever

Posted by 141drew Posted onDec 16, 2010 at 10:33 AM and filed under Reviews & Features


So most of the stuff that I work on is old and old stuff has the tendency to be stubborn. By stubborn, I mean that often it just doesn’t want to come apart. A great example is an old flathead Ford that we recently rebuilt. The heads and intake had seemingly become one with the block and once we finally got them removed, we were greeted by gasket material that had become imbedded in the gasket surface after decades of service.

Enter the best gasket scraper in the world… A buddy of mine brought it over and promised to blow our minds with it. He did.

The Super Scraper is a double edged carbide blade made by Johnson Mfg. Co. in the US of A. What makes it wonderful is that it is dead *** straight and doesn’t bend or give when you apply pressure to the gasket surface. The result is a scraper that cleans just about anything from any surface without gouging.

I’m in love. Here’s the link… I have no idea as of yet what they cost, but I am getting one!


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mtkst19

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When did shellac go out as the defacto gasket maker material? i ran into my 1st shellac gasket not to long ago. i was like wtf is this. My scrapers and razor blades were futile against it. Old timer showed me a trick to use a propane torch to heat the gasket and scrape it at the same time. made it easier, but still a pita.

glad cars dont use that stuff now. major ***** to clean.
 
A

amorphiss

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Wow this looks really useful. I have to say, I wasn't too impressed with the Blue Point scrapers Snap On sells (both the brass blade and the "knife blade" steel types. I'm curious about those KTC ceramic ones, too. What's the price on those?
 
M

Monte

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Tajima

TAJ-SCR-L200-2.jpg
 
D

Danglerb

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I work on mostly aluminum heads, so none of the sideways stuff is allowed, only a vertical razor blade. For more typical scraping I have some HF tools that seem fine, after all its the quality of the blade more than the holder.
 
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rayzor32

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No that aint it, the best gasket scraper ever is the one made by mac it has a carbide bit on the end of it.
 
M

mbshop

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big deal. a guy in hawaii was making them back in the mid/late 70's. i had two until someone stole them. yes, they work great.
 
O

olds88

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New York, NY
mtkst19 said:
When did shellac go out as the defacto gasket maker material? i ran into my 1st shellac gasket not to long ago. i was like wtf is this. My scrapers and razor blades were futile against it. Old timer showed me a trick to use a propane torch to heat the gasket and scrape it at the same time. made it easier, but still a pita.

glad cars dont use that stuff now. major ***** to clean.
Click to expand...

Well, if your in the NYC area and you come across a water pump or thermostat housing put together with Permatex (Indian Head or Aviation, both smell the same to me) shellac gasket sealant, I probably put it together.

Brakleen and a razor blade works for removing it.


One of the most PITA (factory applied) gaskets I've removed is the one sealing the two halves of a Honda automatic transmission case.
 
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Notch1988

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Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada
A little story... My line of work we end up scraping gaskets off pipe joints all the time. We've always just used the standard metal scraper, grab a hammer and start the long tedious process. At one job the boss handed me a scraper that I had never seen before. I'm sure I looked at him like he was on glue... how was this square piece of carbide at the tip going to do anything?!? The first scrape with that thing and I had goose bumps. Couldn't believe it, like a tool from the gods.
 
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Notch1988

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rayzor32 said:
No that aint it, the best gasket scraper ever is the one made by mac it has a carbide bit on the end of it.
Click to expand...

I did a search for mac scrapers and didn't see it. I'm not sure if it was a Mac that I used, but it had a square piece of carbide about a 1/4" thick at the end of a long handle. Best scraper I've ever used.
 
W

wellstig1

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Torrance, Ca
littletoes said:
Sorry guys.....the best durn gasket scraper made is closer to this:

http://www.osborn.com/XTab.aspx?cat=knot+wire+wheel+brush&grp=221TT10

I too have scraped too dang many flange gaskets off (watch out of asbestos ones, a bear to get off, and will kill 'ya in about 15 to 30 years!).
Click to expand...

That is definitely the only tool worthwhile to use for flange gaskets, especially flanges that have ribbed faces. These are guys are talking for mostly automotive purposes though.
 
W

wafrederick

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The best gasket scrapers are the made by yourself gasket scrapers.I use a couple made out of old junk files since they are not covered under warranty by most tool companies.Cut a certain length section off and grind a cutting edge on it.Easy to sharpen when they get dull.Watch out when scraping off of anything aluminum,you can gouge if you are not careful.
 
V

vssjim

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Notch1988 said:
I did a search for mac scrapers and didn't see it. I'm not sure if it was a Mac that I used, but it had a square piece of carbide about a 1/4" thick at the end of a long handle. Best scraper I've ever used.
Click to expand...

I have one of those MAC scrapers at work and it does a great job with out gouging what you use it on.
 
H

hdpusher

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I just like using a very sharp wood chisel. Works fine on steel but ya gota be a little carefull on aluminum.
 
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OccupantRJ

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mtkst19 said:
When did shellac go out as the defacto gasket maker material? i ran into my 1st shellac gasket not to long ago. i was like wtf is this. My scrapers and razor blades were futile against it. Old timer showed me a trick to use a propane torch to heat the gasket and scrape it at the same time. made it easier, but still a pita.

glad cars dont use that stuff now. major ***** to clean.
Click to expand...

We used boiled linseed oil for gasketing on steam turbine cases. The sealing flanges were about 8 inches wide, and about 4 inches thick. Whetstones were used to prep the cleaned surfaces before application of the linseed oil to the surface. Getting the old stuff off was a real job.
 
R

rayzor32

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Notch1988 said:
I did a search for mac scrapers and didn't see it. I'm not sure if it was a Mac that I used, but it had a square piece of carbide about a 1/4" thick at the end of a long handle. Best scraper I've ever used.
Click to expand...

thats the one, an old guy i used to work with had it and I havent been able to find one like it.
 
F

Fueler

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I use good wood chisels. Stiff, sharp,very controllable and come in different widths. I don't use this set on wood though so don't blast me wood fans.:)
 
C

chevy302dz

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The best one I've used was homemade from a 1/4" piece of steel with a square carbide machining insert on the end of it.
 
T

trexdoink

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I just used mine last week on some exhaust flange gaskets and it is a very good scraper. It is a piece of carbide on the end of a thick blade. It's great on machined surfaces because it's completely flat. If you need to get off the toughest gaskets and rust, you won't find a better scraper. It's solid enough to put some a** into it and never bend or break.
 
D

dede2897234

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ricleh said:
They are very good. I have a couple along with a couple KTC steel scrapers.
Click to expand...


ricleh,

What are the model numbers of both the KTC ceramic and steel scrapers you own?

Have you used much both types of KTC scrapers? If yes, does the ceramic perform better in removing gaskets and cause less damage to aluminum than the steel ones?


Thanks,

Dave
 
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ricleh

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dede2897234 said:
ricleh,

What are the model numbers of both the KTC ceramic and steel scrapers you own?

Have you used much both types of KTC scrapers? If yes, does the ceramic perform better in removing gaskets and cause less damage to aluminum than the steel ones?


Thanks,

Dave
Click to expand...

With aluminum you just need to be careful and go slowly. Either the steel or the ceramic scrapers will go a good job. Sometimes I use hard plastic scrapers on aluminum. It just depends on the situation. Snapon sells a mastic removal kit that works well on soft metals. It is sold through the industrial division of Snapon, not the automotive division. The part numbers for the scrapers I bought are:

KZ-12S
KZ4-12~18

Both part numbers include two scrapers. You can get a description on the KTC website.
 
D

dede2897234

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ricleh,

I am a newbie when it comes to removing gaskets with scrapers. I want to be prepared when the time comes with the necessary scrapers and information.

Would you care to elaborate on the situations when you would use steel, ceramic, and plastic scrapers?

Are ceramic scrapers safer to use on aluminum than steel ones?


Thanks,

Dave
 
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