The best scissors for cutting gasket material?

[Wamsutta]

This is a long shot, but some of you guys might make your own gaskets; who knows, right? I've been making gaskets for a long time. I used to think an X-Acto knife was the way to go, but I've discovered that the X-Acto knife can't get the edges square like scissors can. That's because when you try to cut a curve with an X-Acto knife, you'll have a natural tendency to lean the blade over to go around the curve. Scissors are way easier at cutting curves which comes to the purpose of this thread: Which scissors are easier at cutting curves than others? Lots of scissors cut gasket material straight just fine, but which scissors are better at cutting curves?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've got a pair or two of knock off EMT shears in the garage. I know I have cut gasket with them.

 

[rlitman]

Right handed scissors are configured like "red handled" left curving aviation snips. The green handled ones have their blades oriented in a mirror image, like "true left hand" scissors. So, if you're right handed and using regular shears, pretend you're doing a Nascar series of left turns all the way around the track.

As for what's good, it depends a lot on what you like, and what fits your hands. For gaskets, I'd be reaching for one of my 10" shears. My Wiss model 20 (old inlaid ones made in USA that were ACTUALLY forge welded and not just marked "Inlaid" for marketing purposes) and Clauss 3310 are almost identical in my experience. The Klein Heritage G210K looks similar, but I can't see how the pivot locks. If it's just a bolt that threads into the dominant blade (like the Wolff 500-10), then it's an inferior system, but I haven't had issues with the bolt loosening on my Wolff or Klein shears, so they must have some magic happening in there that I'm not aware of, and that nobody else seems to get right.

 

[Motown]

I use an Exacto. When you trace out a gasket with a pen, it usually makes a indentation in the material to guide the blade some.

 

[kage860]

I’m not an expert but I like the sissors made for cutting leather.

 

[Roert42]

Electrician scissors are my go to. Sharp, small, easy to maneuver.

 

[Rockable]

I have a pair of surgical scissors that I use. Thin, sharp blades and will cut neoprene just as well as gasket paper.

Something like these. https://www.amazon.com/Operating-Sc...Macs-0365/dp/B01MDKPV16/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mikey03]

Honestly I don’t think I have heard of someone making their own gaskets by cutting them. I guess all the cars I work on are new enough within 20 years that you can buy them.

i always thought “making a gasket“ meant using something like RTV

@Wamsutta or anyone else would you mind writing a few sentences on what gasket making is all about for us noobs?

 

[hans109h]

Most precut gasket suppliers also sell their gasket materials in rolls or sheets. This means an existing gasket can be used as a template to keep you going, or you can use the flange or sealing surface to create a gasket you no longer have, but need.

RTV is good for sealing up, but doesn't help much when something needs to be assembled and disassembled multiple times.

Making your own is sometimes, but now always, cost effective.


As to the original question, I tend to use a sharp set of dressmakers shears, because that is what I'm comfortable controlling. When I can, I use a blade against a template like a tin can or drafters guide to do curves.

Hans

 

[danski0224]

Aviation tin snips can cut lots of stuff.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I have xacto n utility knives, curved surgical and nice red Milwaukee scissors, along with tin snips that used to be front line. However, the laser now gets to cut out gaskets. I snap a picture, port it to the shoptop, scale it, and a short while later, I get a nice clean gasket.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

cuts very well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0767FG69L?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Roert42]

I have xacto n utility knives, curved surgical and nice red Milwaukee scissors, along with tin snips that used to be front line. However, the laser now gets to cut out gaskets. I snap a picture, port it to the shoptop, scale it, and a short while later, I get a nice clean gasket.

What kind of gasket are you cutting with your laser?

Felpro paper or something special?

What kind of laser are you using?

 

[liliysdad]

Honestly I don’t think I have heard of someone making their own gaskets by cutting them. I guess all the cars I work on are new enough within 20 years that you can buy them.

i always thought “making a gasket“ meant using something like RTV

@Wamsutta or anyone else would you mind writing a few sentences on what gasket making is all about for us noobs?

Growing up, we never threw away cereal boxes, they got flattened and saved for fuel pump and water neck gaskets. Today, I buy every single roll and piece of gasket material I run across at garage and estate sales. I have an old BluePoint USA Gasket Punch Set that would be one of the last tools I would ever get rid of. I rarely use RTV, instead relying primarily on a good gasket and Indian Head Shellac or Permatex Aviation.

I make a lot of gaskets, even when they are commercially available. On a Saturday afternoon, its easier to make a gasket than wait til Monday for the parts store to open, or drive 15 miles to the nearest open place that probably doesn't have what I need anyway. Sometimes I just don't like the cheap thin paper gaskets that parts come with.

 

[NUTTSGT]

@Wamsutta or anyone else would you mind writing a few sentences on what gasket making is all about for us noobs?

Many times working on something old, tractor, mower, farm equipment or automotive, you might have to make a gasket.

Why ? Not made, need it now or unable to locate one.

The intake gasket on my Mustang is a custom gasket. I use a Fel-pro as a template but use a thinner gasket material. Due to my aluminum heads being milled a few times over the years and the aluminum intake being cut at least once I have an issue.

It's not normal but it's not unusual for custom gaskets to be made in the racing world.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Honestly I don’t think I have heard of someone making their own gaskets by cutting them. I guess all the cars I work on are new enough within 20 years that you can buy them.

i always thought “making a gasket“ meant using something like RTV

@Wamsutta or anyone else would you mind writing a few sentences on what gasket making is all about for us noobs?

I restore and refurb old machinery that gaskets may not be available for, take forever to get, or are expensive as hell. I keep two rolls of gasket material in a thinner and thicker selection to use as needed. I use aviation snips or an exacto knife along with the small ball peen hammer method as needed. I also use arch punches or a sheet metal punch for round holes. There is also an adjustable circular gasket cutter if needed. I will post up some noob pictures of these items later for you this morning when I go out there.

 

[rust in the eye]

Depends on what you're cutting I'd suppose. Me? The only gaskets I ever make are from paper gasket material no more than maybe 20 thou thick. Plain old scissors as you'd have in your desk drawer work fine for me.

 

[Willie Makeit]

Best scissors I've ever owned. Bar none.

https://www.amazon.com/ENGINEER-PH-57-Versatile-Scissors-integral/dp/B06XBTX6MD/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Dave455]

Honestly I don’t think I have heard of someone making their own gaskets by cutting them. I guess all the cars I work on are new enough within 20 years that you can buy them.

i always thought “making a gasket“ meant using something like RTV

@Wamsutta or anyone else would you mind writing a few sentences on what gasket making is all about for us noobs?

Make ‘em all the time!

Obviously, for some things such as cylinder head gaskets, you need a specific part, but for anything that uses a paper gasket they’re easy to make.

To do it properly you need some gasket paper. It’s usually available in different thicknesses from a good motor factor, although I keep some on hand.

I use “Flexoid” but they are a British maker. Bound to be a U.S. one.


Just plonk whatever you need a gasket for on the gasket paper and draw round it with a sharp pencil. Alternatively, put a thin smear of marking blue on the component (or don’t bother if it’s grubby enough!) and just press it on.

I usually punch any holes next, using the appropriate size hole punch or wad punch.


You can get sets of these which include popular Imperial or Metric sizes.


Finally, just cut round with a good pair of small scissors. Job done.

If you prefer, and you’re careful, just cut round the component directly using a scalpel.

Some gaskets need to be made from thicker rubber or cork, but I’m up for having a go at those too. A “Major” scalpel is the ideal tool for cutting these.

A sheet of lead is a great base for cutting out on.

 

[rlitman]

Growing up, we never threw away cereal boxes, they got flattened and saved for fuel pump and water neck gaskets...

I save cereal boxes for patterns, but I wouldn't trust them as gasket material. They do make great practice though.

 

[Leon bee]

Can somebody link him a video of cutting out a gasket with your ball peen hammer?

 

[kaymccampbell]

What kind of gasket are you cutting with your laser?

Felpro paper or something special?

What kind of laser are you using?

Rubber and paper. A 20 watt diode.

 

[Leon bee]

Can somebody link him a video of cutting out a gasket with your ball peen hammer?

I found several, couldn't figger out how to get one here.

 

[oldmachinenut]

 

[Firebrick43]

I don’t think I have ever cut with scissors/snips once I learned to use a small ball pien hammer on any odd shape gasket.

Sometimes “cut” steam gasket material for round pipe flange gaskets but a circle gasket cutter is the tool for them.

 

[Skyman]

That's a decent tutorial video for the noobs. I've always used the ball end of a ball pein on internal curves, and the opposite end of the hammer on external curves. But the process is the same. I couldn't count the number of gaskets I've made over the decades. A buddy of mine, along with a friend of his, back in the day assembled an entire BSA engine with a pizza box.

 

[dscheidt]

I use a pair of bent handled trimmers. bent handled trimmers are probably what you think of when you think "sewing scissors"

I save cereal boxes for patterns, but I wouldn't trust them as gasket material. They do make great practice though.

I've made lots of gaskets from cereal boxes (or whatever similar cardboard was handy). With some hylomar, locktite 515, or just plain grease, they work for lots of applications that are static, metal-on-metal, and not under pressure. Water necks, as mentioned, but also things like fuel level senders, floating axle drive flanges.

 

[Wamsutta]

Honestly I don’t think I have heard of someone making their own gaskets by cutting them. I guess all the cars I work on are new enough within 20 years that you can buy them.

i always thought “making a gasket“ meant using something like RTV

@Wamsutta or anyone else would you mind writing a few sentences on what gasket making is all about for us noobs?

Most of the time I'm just tracing old gaskets onto gasket material to make new gaskets. I don't always make them from scratch. I get the hole punches from the leather supply store. They look like hollow pin punches. I then use that white cutting board stuff as the backing pad. It's high density polyethylene and it preserves the sharpness of your punches. They got those at the leather supply store too. I always punch my holes first before I cut the gasket out. I find the accuracy of the hole placement is better that way. I've started using a 0.7mm drafting pencil to trace the gaskets with. I find that the pencil leaves a flat line that's easier for my eyes to follow than a shiny glossy line that an ink pen makes. I get the gasket material from the auto parts store. It's that dark gray neoprene impregnated paper.

 

[rlitman]

I use a pair of bent handled trimmers. bent handled trimmers are probably what you think of when you think "sewing scissors"
I've made lots of gaskets from cereal boxes (or whatever similar cardboard was handy). With some hylomar, locktite 515, or just plain grease, they work for lots of applications that are static, metal-on-metal, and not under pressure. Water necks, as mentioned, but also things like fuel level senders, floating axle drive flanges.

I have a couple of bright chrome bent handled Gingher shears reserved for sewing, and the rest for shop and general purpose use. I keep them all nearly shaving sharp, but the knife edge sewing ones have a slightly sharper bevel that dulls faster than my Wolff kevlar shears, but also makes for an easier time on something like silk, so keeping shears set aside for sewing means I don't have to worry so much about sharpening all the time. Cardboard cuts well with anything that's comfortable in the hand to squeeze hard enough, and I cut up lots of cereal boxes.

As for cardboard gaskets, I've seen plenty of cardboard gaskets on bottlecaps, but it's always plastic coated to keep the liquid out of contact with the cardboard. Whenever that plastic fails, the cardboard wets out and disintegrates like TP.

 

[rpoy]

If your wife has a Cricut Maker for scrap-booking you can use that too.

 

[toplessHO]

Can somebody link him a video of cutting out a gasket with your ball peen hammer?

Dad was a flight line tech.
Showed me the ballpeen hammer trick at least 65 yrs ago.
I found his favorite small one the other day

 

[toplessHO]

If your wife has a Cricut Maker for scrap-booking you can use that too.

Ive used my 24inch Roland plotter for this same thing.

 

[cannuck]

A buddy of mine, along with a friend of his, back in the day assembled an entire BSA engine with a pizza box.

That may have been the appropriate gasket material for a Ducati or MV Agusta but NOT something from Birmingham!

Just wanted to add: when cutting holes with arch or wad punches you need to work against END GRAIN of a wood block. Cross grain will dull your cutting edges in a hurry. Made a lot of really big gaskets for years (measured in how many 10s of feet dimensions) and you get very protective about your tools when a single roll of gasket material can be 5 grand.

 

[NHtoolguy]

Growing up, we never threw away cereal boxes, they got flattened and saved for fuel pump and water neck gaskets. Today, I buy every single roll and piece of gasket material I run across at garage and estate sales. I have an old BluePoint USA Gasket Punch Set that would be one of the last tools I would ever get rid of. I rarely use RTV, instead relying primarily on a good gasket and Indian Head Shellac or Permatex Aviation.

I make a lot of gaskets, even when they are commercially available. On a Saturday afternoon, its easier to make a gasket than wait til Monday for the parts store to open, or drive 15 miles to the nearest open place that probably doesn't have what I need anyway. Sometimes I just don't like the cheap thin paper gaskets that parts come with.

I agree, gasket-making skills can still be useful, especially if you service vintage machinery. I look for rolls of gasket material at estate sales too.

 

[NHtoolguy]

Right handed scissors are configured like "red handled" left curving aviation snips. The green handled ones have their blades oriented in a mirror image, like "true left hand" scissors. So, if you're right handed and using regular shears, pretend you're doing a Nascar series of left turns all the way around the track.

As for what's good, it depends a lot on what you like, and what fits your hands. For gaskets, I'd be reaching for one of my 10" shears. My Wiss model 20 (old inlaid ones made in USA that were ACTUALLY forge welded and not just marked "Inlaid" for marketing purposes) and Clauss 3310 are almost identical in my experience. The Klein Heritage G210K looks similar, but I can't see how the pivot locks. If it's just a bolt that threads into the dominant blade (like the Wolff 500-10), then it's an inferior system, but I haven't had issues with the bolt loosening on my Wolff or Klein shears, so they must have some magic happening in there that I'm not aware of, and that nobody else seems to get right.

I really like vintage USA-made Wiss Inlaid shears. I look for them at flea markets and estate sales. They tend to be under-appreciated in my experience, resulting in good prices.

 

[Firebrick43]

That may have been the appropriate gasket material for a Ducati or MV Agusta but NOT something from Birmingham!

The pizza box is much higher quality than stuff from Birmingham. Unless of coarse the box is from Birmingham, then the pizza grease is dripping thru it before its even delivered.

 

[cannuck]

The pizza box is much higher quality than stuff from Birmingham. Unless of coarse the box is from Birmingham, then the pizza grease is dripping thru it before its even delivered.

After WWII things in England were pretty tough. So, using a great deal of unique initiative motorbikes were built with a homing device - since no two bikes were exactly the same just follow the same pattern of drips and it would take you right back to where you started. One wouldn't want to mess with success.

 

[dchawk81]

Honestly I don’t think I have heard of someone making their own gaskets by cutting them. I guess all the cars I work on are new enough within 20 years that you can buy them.

i always thought “making a gasket“ meant using something like RTV

@Wamsutta or anyone else would you mind writing a few sentences on what gasket making is all about for us noobs?

He's talking about cutting cork.

 

[Roert42]

I’ve used beer box for gasket.

Made a head gasket for my old 4gallon husked compressor.

I left it on for a few weeks with a leak in the hose, so it was running every few hours. Head gasket blew out. All I had to make a new one was the beer box.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I normally use Victor Reinz JV101 and JV102 gasket material rolls in my shop for general gasket use. The JV101 is .031 thick and the JV102 is .063. Those part numbers also cross to other brands such as Mahle. Both are available at auto parts stores such as Autozone and Advance. For the noobs, there are many gasket sheet materials available depending on requirements.