Gasket maker tools

[NBN]

Any recommendations on gasket makers? I've got a project I'm working on that will require me to fabricate numerous gaskets as original gaskets are obsolete.

I dont need a dedicated station for production, but something a small shop may have.

 

[Jswain]

Depends what you're using them on and what liquids they have to contain but felpro karropak works pretty good as a general gasket material and is easy to trace/cut/punch holes in.

Higher temp/pressure (air compressor head gaskets etc) Garlock 3000 is sweet but pretty hard to cut.

Between those two and permatex ultra grey you're set for most things.

For tools a set of hole punches work great, a small ball peen hammer, pencil & a hobby knife & a steel ruler for straight sections.

 

[Skin]

I think he's asking about gasket cutter kits, not about actual gasket material. I've only ever used the hollow hole punches and a razor or scissors. Tekton sells an affordable kit of the punches. If they dull you just sharpen them back with a belt sander or similar. For commercial use I'd probably consider Mayhew which are substantially more money.

 

[The Cobbler]

I as well have only used hollow hole punches, scissors, xacto knives, etc
saw a you tube video where a guy made a bunch of gaskets for something on a mill . he was making 8 or 10 at a time if I recall correctly

 

[Pntyrmvr]

I used discharged cartridges with a quick bit of file work to make gaskets. Not perfect, but a pretty good hole.


“Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money.”

 

[larry_g]

If your gasketing a flat surface you can paint the surface and lay the gasket material in the wet paint to transfer the pattern to the gasket.
I also have used a flat bladed exacto #17 or 17a, think a chisel, to cut fine detail. Use the knife like a chisel and just tap it to cut and then move to the next section.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[steel 35]

Had a circle cutting kit that was nice, center pin and blade in scaled "s
Worn out box

 

[Jswain]

One other thing I seen I believe on YouTube is buddies wife had one of those silhouette vinyl cutters but I'm assuming any vinyl cutter you can load your own drawing onto would work.

Was sick and tired of cutting gaskets so he asked his wife to try and use her machine and bam perfect cut gaskets effortlessly lol.

Obviously not worth it for most to buy for that solo use but if she's into that stuff mothers Day is coming soon... Lol

 

[Ed_Hazard]

One other thing I seen I believe on YouTube is buddies wife had one of those silhouette vinyl cutters but I'm assuming any vinyl cutter you can load your own drawing onto would work.

Was sick and tired of cutting gaskets so he asked his wife to try and use her machine and bam perfect cut gaskets effortlessly lol.

Obviously not worth it for most to buy for that solo use but if she's into that stuff mothers Day is coming soon... Lol

A couple different videos on YT. Here's one where the guy uses the Cricit Maker. Gives a pretty good run down on how he used the software to get the sizing from a cell phone pic.

 

[Sumboodie]

Cry-cut machine.

 

[bugnut]

Leather working tools are a good choice, lots of diameters. Also used reducers for exhaust pipe a little love on a belt sander and a sharp edge. A couple feet of steel rule die stock can be formed for hard to cut or multiples of the same shape.

 

[matt_i]

Leather working tools are a good choice, lots of diameters. Also used reducers for exhaust pipe a little love on a belt sander and a sharp edge. A couple feet of steel rule die stock can be formed for hard to cut or multiples of the same shape.

CS Osborne has a whole lineup of arch punches if you want to get into that.

A self healing mat is really helpful, Fiskars makes several sizes you can buy at a Michaels, probably at any art supply store will have one.

I have always used the X-acto knife or my razor knife if too lazy to grab the X-acto.

The Cri-Cut machine sounds really interesting....

 

[Bessy]

Not sure what your budget is, but what about something like a glowforge or other home-shop level CNC laser cutter? My cousin bought one just before the pandemic hit and has been cranking out all sorts of products for an Etsy store so there may be some opportunity to recoup your investment after the project is done.

Seems a whole lot more precise than anything I could do with a knife.

Sent from my BE2026 using Tapatalk

 

[NBN]

Thanks for the suggestions and ideas so far. I'm in about the same position as most of you in that I have punches, scissors and blades. Looking for something a little more....

 

[four.cycle]

I've always just used an Xacto knife (with a brand new blade) and a paper punch. Works dandy.

 

[seber]

My father taught me the ball pien hammer technique. It has always worked for me.

 

[NBN]

A couple different videos on YT. Here's one where the guy uses the Cricit Maker. Gives a pretty good run down on how he used the software to get the sizing from a cell phone pic.

This guy's computer talk and his goofy hat kept me from focusing, but watching the next vid showed promise.

Thanks for the reference. Definitely an option to look at.

 

[bob15]

This is a great kit to own: https://mayhew.com/hollow-punch-sets/

 

[joecon]

All you need is a ball pien hammer and a little practice and you can make any gasket you want.

 

[richfinn]

I have a really nice set of gasket hole punches from when I was restoring old cars, never use them nowadays except for punching holes in leather belts as I gradually get fatter

 

[Mick56]

I have made many gaskets using a ball pein hammer and the back of a Corn Flakes box.

 

[humber2]

Small items might be able to be photocopied direct to a sheet of gasket paper.