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Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:32 pm
by ianrichards
Another quick question ... what's the best material for making a gasket on a steam engine ?

Re: Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 12:09 am
by Lopez Mike
Are you sure you need a gasket? I have only sealer on my engine in places like the heads. The stuff I use is high temperature anti-seize. Looks like a mixture of aluminum powder and goop of some sorts. I have to wipe up carefully after working with it as it gets everywhere. In my hair even and I don't have much!

Re: Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 2:02 am
by barts
Assuming you're using normal hobby steam pressures and temperatures:

For reasonably flat surfaces, hi temp RTV works like a charm, esp. if you have a small groove in one of the mating surfaces. You can also use gasket material for automotive purposes - it seems to work fine in my experience.

If you have superheat or high pressures, uses Garlock 3000 or similar.

- Bart

Re: Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:23 am
by ianrichards
Thanks for that.
I’m I’ve got some RTV hiding somewhere.
When I got the engine the cylinder head and retaining nuts were in a box of bits and I just assumed that a gasket was needed as there is the fragments of one there.
Ian

Re: Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 3:31 pm
by DetroiTug
I use standard high temperature gasket material - cut it to fit etc, when installing, I coat one side with anti-sieze compound, works very well for removal later on. Allows the joints to be re-tightened. I'd be careful using rubber like materials for high pressure steam, they can deform and be pushed out between thin spaces, as Bart mentioned, a groove in one mating surface helps with that.

There is a story I heard here in the states about a guy running a steam roller out on the road, he used a rubber gasket on the handhole cover, it blew out, luckily no one was around it when it happened. He was not injured.

-Ron

Re: Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 4:03 pm
by dampfspieler
I prefer ABIL N 0,5 mm. Some more information about you can found here - gaskest materials.

Best Dietrich

Re: Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 5:09 pm
by hedleypiper
Brown paper and "Steamseal", foliac graphite and manganese seems to work very well on all my steam bits. w.p. 150psi

boiler tested to 250psi hydraulic.

Usually cut them out with a ball pean hammer and the odd ball bearing (for cutting holes)

Very simple.

Re: Cylinder head gasket material ?

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:33 pm
by ianrichards
Brilliant, many thanks everyone.
Progress on my launch is good.
Just completed the double skin and am now about to fit the skeg and stern gear.
Hopefully I will get this bit completed before the new year as the workshop is too cold for the glues and resins. I will then have to look at the engine instead.
What fun !