Homemade gaskets?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Homemade gaskets?
Just an idea. I have some 1/8 " rubber sheets sitting outside in the garage. Was thinking of maybe making the outside door handle gaskets out of it...and if it worked I was going to use it to make other gaskets possibly. Just trying to save money anywhere I can...it all adds up! Has anybody here tried to do something like this? Post pics.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I have had to make gaskets many times useing everything from paper grocery sacks to copper sheet. SOmetimes it works better than others. The problem I always had with rubber (like an inner tube) is cutting it smoothly enough to make a pretty gasket. Most gaskets are Die cut, so its a rubber stamp operation.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,711
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
One of the first things that I learned in high school auto shop was how too make a gasket from a sheet of material and a ball peen hammer.
As Six says, the challenge is getting clean edges. A usefull skill to have if you need a gasket right away or the one you want isn't made any more. Sheets of material aren't as commonly available as they were though.
Should work fine for a door seal, but you might want to use a sharp exacto blade rather than a hammer
As Six says, the challenge is getting clean edges. A usefull skill to have if you need a gasket right away or the one you want isn't made any more. Sheets of material aren't as commonly available as they were though.
Should work fine for a door seal, but you might want to use a sharp exacto blade rather than a hammer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
For these items, I would just buy the entire "seal kit" ... not too expensive.
I would be afraid that the thickness is not exact and comes out looking not-so-great.
For stuff you cannot see ... go for it.
I would be afraid that the thickness is not exact and comes out looking not-so-great.
For stuff you cannot see ... go for it.
