How to cut a paper gasket

[skizm]

I just discovered this method recently and thought it was awesome, saved me a lot of time cutting out a gasket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rx5hGKt1PY

[Nessism]

I just discovered this method recently and thought it was awesome, saved me a lot of time cutting out a gasket.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rx5hGKt1PY

Lovely technique for making gaskets for a cast iron part. I wouldn’t do the same for a soft aluminum part, like most of our GS parts.

[hampshirehog]

I use that technique on alloy parts - you've just got to be really gentle. Most of the time you don't use the edges / hammer to cut the gasket but rather to make dents in the paper which you then cut out with scissors or a craft knife.

Of course, on the BSA I can just use a great big hammer........

[Calvin Blackmore]

This technique would work well with a dowel to press the outlines into the paper in case you are scared of cracking an alloy part.

This guy's youtube stuff is fantastic
tons of well illustrated vids without nonsense special effects or god awful music

constant narration is a heck of a skill especially since he does not appear to be scripting these, just speaking and showing things simultaneously.

sadly he has closed down his MG sales service business
not sure why may be he just retired.

[Agemax]

I use that technique on alloy parts - you've just got to be really gentle. Most of the time you don't use the edges / hammer to cut the gasket but rather to make dents in the paper which you then cut out with scissors or a craft knife.

Of course, on the BSA I can just use a great big hammer........

do BSA's use gaskets? thought they just used a tube of silicone on each cover!

[Ponderosa]

Hornet..

do BSA's use gaskets? thought they just used a tube of silicone on each cover!

The old Hornet I had was nicknamed "Puddles".....

[hampshirehog]

do BSA's use gaskets? thought they just used a tube of silicone on each cover!

It's red hermatite - silicone was ne'er but a twinkle in a bathroom sealant's eye. I have a theory that every single gram of red hermatite ever used is still in existence and come armageddon it'll be the only stuff left that survives.

[themess]

Lovely technique for making gaskets for a cast iron part. I wouldn’t do the same for a soft aluminum part, like most of our GS parts.

Use a small plastic-faced mallet instead of a metal ball pein hammer.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98285

[gggGary]

To punch out the bolt holes use ball bearings that are about twice the hole size and tap the top of the ball bearing with a hammer. DIY 4 cylinder suzuki valve cover gaskets might be a bit too hard to make though.

[duaneage]

Go to Staples and get a hole punch for 1.99. The 1/4" hole punch is perfect for cutting holes in gaskets. and larger holes are made by making multiple cuts with the hole punch.

[midnightcafe]

so paper/cardboard is a good gasket material? Like for carb gaskets?

[gggGary]

so paper/cardboard is a good gasket material? Like for carb gaskets?

Well not for me. I have bought gasket material bulk before. and I have used paper and thin cardboard to make gaskets. But usually only make them when I just can't wait for a new one to ship or I am working on some weird parts no longer available mecho-gizmo.

[Macguyver]

IMO, gasket cutting is a skill everyone should learn. You never know when a bit of cardboard will get you home.

DIY 4 cylinder suzuki valve cover gaskets might be a bit too hard to make though.

They aren't too bad. Just time consuming.

For holes, I use either a hole punch set, or I have a few different sized unthreaded shaft bolts I've modded a bit by cutting off the threads and concaving out the shaft. The bolts work great if you don't want to outine the holes, move the cover, then punch the holes. I use a bolt that's the slightly larger SEA nearest diameter so it's a tight fit in the hole.
This makes sure that all of the holes are all going to be properly centered too.
Some day I may just make a full set of them from drill stock.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...2&postcount=14

[Nessism]

A piece of tubing sharpened on the end works great as a hole punch. As for the correct gasket paper, auto parts stores carry this in various grades and thicknesses.

As for banging on the part as shown in the video, I think this is a reasonable technique to make an impression in the gasket paper (to be cut out using sissors and xacto knife) but I wouldn't try to cut real gasket paper this way.

Photo below shows homemade carb gasket.

[GS ace]

Gaskets

I've had to do it as a result of having old Allis Chalmers tractors and a Ford 8N. Because of this, I was able to make a few nice gaskets for a couple of restorations. Various sizes of spent ammo casings worked well. The ability to actually make one that works adds to the art of old bike restoration.