need to make homemade gasket for stainless conical

[reelmower]

I have what might be a first generation 12.5 gallon stainless "bar top" fermenter. I purchased it in the mid 1990's. I didn't use it for about 10 years .. cause I stopped brewing for a while. I recently started brewing again. Does anyone have any info on making a homemade gasket for the top of my conical? The process would be like ... slitting some tubing .. then connecting it to form a circle the diameter you need .. and stay food grade quality with the gluing process. The slit tubing fits over the flared top section of the conical ... the top piece of the conical .. fits down over the flared top section .. and the bar across the top .. applies pressure to hold the top against the gasket.

I see several places online that have $25 gaskets .. but it seems like a DIY person could make something that would work. I have played with trying to attach some high temperature silicone tubing together with some 100% silicone (purchased from the big box home store) .. but it won't cure. Also trying to connect some clear tubing beer/gas line .. and haven't had success there either. I want to stay food grade safe with anything I do. Can anyone help me out? I don't have the spare bucks right now .. to spend on $25 gaskets.

 

[milldoggy]

Look up edge grip on McMaster Carr.

Hope this link works, number 5 is silicon

http://www.mcmaster.com/#edge-grip-protective-edging/=ngu4pz

 

[reelmower]

Thanks for the info milldoggy. I will check that out.

Also .. nice looking setup you have .. and hop stopper.

 

[milldoggy]

Thanks, need to update my signature, I moved, here is the new setup. Hop stopper is awesome, cheap to build and works great.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

If ya' have not settled on something yet, I'll look at home this weekend, as I had to replace some gaskets on some LARGE plastic barrels that I plan to use for , um, "fermenting".
The lids had a groove for a removable gasket, which had dry rotted.
I believe the product I used was Dow-Corning 724, a flowable, food grade, water safe RTV.

I cleaned, inverted, and leveled the lids, and flowed it in place, let cure for 24 hrs., ( ideally in the presence of moisture), and I left mine sitting in a spare bath tub of water for the weekend.

Rock solid attachment, yet conformal gasket.

You could post a pic of where the gasket lives, and it may spark some more ideas.......

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Make that Dow Corning RTV 734

 

[whad23]

I use rubber cookie baking sheet covers to make gaskets. there high heat and food grade and you can get them any where from target and lowes to your local grocery store .

 

[reelmower]

I'm going to give this a try. I've got a recipe that I'll be brewing in the next week or two. So ... the conical will be back in action soon.

I cut a 54.25" (the length I need) long piece of gas tubing .. taped it together to make a ring that will fit the top of my conical .. then I got a sharpie and marked a light dashed line on one side of the "rigged gasket" .. then untaped it .. got some sharp scissors .. and cut on the dashed line. I thought I was going to have to glue it together on the ends when I was finished cutting .. but the 54.25" .. is the length I need .. and I had it slightly long anyway. I gave it a test fit on the conical .. put the lid on .. tried an airlock .. to see if it seemed to hold a seal. It fits pretty well .. and seems air tight. I will coat it with some keg lube when I give it the real test. My old gasket is still functional .. so I'll give the gas line gasket a try .. and swap it .. to the real gasket .. if I think I need to make a change.