Silicone vs Double Seal Buna-N?

[EFaden]

Hey,

So I am about to place an order from McMaster for some gaskets for my kegs. I am going to order both the post gaskets and the dip tube gaskets. The question is which are better, Double Seal Buna-A or Silicone? ... or is one better for the dip tube and the other the post... etc? Anyone shed some light?

-Eric

 

[azscoob]

I order the cheap Buna-n o-rings from them, I replace them after every batch, so buying the more expensive silicone ones is not worth it to me.

 

[BrewNinja1]

Well silicone is better. It will last longer. I reuse my orings, so for me thats the way to go. If you plan on tossing them like azscoob, then get the buna. There is no right or wrong here, just use what you feel comforable with.

 

[samc]

Silicone is softer. I've torn several Silicone o-rings on my QD's for the brew rig. On the kegs I've not had that problem. It really is only the keg lid that seems to require special attention on occasion for me. All the other o-rings worked fine with either regular Buna or Silicones.

Some of the used kegs I've bought look like the o-rings had been in them since the invention of the corny keg itself.

 

[azscoob]

I just went through a corny that had a lid seal that appeared to be wax impregnated rope. strangest thing I have seen yet. I had some silicone o-rings for my dip tubes and had issues with them getting torn, I do use silicone lid seals because of their resilience, I just prefer to replace the dip tube seals every cleaning, I had a foamy keg that was caused by a jickey o-ring on the pickup tube, for the price of a sack of dip tube o-rings, I just replace them now.

 

[SankePankey]

I prefer the double seal. I had some tearing problems with the silicone when ratcheting down the posts. I am under the impression from usage that the double seal seals with less ratcheting and is almost hand tightenable.

 

[EFaden]

Awesome. Thanks guys. I am going to order some tonight.