Finally figured out a pretty good way to remove old gasket material

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Bill Crowell

Bill Crowell

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I soak the part in naptha in my parts washer and then scrape the top, softened layer of the gasket, which comes off easily, with a single-edge razor blade scraper; but when the going gets tough (when I reach hard gasket material), I drop it back in the naptha again for a few hours. Every time you pull it out of the naptha, a bit more of the top layer of the old gasket and gasket cement is softened. I repeat this until it is completely gone. The scraping is fairly easy this way. Maybe this would work with plain old mineral spirits, too, but I haven't tried it.

Doh! I don't know why I never thought of this before!
 
Bill Crowell said:
I soak the part in naptha in my parts washer and then scrape the top, softened layer of the gasket, which comes off easily, with a single-edge razor blade scraper; but when the going gets tough (when I reach hard gasket material), I drop it back in the naptha again for a few hours. Every time you pull it out of the naptha, a bit more of the top layer of the old gasket and gasket cement is softened. I repeat this until it is completely gone. The scraping is fairly easy this way. Maybe this would work with plain old mineral spirits, too, but I haven't tried it.

Doh! I don't know why I never thought of this before!
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On that note, I get old kitchen knives from the thrift stores that have good solid handles, cut them off and grind them down into scrapers.
That was a "why didn't I think of this before" moment.
 
Aircraft stripper works well, brush it on the gasket and when it gets bubbling hard scrap it with a plastic scrapper
 
20190414_160007.jpg
My gasket scraper the yellow works great on aluminum they make a green disc that is more abrasive for steel.
 
famous bob said:
I use b12 chemtool in the spray can. From what the o.p. said , my way is a hell of a lot faster.
B12 chemtool, scraper/b12/maybe scrape again/ chemtool soaked rag/ rub it off
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Seen it but never tried it. I'll try it next time though.
 
Fred Scigliano said:
Seen it but never tried it. I'll try it next time though.
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Awful hard on ur skin if used repeatedly , learned the hard way , always held part in my left hand and sray/washed parts.
No oil in skin now , always haveing to grease my thumb and fingures !
 
famous bob said:
Awful hard on ur skin if used repeatedly , learned the hard way , always held part in my left hand and sray/washed parts.
No oil in skin now , always haveing to grease my thumb and fingures !
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I know what you mean been a body man for many years and always getting my hands in chemical. You think I would learn after all these years but I haven't.
 
Gasket remover in a spray can, works within minutes
 
Be careful with those Roloc discs as they take off metal...

Oven cleaner works on gaskets too.
 
Fred Scigliano said:
View attachment 1715320007 My gasket scraper the yellow works great on aluminum they make a green disc that is more abrasive for steel.
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Hard lesson.
I thought the green disks were going to be a great way to remove gasket residue.
Final step of some project was to reinstall the right angle adapter.
Damn thing leaked. Never had that happen before. Its a big chunk of iron, machined surfaces, nothing to warp. Figured it must be I damaged the gasket.
Make a bunch of calls, find a place that has the gasket kit in stock! and they're not too far away - about a 1/2 hour each way if traffic is OK.
Clean it all up good. make sure there's no oil residue, etc.
Does it again. :BangHead:
Now I'm really running out of time. Ive got a spare kit so not dead yet. But this time start checking the flatness of the surfaces. Sure as you know what, using the rotary gasket remover took material off the adapter and its no longer flat. Then I had to spend a whole bunch of time hand lapping it flat.:(
Third try it sealed.
Lesson learned.
 
Naptha is not healthy.
Prevent prolonged exposure. Acetone as well.
 
Krooser said:
Be careful with those Roloc discs as they take off metal...

Oven cleaner works on gaskets too.
Click to expand...
Never had a problem with the Roloc but you need to keep the rpm down and and hold the tool steady or your right metal will fly.
 
What about a wire wheel? Stainless for steel parts, brass for aluminum? I use mine mainly for cleaning junk off old bolts but I've gotten gasket material off parts before too.
 
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