Thread: Gasket Making Lost Art ?

Originally Posted by Dark61

Whats the hole punches Mate ? Is that something you buy or something you have made?
cheers,
D

Hole punches are these.
Hollow Punch Set 9PC Leather Hole Punch Punching Tool Gasket Cutter New Hardened | eBay

Sometimes called Wadd Punches - black woods sell em in small to quite large . Also useful for canvas work , if so inclined !

Originally Posted by Dark61

Whats the hole punches Mate ? Is that something you buy or something you have made?
cheers,
D

Engineering supplies stock them, come in a multitude of sizes and are the only way to make intricate gaskets.

Originally Posted by Rextheute

Sometimes called Wadd Punches - black woods sell em in small to quite large . Also useful for canvas work , if so inclined !

Wad punch!
Yep, that's what they were called when I was an apprentice a very long time ago.

Gee's ... why didnt' using those hole punches occur to me I usually use a drill bit that often tears up the gasket.

If using a wad punch, you need a block of hardwood (not balsa! Yes, I know Baja is technically a hardwood) and use the smoothly cut end grain to punch against.

You can also trace the gasket with an oil imprint, and form the voids and bolt holes with a ball pein hammer tapping lightly against the surface.
Obviously be very careful doing that on machined surfaces.

Hey Rick,ACT still working out for you?.I use a block of lead with wad punches,works perfect every time,and yes Balsa wood is a hard wood and if using wood,use the end so your cutting into the grain not across it. Pat

I had a bit of a chuckle at this thread.

I too have gasket paper and wad punches, but you know there is now a thing called Permatex which will do most jobs on a Land Rover like axle caps, sumps transfer case covers etc. I just disassembled and rebuilt my Honda Jazz gearbox without one gasket.

Most newish cars have very few gaskets eg a TD5,put together with lots of sealants. Even my 3.9 RRC had just sealant on the sump, although I concede that the TD5 does have a sump gasket and a rocker gasket that leaks .

I don't even think you need a gasket on a diff nose as the tolerances are so big. I have sealed several with just Permatex with no problems.
Regards Philip A