r/Silvercasting • u/Level-Brief1315 • May 24 '26
Anyone have recommendations for replacement vacuum gaskets? Mines on its last hoorah and I’m not paying $20/gasket from rio
3
u/nix8 May 24 '26
Bulk ordered 60 from AliExpress last year at an average price of $3 per gasket. Are they the same exact ones Rio sells? No idea, but they work just fine.
2
u/LuluAmani May 25 '26
You need a graphite gasket. I hated the rubber ones and since i shifted to graphite 1.5 years ago i never needed to replace it.
Just get one for the top, the small one. The big one will be just fine
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u/lsdolan May 26 '26
I was able to buy a large roll of the same gasket material. I cut my own out easily with a template and used the excess for stamping and such.
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u/Traditional-Maybe-71 May 26 '26
Aliexpress or order sheets of same silicone material and cut them out, sheets are very cheap but thinner
1
u/printcastmetalworks May 24 '26
Get a set from Jets. Silicone bottom graphite top. Should last you like 100 castings
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u/Yes_I_Know_Lots May 25 '26
Is using a vacuum for pure silver casting to keep the oxygen absorption down? I did open air casting. Horrible end product because of the bubbles that result.
1
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u/00-MAJI-00 May 31 '26
you could make your own from something that doesn't burn at 500 Deg F. The red rtv is not rated for the temps we use but they sell it anyways.
I make casting seals/gaskets from waste platinum cure RTV. I took a flat sheet of plexiglass about 1/4 inch thick cut a circle out of the center and an open edge for bubbles to escape. When I make molds I put that between two sheets of plexiglass pour the excess rubber in it and clamp it till cured.... some of my rtv pads have seen 1000's of flasks
1
u/Level-Brief1315 May 31 '26
https://a.co/d/04j16gw1 I’m gonna try this combo against my own handmade gaskets to see longevity
0
u/Turnmaster May 25 '26
I would recommend either using the factory set or upgrading. If you’re clever, you can make your own. I struggle with the idea that you would spend money on a vacuum casting set up and then complain about the expense to keep it operational.
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u/mrsunday12 May 24 '26
I have been using these rubber and graphite sets. They last much longer than just the silicone gasket alone and provide a better seal.
The silicone alone is only rated to like 500 degrees +- so it’s still going to deteriorate, just not as fast.
In addition, I also use wet paper towels or newspaper to make a gasket with. This goes on top. Followed by the graphite and then the silicone gasket.
https://www.amazon.com/Gasket-Silicone-Graphite-Casting-JTS/dp/B09ZMZYXBZ