Lathe Bed to Cabinet Gasket Material?

S

sometoyotaguy

Plastic

Joined

Jun 10, 2013

Location

Maine, USA

• Jun 19, 2013

• #1

While I have my lathe apart, I'd like to replace the gasket material between the bed and the cabinet. Napa sells sheets of gasket material. What kind should I use?

It's a 9" SB under drive model.

 

R

rjs44032

Hot Rolled

Joined

Oct 23, 2012

Location

NE Ohio USA

• Jun 19, 2013

• #2

I'm not an expert. But I'd like to pass along something I learned when I was making new spindle-bearing cap gaskets. Some of the gasket materials that are made for automotive use contain fiberglass filler. Yes fiberglass!. I suggest that you be certain of its composition before applying any gasket material to your machine tools.

Best Regards,
Bob

 

B

BobRenz

Stainless

Joined

Jun 30, 2012

Location

Minnesota, USA

• Jun 19, 2013

• #3

Years ago, my first lathe was a cabinet mounted 9" SB. When I moved it, the lathe and the cabinet were separated. When I reassembled it, I just used 1/64" fiber gasket stock from NAPA. The lathe bed could be twisted with some setscrews under the tailstock area of the bed to adjust straightness, so I wasn't too worried.

These days, you could probably simply use one of the silicone form-a-gasket compounds that are now available. As soon as the lathe and cabinet are back together, you could clean up any squeeze-out with a rag with a bit of mineral spirits on it.

 

P

promacjoe

Stainless

Joined

Jan 10, 2009

Location

Tn USA

• Jun 19, 2013

• #4

rjs44032 said:

I'm not an expert. But I'd like to pass along something I learned when I was making new spindle-bearing cap gaskets. Some of the gasket materials that are made for automotive use contain fiberglass filler. Yes fiberglass!. I suggest that you be certain of its composition before applying any gasket material to your machine tools.

Best Regards,
Bob

Click to expand...

Be thankful that they changed it. It used to be filled with asbestos. I think it was a pretty good substitute considering the health hazards.

Stay safe and have fun.
Joe.

 

J

Jonathan Beams

Plastic

Joined

Nov 30, 2016

• Jan 18, 2018

• #5

I'm restoring a 9", and had the same question. The one in place on mine looked like 1/16" cork - and I found similar material and cut a replacement (carefully) with an xacto. Crazy?

 

T

tobnpr

Hot Rolled

Joined

Sep 27, 2015

• Jan 18, 2018

• #6

I would be never use any compressible gasket materials, as the lathe "leveling" would change as the gasket compresses over time. A few thousandths means nothing to an automotive gasket, but it matters when assuring no twist in a lathe bed.

Degrease, and just run a quality sealant resistant to petroleum products around the base.

 

R

rj1939

Stainless

Joined

Jan 31, 2008

Location

southern il

• Jan 18, 2018

• #7

I would measure the thickness of the old gasket, bearing in mind that the new gasket material will compress to about half its prior thickness.
If the gasket is cut uniform width throughout, it should compress pretty well evenly, as long as it is torqued evenly.

 

I

iwananew10K

Diamond

Joined

Sep 12, 2010

Location

moscow,ohio

• Jan 19, 2018

• #8

Mine had a sealant similar to the brown hardening type permetex...don't know if it was original but that's what I used.

 

G

gadget73

Hot Rolled

Joined

Mar 8, 2016

• Jan 19, 2018

• #9

I used some sheet gasket material I had on hand for other projects. I think it was 1/16". Probably would work fine with a sealer too.

 

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blockhead

Plastic

Joined

Feb 15, 2009

Location

Pennsylvania USA

• Jan 19, 2018

• #10

I used this...

Fel-Pro 3187 Gasket Material

It cut easily with a razor knife and is resistant to any cutting oil or coolant.