Anealing copper gaskets

[Rickrod3]

I heard once before that the copper gaskets can be heated to cherry red then quenched in water and be reused.

I was thinking about oil drain plugs, oil pipe gaskets and such.
Has anyone done this?

Rick

[trbig]

I re-use them over and over anyway. If they start leaking, you can get them from just about any auto parts store. Four of them were less than a buck last time. Most have a bin behind the counter of the crush washers for brakes. The one you need will be slightly smaller than the one you take in since it's been crushed and expanded.

Short story long... seems like a lot of work for something so cheap? And I use teflon tapeon my oil drain plug to prevent leaks. Just my 2 cents... if it's even worth that.. lol.


Tod

[randy]

For things like brakes () and oil lines, I'd rather use new than put it back together, have a leak and then have to re-do it. Makes no sense 'cause they're not worth much cents.

[Rickrod3]

It's not he expense I was concerned about; the convienence to get back on the road without having to place an online order.

Didn't think to try and match up at the autoparts.

[79XS11F]

I heard once before that the copper gaskets can be heated to cherry red then quenched in water and be reused.

I was thinking about oil drain plugs, oil pipe gaskets and such.
Has anyone done this?

Rick

Been doing it for years. I just use a propane torch for a few seconds and into a container of cold water. The alloy type do however, tend to melt before your very eyes.
Rob

[Ivan]

Yes, heat to glowing and quench in water is quicker than driving to the parts store, and you should probably do it to the new ones anyway. When annealed, the brass is soft enough to bend easily with your fingers, so it forms much better for the seal.

[fredintoon]

It's not he expense I was concerned about; the convienence to get back on the road without having to place an online order.
Didn't think to try and match up at the autoparts.

Hi Rick,
and what if you live out in the sticks and it's 30 mile round trip to the parts store or it's Sunday and they ain't open?
And Ivan, they ain't brass, they are copper. Or sometimes aluminum.
But here's the shade-tree approach to annealing.
Steel, heat to red and slowly cool.
Quenching will harden high carbon steel and you are never sure how much carbon is in that particular piece of steel.
Aluminum, heat until a wooden match leaves a black mark on it. Some aluminum alloys re-harden after a few hours or perhaps a day if you keep them in the freezer.
Brass is dodgy, some brasses are hot short (they get brittle when hot) so I stay away from heating them.
Copper, heat to red.
Quenching or air-cooling don't change aluminum or copper's after annealing hardness. What quenching from red hot does for copper is to pop the oxide off so it looks nice and stops Mr. Impatient burning his fingers.

[Ivan]

And Ivan, they ain't brass, they are copper.

Oh yeah? Well ain't isn't a real word!

You are right though, they are copper, not brass.

[fredintoon]

Oh yeah? Well ain't isn't a real word! - - -

Hello Ivan,
you and I are fully aware that the contraction "ain't" is a mere vulgarity which is not used in polite speech.
Alas, there are those on this list who lack our erudition and I used the term "ain't" for their benefit and because I'd hate to be thought of as talking all posh.

[b.walker5]

Hello Ivan,
you and I are fully aware that the contraction "ain't" is a mere vulgarity which is not used in polite speech.
Alas, there are those on this list who lack our erudition and I used the term "ain't" for their benefit and because I'd hate to be thought of as talking all posh.

Odd critters, Poms, even to us..

[devilschld]

better look it up the last time i looked it was in the dictionary

Oh yeah? Well ain't isn't a real word!

You are right though, they are copper, not brass.