Re: Copper Head gasket

[Mark Tamas <markt@domain.elided>]

> Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 11:35:45 -0800
> From: "Steve Smith" <SteveSmith@domain.elided>
> Subject: Copper head gasket
> 
> Hi,
> 
>      I had a head gasket go south recently and was offered a used copper
> sandwich gasket to try this time. I understand solid copper gaskets, when
> used a second time, need to be annealed first. Is this true for copper
> sandwich gaskets? If so, how do you anneal one?
>     The head is being resurfaced and the block cleaned thoroughly before
> anything goes back together.
>     I welcome any thoughts about gasketing the head, whether it's with a
> standard fiber gasket, copper sandwich or solid copper gasket. Tricks, tips
> or frighteneing stories are encouraged. Thanks in advance. Respond off line
> if you fear flames.
> 
> Steve Smith
> Carlsbad, CA

Speaking as a jeweler and metalsmith, you're going to be hard pressed to
evenly anneal a solid copper gasket in anything other than a kiln. 
Either that or a REALLY big torch!  The metals studio when I was in
school at Louisiana State U. had this great big gas/air thing, but those
are pretty scarce. Oxy/acetylene torches have too much heat concentrated
in too small an area to be much good here.  What you need is a heat
source that can provide lots of heat to a large area, essentially a
kiln.
	If you have any friends who do ceramics, perhaps you can persuade them
to let you have access to their kiln.  The temperature for annealing
copper is somewhwere around 1100-1500 degrees F. I don't have my
references handy (they are in a friend's studio), anyone with the exact
temps, feel free to correct my figures.
	We metalsmiths tend to do things by more of a seat of the pants method-
we go by color: dull red to cherry red.
	
	I don't know what is used in the copper sandwich gaskets, but I'm
thinking that the temps required to anneal copper will destroy the
sandwich material- which I believe would be the limiting factor in reuse
anyway.... no actual experience here, just supposition.  Those who know
please correct me if I'm wrong!

Mark Tamas
79 Alfetta GT
Eugene OR USA

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