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OK this might be a stupid question but what do you all use as a gasket between sheet metal?
For example, I am going to cut access panels in the boxed in sections to the rear where the dashboard will be on each side (where the fuse box will go on one side). I will cover these with oversize aluminium or steel sheet cut to shape and secured with bolts into rivnuts. I am trying to find a suitable gasket to put around the edge. I am imagining a thin self adhesive rubber strip? If so a source would be useful!
Is it worth making a rubber gasket for the pedal box which I intend to attach with 8m rivnuts?
I think access panels would be a very good idea. I wish I had added them from the outset. Lying upsided down headlong in the footwell is no place for a middle aged man - as the aches the next day have told me too often!!
I saw a demonstration of a hygroscopic product years ago, where they bonded two pieces of sheet metal with what is now called Spectra Body Underseal. It is amazing stuff. It spreads on like tar, and absorbs water to cure. It remains flexible, so makes an excellent vibration resistant seal.
The dmonstation at the kit car shows was to hang a very heavy weight on just a small jointed piece of two sheets. Verygood stuff.
oaktree11 wrote:
Hi all,
OK this might be a stupid question but what do you all use as a gasket between sheet metal?
For example, I am going to cut access panels in the boxed in sections to the rear where the dashboard will be on each side (where the fuse box will go on one side). I will cover these with oversize aluminium or steel sheet cut to shape and secured with bolts into rivnuts. I am trying to find a suitable gasket to put around the edge. I am imagining a thin self adhesive rubber strip? If so a source would be useful!
Is it worth making a rubber gasket for the pedal box which I intend to attach with 8m rivnuts?
I absolutely agree about the age thing and I have a bit more than you!
I suppose its application specific. Some areas will be sealed for life (pedal box eventually, hopefully) which would be well suited to some sort of sealant, but some will be often removed (like the side covers) and for those i was think of the self adhesive rubber type thing. I just dont know the spec or supplier!
I will look up the spectra stuff. Another thing I notice as I get started is that there are many small gaps that will need filling. John
I have a bulkhead side access panel secured by 6mm bolts into rivnuts. As there is always a tendency for the (flat) cover panel to spring in at the bolt locations I used old fashioned windscreen sealant between the two faces. After tightening the bolts the excess can be wiped off with white spirit. Simples! Peter.
yes, I am happy to go the sealant route for panels that wont be opened much but I would like to use something more like rubber seal for the panels I will remove a lot.