Gaskets - look no further!

[Chuangt2u]

The car's water pump packed up today. Easy enough to find a new one, but - same old problem - couldn't find a gasket.
Sick to death of using silicone sealant, so spent some time and tracked down a gasket source.
Found a workshop that manufactures them - perfect results.
The shop's here - it's a very small turning off Mao, not big enough for a car, and it runs down the center of the block between st146 and st150 east off Mao; the workshop's around 150m in and on the north side.



See the guy with the beard, here's his business card.




There's not a single garage I've been to that could get gaskets, or use them when replacing parts - not once in the 5 years that I've had this car have I seen it. Took the new water pump to this guy, 3 minutes cutting, 1500r, sorted.
Highly recommended.

A source for good quality, hand-cut gaskets - no more fking silicone Finally!!!!!!!!!

[vladimir]

Whitney Houston gaskets:

And I will always La You...

Seriously, though, useful link, thanks.

[ken svay]

I always thought that cutting gaskets here was quite common.
Read a good tip this week about removing powder coating-a gasket removal spray.
The powder coating bubbles after ten of fifteen minutes and can be wiped off with a cloth.
It would be deadly for car paintwork as well I would think.
Good for errant lexies.

[Chuangt2u]

I always thought that cutting gaskets here was quite common.

Never seen it here - did you used to do it?
My car engine's 25 years old ... maybe can get them off the shelf on Kampuchea Krom for a 2005 Lexie or the innumerable Camry, but not for mine. I think the local garages take the easy route and just buy a box of tubes of silicone... bad idea, really.
Go see this guy if you need one for fitting a part to anything that's not recent or popular with the local market.

100%.

[robboat]

Good information - thanks OP....

Bit of information about silicone.
Silicone is used all around the world with varying results.
It is great for glass and many other impervious materials......but not suitable for hydrocarbons.
However - it gives off acetic acid while it cures - and this is deadly for alloys....especially water pumps.

There is a type of silicone that does not give off acid when it cures and is not affected by hydrocarbons...this is what most modern car engines are assemble with (see http://www.4pcorporation.com/Silastic_735.asp)...but it is expensive and I have not see it sold in Cambodia.

One way to make a silicone gasket that will generally work well in most applications is to apply a light smear of Vaseline or similar on the gasket face of the part needing the gasket.
Then apply a continuous bead of even thickness silicone to the shape required.
Let it cure enough to lift off the part and then let it cure for 24hrs.
After that time you can clean off the Vaseline and apply a thin film of gasket goo or contact adhesive, then the nicely shaped silicone gasket, then tighten evenly.
No acid issues, no premature failures....
Good method for when you cannot get the right gasket material.

Many places in Cambodia actually reuse the gasket.....there is often no other alternative.

Great that a real gasket maker has been found in Cambodia - they are like diamonds if they know how to do it right....

[Chuangt2u]

This is what I would have used if I hadn't found the gasket guy.
$1.25 on Pl Kampuchea Krom.
Not hard to find here - a guy with the correct materials to make good gaskets and the skills to do just that is rarer.
If you need one, put him on the list for a visit.