Firerope Gasket

[Gizmo]

Just looking for advice on sticking the fiberglass rope gasket to steel. The wood-burning stove shops sell different diameters of this stuff and I'm wondering if anyone has experience using high-temp silicone to stick it to steel to form a smoke-proof gasket around cook chamber doors for my smoker. Any help would be appreciated...

[Tom_Heath]

I have used the rope 5/8" several times in the past with great success. I always use high temp rtv gasket maker to stick it to the smoker. So far the only time it came off was when I tried it on a fire box door. I guess that was a little to hot.

I have even used the gasket maker with no rope for my seal. I just put down a heavy bead then put 2 inch wide paint tape on the rtv and shut the door once, propped open and waited for it to cure before I closed the door again. Then peel the tape off and you have an instant gasket.

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[Gizmo]

Thanks Tom - On the firebox door that failed, did the gasket maker fail or did the rope fail? Do you think wax paper would work in place of the 2" tape then let it set up in the closed position? ...thinking out loud...

[Tom_Heath]

Sure thing on the wax paper.

As far as letting it sit. Yes sorta.

I like to let the door down, give it a light press into the silicone, then prop the door open.

I figured that if I latched it then I would not have a nice tight seal when finished. The one that I made from 100% silicone was a nice tight fit.


And the one that failed was silicone and rope, the silicone acted like it got to hot and peeled off. We got in a jam with a poor draft situation and really cranked the fire once it got going. Bad Us. Since then we have been running with no gasket with no ill effects.

[Gizmo]

Thanks very much for the input. I've found a fire door gasket cement specifically for sticking down the rope - "fingers crossed and we'll see..."

[Tom_Heath]

Good luck on the cement, with that you will most likely need to set the rope then shut and latch the door. If not the cement will set hard and have no give for a mega tight seal. I really lean toward the rtv.

Let us know how it turns out and how tough it is to work with.

[Gizmo]

Will do!

[DocMorgan]

Any updates on this? Curious to know how it turned out.

[Gizmo]

All the cements failed so I'm working on a tack strip. I posted it somewhere in here - maybe tools or something...?
ANyway the tack strip works pretty good and I just today got some 24 gage stainless to try to make some more and redo some seals. I'll keep you posted.

[sassy's]

I was having the same problem with a leaky old smoker and fire rope gaskets. I went to Menards and in detail described my problem and my idea. Of course the helper wasn't much of a solution helper, but did offer some insight on the gasket sealer. He told me to make sure to heat the seal with a torch before putting a lid on it and let it sit for awhile. He told me that applying heat will help it bond to the metal surface better and stronger.

[Gizmo]

Thanks for the tip - I'll try that next time.

[alleyrat58]

I used fire rated RTV silicone great stuff and will stick to anything. Like duct tape in a tube. If your door don't close tight on the gasket just run a bead down where it goes slap a piece of wax paper over it and close the door over night. Mine has been stuck for 2 years.

[Gizmo]

I just did that type repair to Edna's door seal and it seems to be holding up real well - guess I'm going to have to try that stuff as the main cement too.
Thanks!

[alleyrat58]

I used good old hightemp RTV silicone that stuff will stick to anything. If your door has a little tweak in it and it don't want to seal run a bead down the gasket slap a little wax paper over it and close the door.

[SmokinFF]

Just looking at some old posts and found this one. Not sure if you guys have found a solution yet.
I do some chimney cleaning and work on wood stoves on the side. The cement you can buy with the gaskets has worked the best for us. The most important part of using it!!! Apply the cement to the surface you want the gasket on and let it set 10-15 min then apply the gasket for a stronger bond. Then apply pressure with the lid or door.

Hope this helps.

[Gizmo]

I guess it's been about 6 weeks and 3 cooks later so far and Edna's seal is still holding so I'm impressed...

[The Czar]

Well that is good to hear......seems like you had a time with that one.....

[Frank_Cox]

Click here : gaskets

[Gizmo]

Good looking stuff there.

[Nagaburns]

Hi Guys

Rather than start a new thread for my question I thought I'd ask it here as it's rope related.

As I paid a lot of money for the tadpole gasket fitted to my doors I am concerned about the ends where it starts and finishes, I know it will fray over time and I'll loose the seal.
Do you guys do anything to the ends of the ropes to stop them going fluffy?
I have thought of gluing the ends together with some high temp adhesive....?

All the best,

Lee

[Gizmo]

That's exactly what I do. Just a little silicone then work the ends together with a toothpick and let it set up.