Gasket Leak

[IPD_Mrs]

Have a HF pot. Can not keep the stupid thing from leaking. Have tried the typical stuff such as vasaline on the gasket. The funning thing is it will hold a vacume but not preasure. Anyone have any thoughts or ideas? What about replacing the gaskets. Where would I get one?

 

[Fred]

Are you sure it is around the gasket? It could be that the pressure relief valve is "open", thereby not holding pressure.

Apply pressure to the cannister and sponge a bit of rather soapy water around any place that may be leaking. Bubbles will tell you when you find the spot.

Be sure to thoroughly dry anything you get wet as this stuff does rust easily.

 

[Padre]

Mike, Linda, I went through 3, yes 3, Harbor Freight pressure pots and could not for the life of me get them to seal with pressure. I repalced gaskets, made my own gaskets, used petroleum jelly, used sealing tape......and on and on.

I finally just gave up and bought a more expensive pressure pot and have not had 1 ounce of problems with it. I bought this one for $195.00, and I think it is worth every penny.

 

[helgi]

sealing pressure pot

As with all pots, with vacuum everything goes down" lid, relief valve, etc.
Now with pressure everything goes up , so up comes the lid, the plunger in the relieve valve and the casing around the dials are known to release air pressure now that almost everything is made offshore. So as mentioned before check everything all the connections and valves with soapy water and if the leaks don't stop, bite the bullet and purchase a good pressure pot such as Binks, Graco, Devillbiss. Sometimes you can pick one of these commercial pots up at an auction or when a paint contractor goes out of bussiness. At least you will be able to buy a new gasket for them. Good luck with your pressure pot I know it is maddening when the darn thing doesn't want to seal, you could end up with your creations all over the shop floor. Not fun.

helgi.

 

[DocStram]

Mike & Linda . . . take it back to HF. I know you've used it. My Hf takes everything back. I once walked in with the most decrepit looking HF reciprocating saw imaginable. I didn't have the receipt or even the box. No sooner did I walk in the front door than the manager looked over and pointed to the stack of brand new one. I was out of the store within 5 minutes.
It's worth a try.

 

[MesquiteMan]

Look at your local pawn shops for a real pressure pot. DeVilbiss/Binks are now the same company and make excellent pots that won't blow up on you! CA Technologies also makes a good one. My Binks pots will hold 75psi as long as I want them to right out of the box, no special fixes to make it work.

 

[RichB]

I have the same pot. I can put 50 lbs in it if I tighted the clamps with a wrench. If I put 30 or 40 in it I can almost tighten it up by hand. I only use 30 to 40. It leaked when I first started until I tightened it up with a wrench. Just needed more pressure on the gasket.

 

[hunter-27]

I agree that there are better pots out there. What I did to make mine work was put it under all the vacuum I could with my compressor and left it that way for a couple days. I then placed marks on the lid and pot so I could always get it in the same place. The constant inward pressure under vacuum "squished" a sweet spot in the gasket and has sealed for me since as long as it is orientated properly to where I marked it. Worth a shot I think. If that does not do it, might be time for an upgrade.

 

[Padre]

Look at your local pawn shops for a real pressure pot. DeVilbiss/Binks are now the same company and make excellent pots that won't blow up on you! CA Technologies also makes a good one. My Binks pots will hold 75psi as long as I want them to right out of the box, no special fixes to make it work.

And Curtis knows what happens to HF pressure pots! Just read his post.

 

[workinforwood]

I love my CA technologies pot. Not only does it seal tight, but the clamps do not dig into the lid of the pot. The inside of the pot is not quite as deep as the HF pot, but it is wider..I consider that another bonus. The pressure relief valve is champ, and I love the quick air release mechanism too...That pot rocks! arty::wink:

 

[PenMan1]

Gotta agree with Chip and Curtis. After that silly HF thing nearly took my head off in an explosion, I bought a Devilbiss pot. I found it on Craigs list for $40, already set up for casting.