Following recent discussions on CCS and CPL regarding graphite for gland/control spindle packing etc, and having tried both yarn and foil/tape, I have come to the conclusion that graphite foil is by far the best solution. In the UK it appears that, as a small consumer, it is only possible to buy graphite foil in the form of graphite tape on narrow rolls. If you want sheet graphite foil you have to buy from Germany at high cost and postage (from where I got my original foil). Sheet graphite foil is available in the UK but only in standardised industrial sized rolls at over £700 a roll. I have been in correspondence with a UK industrial manufacturer who has sent me samples and agreed to supply me with a smaller than standard quantity. I have tested the samples on three different Army No12 stove spindles with excellent results. Graphite foil is manufactured from expanded natural graphite which means it can be compressed to form an excellent seal. It comes in sheet form, is flexible, clean and can be cut with normal scissors. You just cut off a strip, wrap it around the spindle and compress with the stuffing box. It will compress about 50%. This foil is Premium Grade minimum 99% Graphite, not automotive grade 96%. The reason for this post is to gauge interest in the product. If there is sufficient interest, I will buy some in to supply to members of CCS/CPL. I will also sell it on Ebay UK but the price to members buying through CCS/CPL will be 20% lower. The technical specs are: Made in the UK No binders or adhesives Standard Carbon content 99% minimum. Standard density 1.0 g /cc. Temp range from - 200°C to + 2800°C in inert conditions. High thermal shock resistance & high electrical conductivity. Very low friction. Tensile strength > 5.2Mpa Leachable Chloride & Fluoride - 50ppm maximum. Compressibility - 47% Recovery - 9% Electrical Resistivity - 900 x 10-6 ohm cm parallel to surface, 250,000 x 10-6 ohm cm perpendicular to surface. Ash Content < 1.0% Sulphur content < 1300ppm Chloride content 50 ppm maximum. A standard sheet will be 10cm x 15cm. The price to CCS/CPL members will be 2.00 UK Pounds per sheet (Ebay price will be 2.40) Postage & packing is extra and will be: Within UK (1st class) - 60p (up to 4 sheets) To Europe (Airmail) - 1.80 UK Pounds (up to 4 sheets) Rest of the World (Airmail) - 2.30 UK Pounds (up to 4 sheets) Charges are based on current Royal Mail prices. Royal Mail usually put their prices up each April, so the P&P charge may have to increase. I have chosen 10cm x 15cm as it is a convenient size for posting and should be sufficient for most users. The P&P rates above are good for up to 4 sheets. A standard roll is 1m wide so I can supply custom sizes if required. Price will be pro-rata the standard size. Postage extra. Orders will be via PM (Private Message) and payment via Paypal. If you might be interested (no obligation) just post a reply to this topic (either on CCS or CPL, no need to reply on both). Best wishes, Terry
Teflon tape will also work for spindles. I used it on my Taiwan-made Optimus 99 clone. In Russia it is frequently used in place of graphite packing on Soviet Optimus 8r clones.
Many thanks for the positive response. A quick update: Thickness The thickness is .35mm. I tried samples up to .75mm but they are less flexible. On a 5mm spindle of an Army No12 Stove the thicker samples cracked/broke apart when wound around the spindle. Heard from the supplier and they are today sending me a sample of .2mm which they left out last time. I'll have a look when it arrives but will probably stick with .35mm. The 2mm would work out about 10p a sheet cheaper but you would have to use almost twice as much so it doesn't make economic sense. Postage UK - The 60p rate is for 1st Class Letter rate which has a 5mm thickness limit, hence the 4 sheet limit to allow for packing. Also includes postage to BFPO addresses. Europe & ROW - The rate is for Small Packet Airmail which has a 100g weight limit but no size limit that concerns us. I am having another look at the packaging method to maintain protection but reduce weight. I'm hoping to up the 4 sheet limit to 6 sheets for Europe and ROW which may help members living in close proximity to combine an order and save postage. Size Sorry all the dimensions are metric but that's how it comes. Delivery As it will be a new account with the supplier, the first order has to be 'pro-forma' which means they will not despatch until payment has cleared. I hope to start taking orders in 10-14 days (I won't take any orders until I've taken delivery). Mind you, at £31 +VAT delivery charge I'm expecting the Queen to drop it off in a horse drawn carriage!
Mark me down for a sheet to try please Terry. Most stuff that I have used in the past has been too brittle and I ended up wasting a lot. Thanks - Steve.
I'll go for a sheet too if i may please , i need to sevice my 111's when i finaly get time shout me when they arrive 8) Thanks Stu
I All ready have mine i got from Peter in Germany.this will work perfectly as one of the collectors on Pelem uses it on all his blowtorches and it works superbly,i have so far replacd all the glands on my petrol blow lamps and several stoves, i have even removed the spindle after i have re packed the packing gland and once the Graphite foil has been compressed it looks exactly the same as a original packing gland made for the indevidual stove. and i am sure it will last and work as good
Final? update: Thickness I tested the new .2mm sample and whilst there is very little cracking when wound around a spindle, it makes no economic sense. We would be paying virtually the same price for about 50% less product. The .35mm has some cracking when wound around a 5mm spindle but not to any great detriment. It actually cracked less than the foil I bought from Germany. There will be more cracking if used on a smaller diameter lamp spindle. I discussed the cracking with the supplier and he explained that we are using the product in a way for which it was never intended. The original stove and lamp manufacturers would have used die stamped graphite rings, but these would be in many different sizes, have to be bought by the thousand and are impractical to supply for 'amateur' use. Graphite foil is used for stamping gaskets and in a multitude of industrial applications. However, it is the best solution for our intended use. He also explained that even if the foil cracks or breaks when wound around a spindle, it will still form a perfect seal when compressed. As an experiment I cut a strip of .35mm foil into pieces, fitted it around the spindle on an Army No12 and then screwed down the stuffing box. Fired up the stove and it was fine. Removed the spindle and the graphite ring was solid and well formed: I have placed the order and expect delivery next week.
Funny stuff this. In fact it softens when heated and will then compress to make a seal and as noted will form to the shape of the stuffing gland. Coleman used graphite for their gland seals and you can take old seal rings and crush them to fine grains and re stuff a gland by adding and compressing a few times applying heat and screwing the nut down until you have a full stuffing box and the graphite will form a new perfect seal. I think you can buy new seal rings from Coleman and they can be crushed and used like this in just about any lamp valve gland. Personally I can't be bothered and use PTFE string. Mind you I suppose that where the gland gest very hot in perhaps a stove then Teflon may not work so well and graphite would be the way to go. ::Neil::
Arrived yesterday and is now ready to take orders. Just waiting for the mods to approve the post on Trading Section (Member Services).
I think the spindle is not supposed to get extremely hot, the temperature is still regulated by vaporizing fuel. Teflon has a melting point of 327C, so it should be fine. However I would agree that graphite is better. I've even heard of asbestos-reinforced graphite being used on some stoves - that stuff is evil.
Hi Terry Graphite sheet is very helpful. I would have one turn graphite sheet to the valve stem. Then i wrapped the string gasket. I tighten tightly to stop the leak. I can moved lightly the valve. Thank you so much. Yuuzou
Hi Yuuzou, Glad it arrived safely and you liked it. Best wishes, Terry PS.. Blatant advertisement - 349 sheets now sold! Any members wishing to buy at 20% off my Ebay price, follow this [url=http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/3294
I used some on a Punker stove. It worked a charm. The original packing was a mess. Thanks Terry. Ken in NC "Wrong forum" Did I just use the word stove here? LOL!!! I have a few lanterns, too.
Hi Terry, I'm going to one day, need some of your adverised graphite substitute roll. I an on with many different lanterns, most weeks, so it'd be appreciated. I've just run out of valve graphites, for many of the American lanterns, I tend to tinker on. Have just scraped by, managing to salvage the lead bush that was in my Austramax 3/300, whilst swapping the valve spindle & eccentric block, over. It wasn't so bad, but I'd have been stuck, if it'd have shelled & crumbled. Do let me know, if it'd be Ok ? Thanks, Regards, Jon.
Hi John. No problem, just follow this [url=http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/3294 which explains how to order. Regards, Terry
Hi Carl. No problem. Go to "User Options" below my avatar on the left and click on "Send user a PT". Send me a PT with your name and address, plus your Paypal email address. I'll then send you a Paypal payment request for £4.60 (2 x £2.00 for the foil and 60p postage. Best wishes, Terry
