Essential Tips for Purchasing Gaskets

Gaskets are commonly used parts with a wide range of uses in different applications and industry sectors. Whilst their purpose is usually relatively simple, it’s important to follow our top tips for designing, choosing and purchasing gaskets to ensure that you receive the best possible, cost-effective gaskets for your application.

1. Understand how important gaskets are

Although gaskets are often a very simple part, with a simple and straightforward job to do, their importance in engineering and manufacturing operations is often overlooked. Rather than waiting until they start to fail to think about their importance, it’s vital to think about how essential gaskets are for your application when you make important decisions such as material choice.

2. Find the right manufacturer and supplier

When it comes to purchasing gaskets, you should always consult the experts. CB Frost can manufacturer gaskets to your specifications in house in a wide range of materials. If you are unsure about which materials will be the most suitable gasket material for your application, our experienced team can advise you and deliver gaskets that are as cost-effective as possible and meet your performance requirements.

3. Make sure the specification is right

When it comes to deciding on designs and choosing the right gasket material for your application, the specifications have to be correct, otherwise your gaskets are doomed to fail. To ensure that your gaskets do the job for which they are intended for, criteria such as shape, size, thickness and a range of other characteristics must be spot on. If you are unsure about the specifications that gaskets need to withstand the conditions that they will face, you can contact CB Frost.

4. Consider the temperature and conditions of your application

A common factor involved with premature gasket failure is that the material used doesn’t have the required resistance to temperature, UV or ozone. If gaskets are likely to be exposed to extreme low temperatures, or extreme high temperatures, the material chosen should feature the right level of resistance. A material such as HT800 Silicone Sponge makes an ideal gasket material due to its resistance to both very low and very high temperatures, as well as UV light and ozone.

5. Don’t over specify gaskets

Whilst failing to make sure gasket specifications are sufficient will result in gasket failure, this does not mean that it’s necessary to over specify. Sometimes a simple gasket is perfectly adequate for its application, doing the job it is designed for at a lower cost.

6. Always take time to review your gaskets for a better ROI

By consulting the experts and carefully considering your gasket specifications and materials, your gaskets will likely have a much longer life, leading to much lower costs in terms of repairs and downtime, and as a result, the return on investment will be higher.

If you are in need of advice in choosing the right gaskets for your application, you can call CB Frost today on +44 (0)121 773 8494 to talk to our experienced team. We are always happy to help to come to the right decision.