FAQ

There are seemingly endless methods for cutting gaskets from foam, rubber, plastic, fiber, metal, or any other material. Gaskets can be die-cut, CNC machined, waterjet cut, molded, extruded, vulcanized, roll cut, and fabricated using dozens of other methods. Blaylock Gasket & Packing’s team can help you select the method that is most efficient and economical for your application.

Custom gaskets are not expensive. Advances in technology have made both small and large production runs affordable. Custom gaskets are often among the least costly components in a machine or assembly.

Some gaskets, even custom parts, can be cut and shipped the same day they are ordered. Blaylock Gasket & Packing does not charge in-house expedite fees either.  Nothing brings us greater joy than getting quality parts to our customers in a more expedient manner than they normally anticipate.

It depends! Factors to consider when selecting a gasket material include temperature, chemical or substance exposure and environment. Other factors like uneven sealing surfaces, frequent removal of lid or plate and life expectancy of equipment all play a key role in determining which material is best for your application. Fortunately, Blaylock Gasket & Packing’s management team has decades of combined experience in the sealing industry and is ready to discuss your special application.

Several factors can cause a gasket or seal to leak. Much of the time, the leak is the result of the wrong material or type of gasket being used. Other times, gaskets may simply be at the end of their life, with factors like weather and chemicals exacting a toll over the years. Blaylock Gasket & Packing’s team will be glad to help you determine a cause for your sealing failure.

Blaylock Gasket & Packing is honored to work with individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations. We started nearly 40 years ago with a single press in a dairy barn, and we will never forget our roots. Every great idea or company began as an idea in one person’s mind.

Some popular materials in the oil and gas sector include Buna Nitrile, Viton™ or FKM, Silicone, Cork Products, and Fiber materials. However, every application has unique elements. Because Nitrile worked with your last project, there is no guarantee it would work best for your current application. Blaylock Gasket & Packing’s team can help you evaluate all variables and find a material suitable for your unique situation.

How hot are we talking about? With many applications, Blaylock Gasket’s Silicone, Sponge, and Rubber can withstand operating temperatures north of 450F. There are non-asbestos sheets good to temperatures north of 800F. For even toastier applications, MICA, fiberglass, and ceramic products are available for even higher temperatures. Blaylock Gasket offers ceramic fiber materials capable of operating in temperatures exceeding 2000F. As with any application, it's best to consult an expert. Blaylock Gasket & Packing is proud to have been your sealing source since 1983. 

Blaylock Gasket offers dozens of materials renowned for their ability to tackle ozone, UV, sunlight, weather, fungus, and other environmental concerns. EPDM rubber is a popular choice for its outdoor stability, but every application is different and should be discussed with an expert. Blaylock Gasket offers multiple sponge products as well, great for weather stripping, sealing, and more. Our team is glad to help.

Yes! Many of Blaylock Gasket & Packing’s materials are available in a food-safe version, compliant with FDA specifications like 21 CFR 177.2600. We offer Neoprene, Nitrile, Silicone, Viton™, EPDM, Gum, sponge, and other materials that offer some FDA compliance. Your representative can explain further.

NSF/ANSI 61 is the national standard for materials that may be exposed to drinking water. In many applications involving drinking water gaskets may be required to meet this standard. Blaylock Gasket & Packing offers several materials that are NSF 61 compliant, and are used frequently by municipalities, water departments, and private manufacturers.

When it comes to the chemical compatibility of your sealing application, it is critically important to consult an expert. Oftentimes, a material may be great with one chemical, but another ingredient may cause the gasket to dissolve. It’s impossible to say one gasket material is ideal for chemical compatibility. Materials like PTFE and Viton™ are popular, but their functionality can never be assumed. With all gasket sealing applications, testing should always be done to ensure the gasket works. 

Absolutely! O-rings can be molded, extruded, and spliced or vulcanized from cord stock. While Blaylock Gasket offers hundreds of standard sizes, we also manufacture custom O-rings from Neoprene, Nitrile, Silicone, Viton™, and more!

Durometer is the measure of how hard or soft a gasket material is. Lower durometers are softer and higher durometer are harder. There are several “shores” for measuring durometer.

SHORE A: Most common for most rubbers and foam materials. Common range is 30 Durometer to 90 Durometer. Although softer and harder materials are available. As an unscientific point of reference an eraser is around 30-40 durometer, and a tire tread is 60-70 durometer.
SHORE D: This scale measures hard materials like stiff polyurethane or plastics.
SHORE 00: This scale measures soft materials like sponges and foams.

Simply put, Viton™ is an exceptional material offering high resistance to elevated temperatures, compatibility with oil and gas applications, and terrific resistance to many chemicals. With any gasketing application, it’s best to discuss all variables of the application with a sealing expert.  Blaylock Gasket & Packing is a proud manufacturer of Viton™ products. Viton™ is a trademarked material offered by Chemours™.

Viton™ is the trademarked brand name fluorocarbon fluoroelastomer owned by Chemours™. FKM is the generic callout for fluorocarbon fluoroelastomer materials.  Many grades of Viton™ and FKM are available. Blaylock Gasket & Packing is a proud manufacturer of both Viton™ and FKM products.