Annealing aluminum head gaskets technique by Captn Ed?

[Darrell]

I can't find it now, but I'm sure Captain Ed posted an annealing technique for aluminum head gaskets to this forum.

What stands out is that he used a candle flame to cover the gasket in carbon before heating...the rest I don't remember. The Chat Group search function is leading me nowhere on this. Thanks!

[Bullfrog]

The best plan is to use a new head gasket . . . but when you can't . . .

Harry T. demonstrated this for me back in the 1970's

- blacken one side of the aluminum head gasket with a candle flame (HT actually used an oxy-acetylene torch with oxygen turned off)
- hang the gasket from a wire (or pair of wires)
- gently heat the head gasket all over with a propane torch till the carbon black "evaporates" from the surface of the gasket
- let the gasket cool while still hanging from the wire(s) - do NOTHING to speed up the cooling
- when cooled off, the gasket is ready to re-use
Ed

[MTrat]

Thanks for another great tip to help keep these old buggers running!

[Bill2001]

I've heard of annealing a copper gasket but not an aluminum one. Makes sense, tho.

And the carbon (nanoparticle) is a good idea, too. The aluminum gasket and the steel cylinder have different rates of expansion when heated and the carbon provides a little lube. Much like the "copper paint" we used on chevy headgaskets when we were kids.

[taber hodaka]

We were guided at the time in the 60's to bake them in a oven. I did spray them with aluminum paint back then or used new. every thing worked. I did remove machine marks from some heads. -----------Clarence

[Bullfrog]

Bill, the carbon black gets "evaporated" off completely. It is used as an indicator that the aluminum has been raised to high enough temperature to anneal.

Clarence, HT also used aluminum paint (silver-aluminum-paint, not paint made to stick to aluminum).

Ed
PS: If your shop tools include a toaster oven for heating stuff, then it could be used wayeee more easily than a torch. I'd have to look up the proper temp for annealing aluminum. Do NOT use the kitchen oven. No. (any explanation needed on that one?)

[admin]

Speaking of Harry Taylor.......
Yesterday was an unfortunate anniversary of his passing three years ago.
His beautiful bride Patty had a mild stroke the other day she is doing better but please keep her in your thoughts and prayers..
Sorry to hijack this thread..
Paul

[Darrell]

Update:

The reused head gasket is effectively sealing. I also had forgotten about the aluminum spray paint trick so I took that measure too.

The gasket warped a bit after annealing - maybe one area got overheated. I was keen on saving this gasket because it is one of the New Age oversize gasket/cooling fin units that don't seem to be available now.

Hope that Patty Taylor's stoke was minor and that she makes a full recovery. The area paramedic and ambulance is only blocks away (Main St.) so maybe a quick response made a positive difference.

[Bullfrog]

The gaskets will deform while annealing, but when done they are quite soft so the warps "press out" quite easily in use with no negative effects.

Note that multiple re-uses of a head gasket will result in a thinner gasket and deformed bolt/piston holes. Using a new gasket is almost always the best plan.
Ed