Where to get O-rings?

Status
Not open for further replies.

bombastinator

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 12, 2010
13,298
26,511
MN USA
If you have a micrometer you can measure them and buy ones of the same size online or from an auto supply store. Silicone O-rings of a given diameter and thickness are generic parts. It is also possible to make O-rings from silicone rod of the correct diameter. This process is usually reserved for quite large O-rings though.

Digital micrometers are quite cheap these days and are harder to damage than the mechanical ones though they are still fragile.
 

Horselady154

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 15, 2013
1,535
4,285
United States

bombastinator

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 12, 2010
13,298
26,511
MN USA
Actually I've been into auto mechanics for years, but don't have micrometer. The ones I will need are for the topfill cap that is 22mm (O-ring is just a tad smaller and not very thick) Don't know if they are rubber or silicone though... it's black.
UPDATED:
Basically all o-rings are silicone these days. there are apparently all kinds of materials used to make o-rings. I thought they were all basically just different types of silicone, but this is apparently not true. It just works better than rubber. Particularly for high temperatures which is something attys experience. Even if they are rubber (which again they aren’t) I’d say go silicone anyway.

The only remaining {natural} rubber ones are special purpose, used for antiques, and are generally square sectional. I didn’t have a micrometer until fairly recently. I’m not an engineer or a machinist. They’ve gotten cheap. They used to be wildly expensive and incredibly fragile and something only an engineer or some kinds of tradesmen would want to shell out and care for. These days they’re not that much more expensive than a good tape measure. Still a bit delicate but not nearly as bad as it used to be.
 
Last edited:

Mordacai

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Jan 16, 2019
4,235
7,639
UK
@vaper1960 EPDM, FKM and FFKM are good choices as well for o rings. Just look for the types that are used for food and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

EPDM is the least hardwaring, and FFKM is the most hardwaring. And they're much better than Silicone.

Also, don't forget Shore Hardness with the materials that they use to make o rings, the higher the number the harder it is to compress and the easier it stays in shape.
 

bombastinator

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 12, 2010
13,298
26,511
MN USA
@vaper1960 EPDM, FKM and FFKM are good choices as well for o rings. Just look for the types that are used for food and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

EPDM is the least hardwaring, and FFKM is the most hardwaring. And they're much better than Silicone.
Aren’t they both simply types of silicone?
Also, don't forget Shore Hardness with the materials that they use to make o rings, the higher the number the harder it is to compress and the easier it stays in shape.
 

Tig7

Super Member
Aug 29, 2019
362
2,141
Blue Ridge Mtns.
For measuring o-rings these calipers will be plenty accurate enough 6 in. Digital Caliper

Just don't squeeze the ring when you measure use a light touch. Calipers are easier to measure o-rings than micrometers.

McMaster Carr is another source fo get them from.

I was a Tool Maker for nearly 40 years and measured many an o-ring and machined many a groove that they fit in.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Mordacai

puffon

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
  • Sep 18, 2014
    5,928
    15,765
    Florida
    • Informative
    Reactions: bombastinator

    kross8

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Feb 20, 2016
    2,406
    15,278
    stuck in a squishy pod called my brain
    I have bought a lot of orings from FT,,, watch the star ratings,, higher is better because other people were able find a fit,, be flexible with the sizing. Read the reviews tons of good info,,, even the reviews of discontinue products because someone may link you to the correct orings.

    Many of the lower ranked orings I have are simply too thick to use in any atty- lesson learned!
     

    bombastinator

    ECF Guru
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Sep 12, 2010
    13,298
    26,511
    MN USA
    For measuring o-rings these calipers will be plenty accurate enough 6 in. Digital Caliper

    Just don't squeeze the ring when you measure use a light touch. Calipers are easier to measure o-rings than micrometers.

    McMaster Carr is another source fo get them from.

    I was a Tool Maker for nearly 40 years and measured many an o-ring and machined many a groove that they fit in.
    I didn’t realize there was a difference. When I said “micrometer” I was referring to basically that exact device. I bought mine in a different place but it looks identical right down to the button colors on the plastics. It measures down to hindredths of a millimeter and I was able to get accurate measurements of single thicknesses of paper. Iirc the packaging actually said “micrometer”. A caliper to my memory is a pair of arced pieces of metal that are screwed together at the top.


    Just looked up the difference:
    What’s the Difference Between Calipers and Micrometers

    It seems to a certain degree to be which is most useful for measuring what.

    I suspect it is a term that varies by time and by profession.
     
    Last edited:
    • Like
    Reactions: Mordacai
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    Users who are viewing this thread