Just finished replacing the lead washers/seals on my Petromax, screwed the components to where I thought I had a good seal. Using a little soap and water mix, and noticed the joints leaking like a sieve. What’s the deal with lead washers/gaskets, is there some magical property or are they used because “that’s the way we’ve always done it”? I’m sure that there is better gasket material out there, has any one tried them? Thanks Mike
They function well but sometimes you need two of them to get the right position. Off coarse thickness must be OK and you can't adjust them a "little backwards". It is a one way tight fit or not....
Thanks I get how lead gaskets/washers work, and they are a onetime use. But, there are better materials out there: neoprene, Vitron heck even the old cork-rubber gasket material. And most are not a onetime use like lead. So I’m guessing the question is has anyone tried gasket material other than lead for these lamps?
Hiya Mike, I think lead gives you a greater scope to get whatever needs sealing in the right position provided lead is thick enough, I make my own out of lead flashing an use 2 pieces, once the item is tight you will find you can get another full turn on it which squeezes out the lead it never leaks then. Using viton an the likes would probably be difficult getting the item that's being sealed in the right place as once seal is squashed that's it unlike lead the at can be squashed a great deal more. Just my thoughts. Gozzy
Neoprene isn't good with solvents or UV so I'd scrub that. Viton is far better for our purposes but I don't know if it substitutes for lead...
Hi Mike, In my experience a lead washers can be used a few times at best. It needs to be replaced if it doesn't make a seal anymore. Maybe you could tighten it a bit more, maybe not. Lead washers can be home-made from lead (no surprise ), if you don't want to buy official Petromax lead seals. I have a piece of roofing lead that I just cut a small strip from. -Then I wind the strip around the part, at the location where the old washer was. -Then I screw it on. That does the job for me Please follow this link for more tips on making lead washers. Cheers, Peter
Surely the main reason for using lead is the conduction of heat. If Viton or similar is substituted then that may put a heat insulator where a heat conductor should be. Parts run hotter than intended and have a short life.
The main reason would be that lead is easy. It's very soft and therefor makes a seal easily and is easy to cut/bend/form. Just have or cut a piece, apply it and tighten it.
