Are these gaskets "high density" gaskets?

[cabinwarmer]

Good Day, I am in need shortly to replace my door gasket on my GM60. I have an OEM kit ordered, but was hoping to find some clarity around the two gaskets I have attached below. Are these "high density"? I read on this forum that HD is recommended. I think they are, but would like your thoughts.

Thanks, Dave

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I just went through this "journey"last year with gaskets, what a fun time that was! I learned that there are 3 types, soft, medium and hard, and finally decided on one at Stove's N Stuff in Emmaus that seems okay but I did have some issues with it.

Is there a phone number on the bagged one, or could you Google it to see if you could find one? I would give them a call asking them about it. And the loose one looks like it was from a stove shop maybe? Would they know?

Good luck!

 

[kennyp2339]

The white one looks like a high density, very tight braids vs the looser fluff but I could be mistaken to

 

[cabinwarmer]

Black is from mid-west hearth. I can contact them, good idea. The white one is from Salters Stove in Hatfield PA. The OEM is on its way via fed ex. I will take a look at all three and see how they compare. Interesting, thanks for the feedback.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

The white one looks like a high density, very tight braids vs the looser fluff but I could be mistaken to

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[begreen]

Go with the OEM, there is more than just the outside weave and visual looks of the gasket that matters.

 

[D. Hermit]

So as someone who restores stoves and runs a gasket kit business on Ebay, the best gasket for your stove is exactly what the manufacturer designed the stove with. This is what its tested with, and how it was designed to operate.
Many modern stoves use majority low density graphite coated gasket. Most all vintage stoves used high density gasket. Which used to be asbestos rope for awhile.

And even the hardware store stuff does not tell you what density it is. (Which was your question)

You cannot tell by just the color if its an hd or ld gasket. My manufacturer here in the usa , can make me any density rope or tape, white or graphite coated, stainless steel mesh, pressure adhesive, tadpole, literally anything. The biggest difference with the gray rope which has the graphite coating, is that it will last longer than plain non coated white rope. Other than that they are still all rated to the same 1000 degrees, and can be any density.

The problem is, some stove companies are pretty tight lipped about what gaskets exactly they use. Because they want you to keep coming back for their oem kits. Some will tell you size but not density. Which is only half the equation. It takes a lot of digging to get ahold of the real proper specs for some of these gaskets.

 

[D. Hermit]

And the loose one looks like it was from a stove shop maybe? Would they know?

Good luck!

Honestly its to the point where even some stove shops dont know what they are giving you. They dont teach the kid at the counter. I just did a service all to a guy to replace his jotul f3’s glass and glass gasket, and door gasket. I get there and he said he went to the main jotul store around here and got glass and gaskets and just needed them installed. I look at the gaskets, both wrong. Both loose 1/4”ld, both not even cut long enough for the job. And this is a Jotul dealer that gave it to him, they have an actual jotul service shop in house. Still gave him the wrong gaskets.

Thankfully I was prepared. And had the correct 1/4ldsa for the glass, and the 3/8ld g for the door.

But even Ive been given the wrong gasket for stoves from dealers because they dont look up the actual part numbers.

This is all why I found myself a manufacturer, I got sick of it.

 

[begreen]

Honestly its to the point where even some stove shops dont know what they are giving you.

Got that right. I bought replacement gasket from a PE dealer in Seattle and they sold me Meeco gold which was so hard it leaked like a sieve. And this was an old guy, no kid.
Many modern stoves have compound gaskets, like a rope woven within a rope. I wouldn't call these low density gaskets, like a Rutland. They're more like a medium density compound gasket. That's why I will only go with OEM now. The new cat stoves and hybrids also look like they want this style gasket which I have not seen at local hardware stores.

 

[D. Hermit]

Many modern stoves have compound gaskets, like a rope woven within a rope.

Those are the newest type, they are called “internal core” gaskets. They are made to increase compression resilience. And no you will not find them at a hardware store.
The core can even be made with a few different things/ways, normally its a just different density gasket in the core.
But again, you will be on the phone all day with the main offices trying to find someone who will actually give you the real specs, or have connections in the industry to get them.

And as for rutland gaskets, I would not put much trust in them, they have their gaskets made in china and shipped over. The consistency is terrible.

 

[kennyp2339]

@Deranged Hermit thanks for sharing your info, thats all knowledge that has never been shared here, love learning something new.

 

[yooperdave]

Aren't some gaskets hollow and some solid? Solid = denser gasket, no?

 

[D. Hermit]

Aren't some gaskets hollow and some solid? Solid = denser gasket, no?

No, all gaskets are solid, its the tightness of the weave that changes density.

 

[cabinwarmer]

Guys, thank you! This all makes great sense and great information. I have an OEM being shipped to me. I will compare visually, but sounds like that might not even be enough data. I can see why now the manufacturer is so tight lipped, and also why the stove shop most the time is lost.