Perfect pump washers!

The best way to make silicone washers for the Alvey Slim Bore bait pump:

Grab a 78g tube of Geocel Aquarium Sealant, about £4.50 but this will make about 10 x 10mm washers.


Carefully cut the top end off, wet your finger and smooth the silicone flat


Leave it for a week or so, turn the tube upside down, then cut the other end off and smooth the silicone flat.
Now put it somewhere warm where it can set through. Mine usually takes about six months, but even before that I can start slicing the ends off to form the washers.
I use a sharp fine toothed saw with the tube held in a vice. Move the saw quickly with little pressure so you don't crush the tube and mis-shape the washers.

Carefully push the silicone washer out of the cut tube, wash the silicone dust off and drill a 5mm hole through the centre with a sharp bit.
.......... Simples !

nice 1 steve where do you buy the Geocel Aquarium Sealant

Just about any tropical fish shop, I get mine from one in Poulton.
I've seen it on Ebay but the postage cost makes it sense to buy locally.

It is just clear silicone, but it's stronger and permanently flexible as its made for sicking sheets of glass together to build fish tanks, so it's far better than builders silicone sealant.
It says on the tube it's guaranteed for 10 years.......... but I can't see them sending a replacement tube for every 10 knackered washers!

thanks steve
i think you did mention this way before to me does it still take 6 months near the boiler

Ron

When I make my washers I get a medium sized spud, put it on the floor, hold it between your feet & push your pump through.
Put some wide masking tape over the hole on one side.
Cut the silicone nozzle about half way down so you get a good flow.
Put it in the hole & start to squeeze, dont pull the nozzle out, let the hole fill & the silicone come up round the nozzle, this will stop bubbles & ripples forming.
Leave it for 2 weeks to cure then push the plug out.
You can refill the spud/spuds if you want.
Put the dry plug somewhere for another couple of weeks to go right off.
Carefully slice into 2 or 3 depending on the thickness & push a BBQ meat skewer through the middle.
This makes seals in a lot less time & it works.

good idear cliff

i filled an old handle bar grip of a push bike same size same effect jonty

just had i thought cliff i bet a pump makes i great spud gun

Spud rifle.

Moscowmale wrote:The best way to make silicone washers for the Alvey Slim Bore bait pump:

Grab a 78g tube of Geocel Aquarium Sealant, about £4.50 but this will make about 10 x 10mm washers.
Carefully cut the top end off, wet your finger and smooth the silicone flat
Leave it for a week or so, turn the tube upside down, then cut the other end off and smooth the silicone flat.
Now put it somewhere warm where it can set through. Mine usually takes about six months, but even before that I can start slicing the ends off to form the washers.
I use a sharp fine toothed saw with the tube held in a vice. Move the saw quickly with little pressure so you don't crush the tube and mis-shape the washers.
Carefully push the silicone washer out of the cut tube, wash the silicone dust off and drill a 5mm hole through the centre with a sharp bit.
.......... Simples !

Can you tell me when you cut the washers do you cut them to the same size as the rubber ones or do you cut them to the full size of all the washers put together?
Have you tried both ways and if so is there a difference?
Thanks

no the washers when i do mine i cut 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch so in all you will have 2 metal washers and the silicone in between them then your
wing nut. the therid on some pumps differs so if you cut 3/4 inch to begin with and you carnt get the wing nut on you can then always
trim the silicone to fit the bigger the silicone the better suction as the wing nut will squish the silicone together if your silicone is to thin
it will split after a couple times out.


Ron

jazzman wrote:no the washers when i do mine i cut 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch so in all you will have 2 metal washers and the silicone in between them then your
wing nut. the therid on some pumps differs so if you cut 3/4 inch to begin with and you carnt get the wing nut on you can then always
trim the silicone to fit the bigger the silicone the better suction as the wing nut will squish the silicone together if your silicone is to thin
it will split after a couple times out.


Ron

Will try that, fortunately went to find some silicone in the garage and noticed that i had left a tube open last time i used it, which was over a year ago, took the top off and its solidified so will be able to cut a washer to try it next week.
cheers

a warm welcome to the site g4jnw can you fill in your profile when you get a minuet cheers
and congrats on being our 100th member

h4ppy-chris wrote:a warm welcome to the site g4jnw can you fill in your profile when you get a minuet cheers
and congrats on being our 100th member

Thanks have updated my profile and signature - 100 ooooo

nice 1 bud
good pic of bobby ball i met him once in a pub on the 1st date with my wife

to the site pal hope to meet up some time jonty

h4ppy-chris wrote:nice 1 bud
good pic of bobby ball i met him once in a pub on the 1st date with my wife

And kaz choose you over bobby ball
I met bobby ball when i was about 12 i asked him autograph what a misrable sod he was

welcome to the site mate