Need help with fiberglass rope

[golfpro2301]

I am currently coming to the end of a fridge conversion. I know I need to put some fiberglass rops around the door to get a good seal. I have never dealt with fiberglass rope before so I need to know whether it has some cushion to it. I have a 1/2" gap between door and smoker box. I would like to get the best seal possible and was thinking of going with 3/4" thick rope. Will the rope compress 1/4" for a tight seal or do I need to go with a smaller size because there is no play in the rope? Also, does it matter if it has graphite in it. Just wondering if the graphite will come off and get into the food. I would appreciate any help and I will post some progress pics when I get a chance.

 

[daveomak]

GolfPro evening...  I sealed a fridge build with 3/4" manilla rope and high temp sealant.... It worked well.....  I think the glass rope is better.... you may have to build up the gap with wood strips or something or slide a smaller size rope inside a larger one to make it bulkier....  Have you looked at the glass gasket material yet to see what is available ??....  Dave

Here is some that may fit the bill.......

http://www.allstategasket.com/info_boiler_gaskets_ropes-01.asp

 

[dp34]

This is what I used on my stump-a-rator so do a lot of builders. The fiberglass one. The tab makes it easy to install with scews or poprivets.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#tadpole-gaskets/=ideuq3

 

[daveomak]

This is what I used on my stump-a-rator so do a lot of builders. The fiberglass one. The tab makes it easy to install with scews or poprivets.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#tadpole-gaskets/=ideuq3

dp, morning.....  Great lead.!!!!  First time I have seen that type of gasket.....  It is in my fav's for future info to builders.   Thanks...

Dave

 

[sqwib]

Golf pro

I used glass rope and its woven and hollow yes it will compress, however 1/2" is a pretty big gap and may be sloppy in between.

mine compressed from 1/16 up to 1/8 in some areas.

Secured mine with rtv

but after reading dp34's post, I would consider them as an alternative.

Worse case scenario... rip it off and do over.

 

[foxriversmokin]

GolfPro, I found a local wood stove place that carried a bunch of different spools  of Meeco's gasket rope.  What I found is that they make ones that compress a lot, and some that are really firm.  I had about a 3/4" gap to seal, and they had a 7/8" rope that was really firm and hardly compressed at all, and it worked great.  They also had 7/8" rope that compressed down to 1/2 it's diameter, and that wouldn't have worked at all for me. I got lucky they had what I needed, or I would have had to order online and hope for the best.

Some pics of the gasket here:  http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/123804/coronad-freezer-smoker-build

The stuff that DP posted looks pretty slick, with being able to just rivet down the flange.