Silk Thread Gasket

[Randy1]

I was watching a "How it is Made" episode this morning the featured the assembly of a 4 cylinder, Lycoming, aircraft engine.  They used a single silk thread with a sealing brushed on as the gasket between the upper and lower block housing.  I thought that was neat and thought it was interesting enough to post.

Silk thread has also been used on Porsche block halfs.

http://www.lycoming.com/Portals/0/techpublications/serviceinstructions/SI%201125D%20%2810-17-2008%29/Alternator%20Crankcase%20Parting%20Surface%20Sealants.pdf


In researching the history of silk thread gasket I found this 1932 Popular Science article that had some neat tricks of the day.

https://books.google.com/books?id=FygDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA70&lpg=PA70&dq=silk+thread+gasket&source=bl&ots=xof_L4OSb3&sig=AG5uAJTvUWXlvRgsuEWHQ8OG6a4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CMkBEOgBMBpqFQoTCIKMuZDKpsgCFQUXPgod7zsMlg#v=onepage&q=silk%20thread%20gasket&f=false

[BuckShot]

Thanks for sharing, neat stuff.

Old Popular Science mags have some of the coolest "stuff of the future" artwork around.

[Randy1]

Glad you enjoyed the find.

There seems to be two different opinions on the use of the silk thread.  One suggest it is a barrier and the other suggest it is a spacer.

So far I have not found the origin of using a silk thread as a gasket.  My WAG is it goes back to beginning of the use of shellac as a gasket sealer.

[bustr]

In an emergency if you have to sew yourself up, use silk thread instead of cotton. Cotton will grow bacteria and cause an infection. You can also use your wife's or hippy son's long hair strands to tie down the oil pan gasket.