Gasket Scraper or razor blade?

jaymac · Jun 24, 2005

I'm getting ready for my head swap, and notice when I was scraping the lower to prep it, the razor blade could catch and gouge at the aluminum on the egdes, and had a hard time getting everything off. Obviously the block is iron so gouging shouldn't be a problem, but when I do get to cleaning the block, should I use a gasket scraper, the solid metal ones w/ a handle like a screwdriver, or just a razor blade?
Also, I got MEK, now how should I apply it for best results? Rag? Soak? Rub? Brillo?
Any tips would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Jeremy

giddyup306 · Jun 24, 2005

For aluminum stuff spray the gasket with brakekleen or carb cleaner. Then use a razor blade but pull it BACKWARDS so you don't gouge the aluminum. It works great. For the block I use a pnumatic gringer with a SOS pad like deal on it or a regular gasket scraper.

Curse · Jun 24, 2005

jaymac said:
I'm getting ready for my head swap, and notice when I was scraping the lower to prep it, the razor blade could catch and gouge at the aluminum on the egdes, and had a hard time getting everything off. Obviously the block is iron so gouging shouldn't be a problem, but when I do get to cleaning the block, should I use a gasket scraper, the solid metal ones w/ a handle like a screwdriver, or just a razor blade?
Also, I got MEK, now how should I apply it for best results? Rag? Soak? Rub? Brillo?
Any tips would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Jeremy

Both will work and both can gouge your block, it is more how you use them. I would vote for a gasket scraper with a handle, it is a lot easier than gripping a razor blade with three fingers.

JRPony · Jun 24, 2005

For aluminium, I like to use a bronze wire wheel on a die grinder. But if you don't have one, a razor blade held at a relatively horizontal angle will work fine. You won't gouge the metal unless you're really going at it.

jaymac · Jun 24, 2005

if you use a razor blade handle, then which one is better?

PeteyAce · Jun 25, 2005

when i took my olde headers off my stock block, i used a razor blade and 40 grit fine sandpaper. the razor blade was flat as was te handle to the blade. i went to autozone b4 to ask for a gasket scrapper, were i was asked what a gasket was.

Curse · Jun 25, 2005

PeteyAce said:
when i took my olde headers off my stock block, i used a razor blade and 40 grit fine sandpaper. the razor blade was flat as was te handle to the blade. i went to autozone b4 to ask for a gasket scrapper, were i was asked what a gasket was.

jaymac · Jun 25, 2005

yeah, Advanced Auto around here is better w/ tools...
Autozone sucks.

PeteyAce · Jun 25, 2005

no, i tihnk the best was i bought a slide hammer there and they asked what i was doing to my car. i said changing my clutch, and im going to put in a new pilotbearing. then to which i was asked,"is it manual or automatic"

351LX · Jun 25, 2005

I use an old wood chisel that I picked up at the pawn shop.I sharpen it on a flat sharpening stone and then I round the two corners slightly so that they can't scratch.It works well.

TheUser · Jun 25, 2005

PeteyAce said:
no, i tihnk the best was i bought a slide hammer there and they asked what i was doing to my car. i said changing my clutch, and im going to put in a new pilotbearing. then to which i was asked,"is it manual or automatic"

Gasket scraping sucks no matter what you use lol. I have used both. I deinfately would recommend the handle if you're going to use razor blades. I really can't say one is better than the other.

I guess I'm lucky, the people at autozone here know a little about cars and have helped me with a few things. I guess some of them could be morons.

Daggar · Jun 25, 2005

My favorite tool (that I now ONLY use for scraping gaskets) is a pretty little 4" pocket knife that my x-wife got fr me years ago. The blade is very wide which is great for laying it flat along the surface that I'm scraping. The blade is fairly dull and would not cut paper or string or much of anything else for that matter, very well. It DOES have an edge on it though (If that makes sense. I can't think of a way to describe that better). It's dull enough that it does not scratch up the surface but sharp enough that it slides between the metal and the gasket material. It works pretty well. I just use a wire brush to clean up the tiny little stuff that's left behind.

Gasket Scraper or razor blade?

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