alterntaive to soldering-can't mill O-ring groove
 

Alright, I don't really want to solder my block together, and I don't have the necesary tools to make a precise O-ring groove. So, would I just use an O-ring without a groove?

Assuming both surfaces were flat, and I could compress it fairly evenly (8 screws), it should be water tight right?

Or should I use like some rubber sheeting or something? I'm not sure what would make a watertight seal. I mean, there isn't going to be that much ressure on it. Just a via aqua 1300 pump, a Jr-120 radiator, and another block.

People around here are using RTV silicone, epoxy etc I think. Ive seen some articles on overclockers.com of people using a rubber gasket style seal - I guess with these rubber type seals, you could just make one, throw it together and run it for a few days and see if it leaks. Id check it every few months though, if i made one, depending on the type of rubber.

I'm sure one of the whores around here will help you more that this tho ;)
(yes, you know who you are)

If memory serves right, Swiftech uses "only" gasket and screws on their blocks and they seem to work nicely.

ummm i think that the latest swiftech block is "soldered", and up untill then they were using some sort of flat sheet type of gasket.

i would use RTV if i were you

You could use some "instant gasket" it uses in engines to create a seal. Can't see why it wouldn't work. Just make sure the 2 copper plates are dead flat.

Why do you not want to solder. If you needed to take the block apart just blow tourch it!

Buzz

I want to be able to easily take it apart.

I'll check out that instant gasket stuff.

I'm running the risk of being a pain but why would you need to take the block apart. The only reason i can think of is to clean it but this can be done my soaking the block in coke, ketchup, lemon juice etc.

Also if you live in UK that instant gasket stuff can be found in Halfords.

Buzz

I'm not really sure why I want it, it just seems liek I would always be wondering what was inside it, like if anything was blocking the channels or anything.

Then, eventually I would get curious and desolder it, and have it end up being a huge pain for nothing, I just can't resist with stuff like this. I know, I'm wierd.

I'll check around for that stuff. I will also be using screws, so it just has to work like a gasket.

Theres relly no reason to use an o-ring unless you are using a poly top. The so called 'instant gasket' stuff is the way to go.

You definatly would beinift from being able to remove the top and clean the block properly. :)

neoprene rubbery plastic sheet is what i use, i goto add that stuff works wonders... resistant to everything

anyway get like 1.5 or 2mm roll of it

got a link? sounds promising.

i made a silicon gasket. i squished silicon between two sheets of wax paper, let it dry, then cut it to the desired shape. with some silicon grease it seals pretty good.

neoprene looks like a good choice, when i opened my silverprop evo-s it looked like that was what they used, it quite supprised me as iv never heard of it being used as a gasket! :)

I don't think that you need an O-ring groove. Just tighten the top to the bottom like mad. The issue is keeping the O-ring where you want it until it is tightened, I believe. To fix that, however, you could just put the screws tightly around the O-ring, so they are touching, and then the O-ring has to stay where it is.

I have asked about this before, but I was basically told, it didn't have enough surface area or something. I'd think that with some good bolts/nuts you could just crank the shit out of with a wrench and you'd be good.