Sealing the WTC

[mark v11c]

I have an old Darnell U Boat and have had the perspex lid off the WTC all over Christmas whilst trying to experiment with the ballast system. It seems to be smeared with something to help with the seal.
It smells like Vaseline, or should I be using something more specialised?
(I did explain to the wife that KY Jelly wouldn't do the trick as it's water soluble. Bless her!)

[JWLaRue]

Re: Sealing the WTC

It's very likely to be silicone. Feels and acts a bit like Vaseline, but is usually clear.

-Jeff

[Guest]

Re: Sealing the WTC

The seal is more than likely to be silicone itself, so don't go using silicone grease on it, because it wrecks silicone seals. Vaseline is safe on nitrile and silicone rubber. I always though it rotted silicone, being petroleum based, but apparently it does them no harm at all. I tend to use nitrile seals on my boats, silicone is softer, so handy when you want something abit more compliant.

[chuck chesney]

Re: Sealing the WTC

I believe that the silicone that Andy (Sub Culture) is speaking of is the silicone that is easy to find at almost any scuba shop. They use it to lubricate various components in a scuba outfit. It's inexpensive, heavy , clear, comes in a plastic tube, and is water proof. Also, it won't degrade the various rubber-like seals on the model. It's good stuff....

[Guest]

Re: Sealing the WTC

Nope, I wasn't referring to that.

Most of the watertight boxes I've seen use a formed in place gasket. This is usually made using silicone rubber caulking.

If you use silicone grease on silicone rubber, it makes the rubber swell up- not good.

Silicone grease is generally suitable for any type of rubber seal, except, paradoxically silicone rubber seals.