I have an old presto pressure cooker, 6 qt. stainless steel. I last
used it about 10
yrs ago. I've tried to look up the model # , 153004 on several sites,
but I don't
even see it listed anywhere . I'm trying to get a new gasket. I've
tried to use it
but it leaks slightly. Anybody know how I can rejuvenate the old
gasket ? I saw
on another site where it says to soak it it light motor oil. Somehow I
don't
think I want to try that. Any ideas? Thanks

mikeob

In article <1944d04c-202d-42a3-b8e4-c5f3dc74dc65
@m3g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, says...
> I have an old presto pressure cooker, 6 qt. stainless steel.
> ... I'm trying to get a new gasket.

Ask around, find the oldest hardware store in the most rural
setting you can find nearby. Take the gasket and pressure
cooker to them. It's never failed for me...

Henry

mikedob wrote:
> I have an old presto pressure cooker, 6 qt. stainless steel. I last
> used it about 10
> yrs ago. I've tried to look up the model # , 153004 on several sites,
> but I don't
> even see it listed anywhere . I'm trying to get a new gasket. I've
> tried to use it
> but it leaks slightly. Anybody know how I can rejuvenate the old
> gasket ? I saw
> on another site where it says to soak it it light motor oil. Somehow I
> don't
> think I want to try that. Any ideas? Thanks
>
> mikeob
I use a little canola oil to lubricate the gasket on my 40-year old
pressure canner/cooker, works okay. You might try this URL for your part
number:

http://www.redhillgeneralstore.com/pcookerpart.htm

mikedob wrote:
>
> I've tried to use it but it leaks slightly. Anybody know how
> I can rejuvenate the old gasket ? I saw on another site where
> it says to soak it it light motor oil. Somehow I don't
> think I want to try that. Any ideas? Thanks

I have a similar problem, caused by the previous owner
of a pressure cooker I bought on eBay. It was stored
with the gasket in place and the cooker assembled, which
compressed the gasket, altering its shape over time.
This is called compression set.

I haven't done it yet, put I'm planning to soak it in
isopropyl alcohol. I used to work at a place where the
swelling of our elastomers when exposed to solvents was
a big deal, and IPA was one of the worst. By swelling
the gasket, I hope to undo some of the compression set.
Now that I think about it, I should plan on a long-term
soak. A blocking factor at this time is that I don't
have a suitable container for soaking the gasket. I've
been considering making a sort of tube out of aluminum
foil, double-folding the seams to prevent leakage.
That could be made around the gasket, including a mouth
into which to pour the IPA. If it didn't leak, I'd leave
it in the garage for a couple of months and see what
happened.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> mikedob wrote:
>> I've tried to use it but it leaks slightly. Anybody know how
>> I can rejuvenate the old gasket ? I saw on another site where
>> it says to soak it it light motor oil. Somehow I don't
>> think I want to try that. Any ideas? Thanks
>
> I have a similar problem, caused by the previous owner
> of a pressure cooker I bought on eBay. It was stored
> with the gasket in place and the cooker assembled, which
> compressed the gasket, altering its shape over time.
> This is called compression set.
>
> I haven't done it yet, put I'm planning to soak it in
> isopropyl alcohol. I used to work at a place where the
> swelling of our elastomers when exposed to solvents was
> a big deal, and IPA was one of the worst. By swelling
> the gasket, I hope to undo some of the compression set.
> Now that I think about it, I should plan on a long-term
> soak. A blocking factor at this time is that I don't
> have a suitable container for soaking the gasket. I've
> been considering making a sort of tube out of aluminum
> foil, double-folding the seams to prevent leakage.
> That could be made around the gasket, including a mouth
> into which to pour the IPA. If it didn't leak, I'd leave
> it in the garage for a couple of months and see what
> happened.


What shape is the gasket? My pressure cookers all have gaskets with
sort of a C shaped cross section, and the steam pressure makes them
expand. If yours is the same way, the compressed gasket may be fine and
it will inflate when you use it. The first time, put a relatively small
amount of water in the cooker and put it over high heat so it will start
to pressurize even if the gasket leaks really bad at first.

Bob

zxcvbob wrote:
>
> What shape is the gasket? My pressure cookers all have gaskets with
> sort of a C shaped cross section, and the steam pressure makes them
> expand. If yours is the same way, the compressed gasket may be fine and
> it will inflate when you use it. The first time, put a relatively small
> amount of water in the cooker and put it over high heat so it will start
> to pressurize even if the gasket leaks really bad at first.

No, it is a flat gasket with a rectangular cross section,
presumably made with an extra temperature-resistant elastomer
because it is the gasket of the infamous Chicken Bucket.

Now that I think about it, I bet someone could make some
pocket change from fabricating suitable replacements.
I saw a gasket alone sell for something like $25 or $35
on eBay, even when there was no indication it was in better
condition than mine.

I tried my CB as a normal pressure cooker as a first step
toward broasting, and it flunked. It seemed to be too thin
as a result of being flattened in storage.

In article
>,
mikedob > wrote:

> I have an old presto pressure cooker, 6 qt. stainless steel. I last
> used it about 10
> yrs ago. I've tried to look up the model # , 153004 on several sites,
> but I don't
> even see it listed anywhere . I'm trying to get a new gasket. I've
> tried to use it
> but it leaks slightly. Anybody know how I can rejuvenate the old
> gasket ? I saw
> on another site where it says to soak it it light motor oil. Somehow I
> don't
> think I want to try that. Any ideas? Thanks
>
> mikeob

Try some silicon grease. It's neutral. I also get a better seal by
wetting it before starting the cooker.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

"mikedob" > wrote in message
...
> I have an old presto pressure cooker, 6 qt. stainless steel. I last
> used it about 10
> yrs ago. I've tried to look up the model # , 153004 on several sites,
> but I don't
> even see it listed anywhere . I'm trying to get a new gasket. I've
> tried to use it
> but it leaks slightly. Anybody know how I can rejuvenate the old
> gasket ? I saw
> on another site where it says to soak it it light motor oil. Somehow I
> don't
> think I want to try that. Any ideas? Thanks
>
> mikeob

If you do find it, read this first.
http://pressure-cookin.com/Presto.html