STAINLESS O’RING TIPS
Occasionally you find yourself needing to remove stainless o-rings while servicing engine blocks or heads. Instead of trying to pick and gouge the wire out, simply strike an arc on them with your tig torch and immediately touch the tungsten to the wire. Wait a few seconds, pull it, and the wire will come away with it. It doesn’t take much. I like to start at the ends where they meet. And speaking of o-rings, when installing the o ring wire, dress/scarf cut the end at a 45° angle. Install it in the groove as usual, and when you get to the final end, mark and cut the wire. Then, with your handheld belt file, dress the end at the same angle and finish the install. The scarf cut will be a little more forgiving than a butt joint and there will be no gap to leak.

Ron Flood
Cedar Machine Service
North Branch, MN
August, 2017