Steam press repair
Posted: September 8th, 2023, 11:21 am
We have an old steam press which I am hoping to repair. The problem is the element is shorting to the case. The element is sandwiched between two layers of a kind of thermal interface sheeting but at one particular point the metal conductor has worn through the sheeting to make contact with the metal body. The hole in the sheeting is very small and I'm casting around for a good way to repair it durably. Obviously a similar material would be best -- it needs to be mechanically tough (to prevent getting worn out again), withstand the high temperatures of the element and be electrically insulating without being excessively thick (the current sheeting seems to be less than 1mm thick).
I've considered insulating tape but I think the heat would get it in no time and it would wear through quickly. I suspect a superglue repair would also not withstand the heat. I could try to buy a similar material but am far from suitable shops, so was casting about for something I could cannibalise from somewhere else. e.g. would I find suitable material in an old laptop power adaptor or similar?
Any clever ideas gratefully accepted.
GS
EDIT: how about a piece of old sanding disc? That should be tough and withstand plenty heat...
I've considered insulating tape but I think the heat would get it in no time and it would wear through quickly. I suspect a superglue repair would also not withstand the heat. I could try to buy a similar material but am far from suitable shops, so was casting about for something I could cannibalise from somewhere else. e.g. would I find suitable material in an old laptop power adaptor or similar?
Any clever ideas gratefully accepted.
GS
EDIT: how about a piece of old sanding disc? That should be tough and withstand plenty heat...