New Seal For Mason Jars

[Guderian]

I make my own pickles and keep them in mason jars with rubber seals. Over time some of these seals have deteriorated, the rubber has begun to crack and perish, so I need to make some new seals for the jars. Does anyone know where I could find a sheet of thin strong rubber suitable for cutting into new ring seals for my mason jars? Thanks for any ideas.

[harrry]

Don't know but you could try Macro as they sell the jars there for 35 and 55 baht with the gaskets.

[Guderian]

Don't know but you could try Macro as they sell the jars there for 35 and 55 baht with the gaskets.

I've looked in Makro, and the jars I use are big ones, 1 1/2 litre capacity. These cost 98 Baht new in Makro, but I bought mine years ago and the neck is a different size anyway. As there's nothing wrong with the jars themselves, I don't want to throw them away, I just need to make some new seals, which should be possible to do for next to nothing.

Is there anywhere that would sell good quality rubber about 2 mm thick? I'll have a look in some local hardware stores tomorrow, I was just wondering if anybody else had made new seals, so perhaps they could point me in the right direction.

[AyG]

Can't help with finding sheets of rubber, but a handful of years ago changed to using Leifheit jars - much more convenient in my opinion. They fit much better in the preserving pan, easy replacement seals. Better all around. Available at Verasu.

http://www.leifheit.de/en/leifheit/products/product-details/kategorie/einkochen-konservieren/produkt/einkochglaeser.html

[harrry]

I would be a bit worried about the taste but could try an old truck inner tube.

[lopburi3]

He might be better getting a new inner tube? But would it be thick enough? A thicker option might be some of the mouse pads as believe have seen some made of rubber. But they might be on the over thick side.

[Guderian]

I would be a bit worried about the taste but could try an old truck inner tube.

He might be better getting a new inner tube? But would it be thick enough? A thicker option might be some of the mouse pads as believe have seen some made of rubber. But they might be on the over thick side.

I'm not sure about hygiene and inner tubes. Also, the curvature of the surface is going to make accurate cutting to size difficult. Do you think that any rubber will do, or does it need to be treated in some way to resist the acidic effects of the pickling vinegar?

Mouse mats would generally be too thick, I was thinking along the lines of a cheap non-slip rubber table mat (though the ones I've seen are plastic rather than rubber). Or the sort of non-slip rubber floor mat that might be used in a bathroom.

[p_brownstone]

There are dozens, probably hundreds, of different items manufactured from "Rubber" and most have specialist Composites or Additives included during the manufacturing process to make a particular type of "Rubber" suitable for that specific application.

Condoms

Inner Tubes

Squash Balls

Refrigerator Seals

Flipflops

etc. etc..

All can be made from "Rubber".

Yes, I guess you could cut up or otherwise adapt any of the above to use as a replacement Seal but none would be in any way "Food Safe" - and for the price of a new Mason Jar (Baht 98.- ! Please, let's not be silly!!). Why take the risk of poisoning yourself and your family to save Baht 98.-?

Patrick

[Guderian]

Patrick, your post perhaps indicates why the world is in such a mess. For the sake of some new rubber seals that would probably cost 5 Baht each if I could buy them you suggest throwing half a dozen perfectly good large Mason jars away. Personally I'd rather try and find some suitable replacement sealing rings. Your points on the food risks of just using any old rubber are well taken, and that was my original feeling, but surely there must be rubber available out there somewhere that is suitable for use with foodstuffs? I've tried Googling the question and searching Amazon, but haven't found anything so far. IMHO, it's a shame that society is so utterly wasteful.

[Riley'sLife]

I managed to replace some of my jars' seals using the replacement seals sold for electric food mixers. I can't remember how much I paid for each one, but they must have been "peanuts" or I would have remembered!

[Guderian]

I managed to replace some of my jars' seals using the replacement seals sold for electric food mixers. I can't remember how much I paid for each one, but they must have been "peanuts" or I would have remembered!

Sounds possible. Do you remember where you got the replacement seals? I can't say I've ever noticed them on the shelves in Tesco Lotus or Big C. Home Pro maybe?

[frankie52]

I think I've recently seen what you are looking for in a shop called either Kitchen Magic or Pantry Magic, I can't remember which, in the new complex on the corner of Thonglor Soi 8. The cost was, I believe, 50 Baht each.

[h90]

I can make some of these seals from food grade silicone. But it would be very expensive. On the other side, that material should last forever (I never tested, but it is a material industry quality, not low home use quality).

If you find it in a store, it will be for sure cheaper....