Need drybox gasket material... ideas?

[OkKeith]

I have an old military drybox I am revamping to carry gear in on float-hunts. Its has an (approximate) 8"X14" top that needs a new seal to make it "water resistant". If I used some sort of O-ring it would need to be something like 24" across (no math applied here, just guessing). Its an old 1950s instrument case and made out of fiberglass. I have used it since the late 1980s and it just needs some TLC to be serviceable for another 30 years or so.

Any ideas for the material to tuck down in the groove around the top?

Thanks for the help.

OkKeith

[Hermon]

weather strip gasket?  Possibly run a bead of RTV sealant and let cure before closing lid?

[Keefer]

Not sure what it looks like or how deep of a groove you have but Lowes has this spool of foam round gap seal that is about 3/8" or 1/2" round by about 12' long and resembles rope and not expensive at all.
 I use it in gaps and you can squeeze it to tuck in gaps etc. and it expands back to fill gap then caulk or whatever you want.It will be in the weatherstrip isle for doors etc.
 There is also a tube of plumbers goop in a purpleish tube that is weather proof and water proof.It comes with a nozzle to use and is around $5.00 a tube    

[OkKeith]

Glen-

I didn't consider a "squirt-in" alternative. That might work.

Thanks Glenn!

OKeith

[OkKeith]

Hey Keith... thanks for the info!

Its a pretty small groove. I will see if I can post a photo.

OkKeith

[Zradix]

Stuff like Keefer brought up is fairly easy to find. Mostly seems to be about $15-30 or so and I've seen the round stuff in 1/4"
Not sure if you're trying to just get it "ok" and cheap?...or really trying to do it right.

The correct o-ring (if that is what was in there would be the best.)

Maybe something like this...cut to width and length would work for ya to...it's cheap..

   https://www.lowes.com/pd/Frost-King-10-ft-Black-Rubber-Foam-Window-Weatherstrip/3047980

[Keefer]

Now here's another idea if the gap is very small and at Lowes as well.
  Screen spline is kind of like a "O" ring but comes in packages and could do the trick? Just use a screen roller to help push in !
 Just trying to help solve this for you..    

[OkKeith]

At one time I had foam glued in and used it to pack camera gear. I used it a lot when I worked for our Department of Wildlife and was shooting 200-300 slides a week for the magazine. Hard to believe it was all film cameras back then. We had pre-paid developing envelopes we could mail from the field. In two weeks or so the boxes of slides would show up at the office.

I am gonna have to scrape the old, hard gasket out and putting something else in.

Here are some photos (I hope).

OkKeith    

   

[OkKeith]

Well... That didn't work.

The plan is to put my Svea 123 backpacking stove, a small cook set with coffee and edibles in the box and leave it under the seat as a "I'm cold wet and need a break" kit.

Let's try this again. Take two!
 

[/img][/IMG]  
 

[/img][/IMG]  
 

[/img]p://[/IMG]
 

[/img][/IMG]

[OkKeith]

John and Keith-

I think we are on to something now with the weather stripping or the screen spline.

I would like to get a good seal. At least a good enough seal that if it goes overboard it will hold air and float until I gather it up. It has zero floaty foam and will be kinda heavy.

I sure appreciate the help!

Okkeith

Plastic liner bag from duluth pack.  We are wet footer canoe trippers. We throw canvas packs inside wet canoes, into water when loading and unloading.   A small replaceable liner bag that will fit and allow the top of the bag rolled up, will keep anything dry.

[glass76]

Surgical tubing in the correct size is what the dry-boxes I have had used.

[Hud]

If the box has hinges and a lock, check rubber moldings that might fill and seal the surface. Some are thin with an adhesive back. A camper supplier, automotive parts, Home Depot or Lowes.

[JamesV]

The rubber O ring material used on lids of 5 gal plastic buckets is aprox. 3/16-1/4"

[alaninoz]

An O-ring making kit. A length of O-ring material of the correct diameter with a tube or bottle of cyanoacrylate adhesive to join the ends after cutting to the correct length. Used for making O-rings in the field.

[Blackstick]

2X what alaninoz said.

[OkKeith]

Hey Guys...

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions! I have to.be in D.C. for several days and will see what all might work when I return at the end of the week.

Thanks again,

OkLeith