Replacing silicone ring seals

[Devout Skeptic]

I'm referring to the seals used on canning jars with glass lids. They eventually wear out, and if you buy a jar at an estate sale or a thrift store, it often comes without one.

The seals come in standard sizes, and most jar lids do, too. When I need a seal, I find one in the drawer where I keep such things, and I'm in business.

Usually.

Some jars don't take the standard sizes. For example, I've got a couple of Oggi stainless steel canisters (not for canning, but same principle) that don't take any seal I can find. One is bigger than the biggest I can find, and the other is just in-between. And I've got a set of three Anchor Hocking glass jars whose lids are just a tiny bit too small, so the standard seals work, but they fall off each time I lift the lid

I've written to Oggi and Anchor Hocking. Oggi never replied. Anchor Hocking told me commendably fast that the canisters are discontinued and they can't help me.

Does anyone know a solution to this problem? A source for seals in odd sizes, or some way to get an airtight (not necessarily canning-quality) seal without them?

 

[forty_caliber]

You could always cut one yourself. Check out this material.

https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Material-Cushioning-Anti-Vibration-Anti-Slip/dp/B0CSYD5SFD/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CK-qd7xFUv7ecRFdERiev_xfzM8vuJVXAaBvKmuhlY3tNP6WQSU7I2SRAJam70UldtZGORENToJ7P37bXnoBIUovIM_YCSgaG1xngH-4FLL4QgJWAPu4H4pOZmCusD0HrBot4nChHbqh2hYf4UQJqVl2aDFQakz11C0D69je90anJyejGZzMzwwroa5MbZlbB1MiklIytRzQGQAJ4eGacHx3-3rX0anBc23kkgO024I.Yh8lsVPhaOOJhbZbuVOKHp1-XbAgltIJMd8rbVWEMKI&dib_tag=se&keywords=silicone%2Brubber%2Bsheet&qid=1759802355&sr=8-4&th=1

.40

 

[rodentraiser]

Check eBay. You'd be surprised what is offered there. I'll need to do that soon myself because I have one loose seal and I need to replace it.

 

[dragnlaw]

@forty_caliber think your link needs a few adjustments to work, but that's OK. You gave enough of a hint I just tried 'Silicone material cushioning' and there seems to be a lot of choices on Amazon.

Thanks! I've been looking for various sizes for sealing jars. So thanks again - I had no idea where to look.

 

[forty_caliber]

@forty_caliber think your link needs a few adjustments to work, but that's OK. You gave enough of a hint I just tried 'Silicone material cushioning' and there seems to be a lot of choices on Amazon.

Thanks! I've been looking for various sizes for sealing jars. So thanks again - I had no idea where to look.

Weird. Link is working for me. Here is another attempt. Sorry for the confusion.

https://www.amazon.com/Neoprene-Insulation-Anti-Vibration-Anti-Slip-Stripping/dp/B0BKQRN7S6/ref=sr_1_4?c=ts&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WvQoFi_XaVMuqh4ZRp05xdTF4lBKuP1KL71rHMHv59gWPwZGN_Pj6agHdMTegPlOU-jVc-OZwlUliXQfd0eHcLg0nzVBHcdcQZqZGrrfFtdNcKe8iUnX2SwigGJSygjQoApr6RQptJnXRPPWRomkYK6nLB89rtWHpJuPzQE72hDkJLREV1rc3GxU5ZtoRFReWJtCaOkvxzfJnm_DlcwBQajFr4dulXYzfMIcjTJwaBHi1CIOkJ2N90IfQhYAeAkZXMc9fqB_e6nxce9VTaC9x-aaQQDWkEJRFDKX3jkDpp8.86CauSdG7XyMe4ZLfxzLFDwIxkamHyqh9G7_qtLhrZ4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Rubber+Sheets%2C+Rolls+%26+Strips&qid=1759804331&s=industrial&sr=1-4&ts_id=11260355011

.40

 

[Devout Skeptic]

@forty_caliber Thank you for a great backup plan if eBay doesn't come through. Do you have any hints on cutting the stuff in a reasonably even way? It looks daunting.

 

[forty_caliber]

@forty_caliber Thank you for a great backup plan if eBay doesn't come through. Do you have any hints on cutting the stuff in a reasonably even way? It looks daunting.

Scissors would work well. Trace out the old gasket with a sharpie and just go for it.

 

[taxlady]

The first link worked fine for me. It brought me to a page with silicone sheets for seals, etc. The second link brought me to a page with Neoprene rubber sheet for seals and stuff.

 

[blissful]

I only know about replacing the rubber gaskets for regular mouth canning jars and wide mouth canning jars (made by mason, kerr, harvest....a dozen manufacturers).

item 61] 1 dozen replacement rubber rings wide mouth (rings only) ~ bu

1 Dozen WIDE Replacement Rubber Rings ONLY (no lids) ~ Bulk Packaging ****Tattler Rubber Rings are designed to be used only with Tattler Lids. We will not accept responsibility or liability for results when using them for anything other than their intended purpose and doing so is at your own...

www.reusablecanninglids.com

They need to be replaced every 10-15 uses. Plus you'll know to replace them if they fail time after time.
Another place to find replacement gaskets made of rubber or silicone is on amazon.

 

[Devout Skeptic]

I'll answer my own question about how to cut a seal out of a silicone sheet... with the caution that I haven't tried this, only read about it.

You use a circle cutter, also called a compass cutter, which is like a compass (for drawing circles) except that it has a blade on the moving arm instead of a marker.

Amazon sells them for prices from $7 to $35 or so. They're designed for cutting a variety of different materials: paper, cardboard, glass, etc. I didn't see any specifically for silicone, so the trick will be figuring out which kind is most suitable.

I don't think I'd trust a home-made seal for canning--at least not without a lot of testing--but for my purposes (chiefly storing dry food products) it'll be fine.

 

[dragnlaw]

I had seen replacement lids and rings but always for specific types of jars. Never the ones in sizes I needed. LOL
Thanks guys, all this is very informative.
I have a couple of glass containers with glass lids who's rubber is shot and not sealing. And some that just plain fell apart and are gone.
Need them mostly for pantry, not canning.

 

[dragnlaw]

@forty_caliber sent you a message showing how to use the link icon. Hope it helps!