ISI Modification/Gasket question

I am wanting to finally jump in and buy a whipping siphon and am leaning toward the ISI brand. My question is I have read a bit about switching out the gasket in a profi to a silicone gasket from a gourmet so I can do warm stuff. My question is, is the gasket univeral for all profis?

I have seen some models on ebay that are all stainless (I think). Seems the ones they make now have the rubberized portion at the top that you hold on to? On the Gourmets and Thermos that portion is red, and it appears the Profi's are black now? The ones I am looking at do not have that portion, will the silicone gasket still work on those? I'm on a budget and it seems like buying 2 older profis for $35 and gettng the gaskets is a much better idea for the wallet.

I am on a budget and the older ones seem to go for very cheap. Any insight on what I should look for interms of stamps (do they stamp only aluminum or stamp stainless too) and models to buy so I can modify?

Find more posts tagged with

What About Tools?

Comments

Ben_Johnson_34605

The tops are slightly different, although the gaskets are interchangeable. I was speaking with the ISI North America rep and he explained that valve had been redesigned on the newer tops(the red ones) to cope with the higher temp/pressures. Apparently there had been some rare instances where the old style had failed. As you can see above the old style were much easier to disassemble and clean, however the new ones can not be taken apart(easily). As long as you keep the valves clean and replace the gaskets and o-rings as they where they should be fine doing warm stuff. I mean in all honesty how often are you doing things that are super hot? That being said, when the rep saw how we took them apart for cleaning he was a bit surprised as I guess it is not recommended by ISI. Hope this helps! Cheers.

lockgavin

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171481433037

Those were the ones I was looking at. What do you think? I have no clue about the stamp and all. $20 a piece though is nice.

It is also confusing that the gaskets work on both but they are so different looking. Silicon has the tab and doesn't seem as wide as the flat rubber one.

DiggingDogFarm_65362

The Gourmet red silicone gaskets work on both the .5 and 1 liter Profis that I have.

I can't speak to the older style, but I would guess that they're also compatible.

Best to ask iSi directly.

BTW...Gourmet or Profi "Pro" have a stainless steel head...without the "Pro" designation the head is aluminum.

HTH

lockgavin

Is an aluminum head a bad thing?

lockgavin

I ended up picking up a new .5l gourmet plus for $40. Seemed like a decent deal to me. Let the fun begin.

Nicholas_Gavin_68199

You should make the American Toast!!

DiggingDogFarm_65362

That is a good deal.

DiggingDogFarm_65362

The aluminum is anodized so no major disadvantages....the stainless is just more durable.

Frenchman_262870

I bought a Profi Pro and compared it to a Gourmet Whip. While the head gasket is easy to change and replace with the red gasket of the Gourmet Whip, the head valve also seems to have a couple differences: 1/ the top gasket looks like rubber and not silicone, so if there really is an argument against rubber with heat, then this may get damaged and would need to be replaced; 2/ the valve is shaped differently inside too, which may or may not allow for different flow/different consistencies of preparations inside the whipper. Also, if you care about these things, the head of the Gourmet Whip is polished while that of the Profi Pro is brushed (and of course, the bands around the head are red and black respectively).

I bought the Profi for the replaceable head but wonder if its head valve's top gasket might be damaged by heat. Or maybe the whole heat thing is a red herring.