Silicone enclosure testing update:
Firstly, lets go for the silicone taste/smell. Day 2 had me worried as could still taste it while using it but did not smell when cold. Yesterday (Sunday) was much better, no smell cold and no taste while using, but could still smell if you put your nose right up to it while warm. Today, no taste or smell warm or cold.
I'm quite happy with the change but please note that I'm not that sensitive the the smell as others may be.
Now for performance. Virtually identical as one would suspect to the wood design. The fit to the oven is much improved and stays in place very securely. I have also changed out the 3 O rings which hold the stainless tube to the 510 base. The units now will have 2 each of #107 size which is a thicker ring and holds the tube on very tight. The pieces all fit together really tight.
The grip on stems is great. Will accommodate a much wider range of sizes.
Durability. Hard to really judge this early but really nothing to break. You drop it and it just bounces away. Just follow it to pick it up. lol. Honestly, like dropping a square rubber ball. For a tear test, I stretched the hole in the first beta unit till it ripped. Of course it ripped at the seam but did not follow the seam and went off to one side. This is good news as indicates the strength along the seams isn't that far behind the rest. As I like to look at the servicing side as well, I performed a repair on the ripped unit using easily obtainable red high heat gasket maker. Colour is dead on. It worked but not as good as using the actual silicone. Concluded this by a second stretch test. Good enough for field repairs though. Or even user mods to conform to any stem one can think of.
Having great weather right now here and hard to pull myself away from pool side to do the stems. We'll get er done though. Nine bases complete and 5 enclosures so not too far behind my commitment of 9 by weeks end.
