Sears/Kemore water softener venturi gasket

thingiverse

This part is a critical component of the venturi assembly for many Sears/Kenmore water softeners (part #82 in the sketch). You can purchase this exact gasket from Sears Parts, but you'll be forced to buy the plastic venturi part as well. The total cost for the kit will exceed $30, and my experience tells me that you only truly need this gasket. It should not cost more than a quarter. Even with the inclusion of the plastic venturi, the price shouldn't surpass a couple of dollars. This is the kind of outrageous pricing that makes me want to find an alternative solution. Before I obtained my 3D printer, I crafted one of these gaskets using a tire patch and xacto knife. It functioned correctly and was extremely inexpensive, but it was challenging to create accurately. This is my 3D printed version. I utilized TPU because that's the material I have on hand. Ninjaflex or TPE would also work well. Print Settings Printer: FlashForge Creator pro Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution:.1 Infill: 100% Notes: I highly recommend printing at 100% infill for maximum seal. My prototype was printed at 25% because that's my default setting, and I forgot to adjust it. It still works just fine, but if/when I print another one, I will make sure to use 100% infill.