Hey all,
I’ve been working on a few small reproduction projects lately — currently also developing a replacement WGP Select Fire switch — and wanted to share another one that might be useful to the VM-68 crowd.
I’ve been recreating the original hammer seal for the VM-68, since as most of you know, the factory part isn’t a standard O-ring and can be a pain to replace properly.
Using measurements from original parts and the Paint Magazine teardown, I modeled a flat urethane seal that matches the original geometry:
Instead of die-cutting from sheet (which is what most replacements have been), I’m making these using a mold process so they behave closer to the original molded parts.
Material:
What I’m offering:
The goal here isn’t just to sell parts, but to make sure these markers stay serviceable long-term. The hammer seal is one of the few non-standard pieces that tends to hold people up.
I’ve test-fit the design against known hammer dimensions (0.73" tip OD, 0.072" groove width, etc.), and it should be very close to the original function-wise.
I’d also really appreciate hearing from anyone willing to help test these (I'll send you some free)— I don’t currently own a VM-68 myself, so real-world feedback would be extremely helpful before I finalize anything.
If there’s interest, I’ll post some test results and photos once I’ve run a few batches.
I’ve been working on a few small reproduction projects lately — currently also developing a replacement WGP Select Fire switch — and wanted to share another one that might be useful to the VM-68 crowd.
I’ve been recreating the original hammer seal for the VM-68, since as most of you know, the factory part isn’t a standard O-ring and can be a pain to replace properly.
Using measurements from original parts and the Paint Magazine teardown, I modeled a flat urethane seal that matches the original geometry:
- Flat-sided (not a round O-ring)
- Sized to fit the hammer groove correctly
- Designed to install with proper stretch and seal against the body tube
Instead of die-cutting from sheet (which is what most replacements have been), I’m making these using a mold process so they behave closer to the original molded parts.
Material:
- Urethane (targeting ~90A durometer)
- Slight edge radius to reduce wear and drag
- Designed to seal without excessive friction
What I’m offering:
- Finished hammer seals
Ready-to-install replacements for VM-68 rebuilds - DIY mold kits
For anyone who wants to cast their own:- Mold designed specifically for this part
- Works with common urethane casting materials
- Lets you make batches as needed
The goal here isn’t just to sell parts, but to make sure these markers stay serviceable long-term. The hammer seal is one of the few non-standard pieces that tends to hold people up.
I’ve test-fit the design against known hammer dimensions (0.73" tip OD, 0.072" groove width, etc.), and it should be very close to the original function-wise.
I’d also really appreciate hearing from anyone willing to help test these (I'll send you some free)— I don’t currently own a VM-68 myself, so real-world feedback would be extremely helpful before I finalize anything.
If there’s interest, I’ll post some test results and photos once I’ve run a few batches.
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