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This is an innovation on a technique created by others more clever than I to to replace the bags on the easy valve system. With proper care, the valves can last, effectively, forever. Inexpensive, readily available oven bags can be used in place of the crinkly volcano bags. If you've never replaced the factory bags on your easy valve read other techniques on the topic. You'll need some familiarity with the process in order to follow these directions.
I was frustrated with the bag replacement process. I am familiar with two basic tenchiques:
One, in which you bring the bag through the inside of the ring and over the outside. Then you place the black rubber grommet over that and force it back into place. This process had a couple of problems. The bag tended to get gummed up with vapor quickly because of the excess in the middle. Also, having so much bag hanging over the inner ring makes it difficult to lock the ring back into place. Often times, the black grommet would bulge out of the bag slightly. Getting the bag even around the ring required a bit of an artisan's touch.
Another, in which you place the ring inside the bags opening and place the band over that. Then you trim up the excess just above the ring's edge with sharp scissors. Again, you snap it into place. This is a major improvement in several ways. The bag no longer goes through the inner ring, so the middle doesn't get as gummed up. There is no bag going over the top of the ring, so the ring pops into place more easily. But this technique still requires a gentle touch to get the band around the ring. And getting the bag even is difficult. And, these bags wear out quickly because the vapor gums up on the bunched up bag near the valve.
With both of these techniques, thicker bags made the valves harder to assemble and dissasemble, but thinner bags tended to get stickier more quickly. This technique will work with any type of oven bags. The thicker style of bags work well. The thinner Reynolds bags also work well. The bag won't be bunched up near the valve, so it will glaze the inside of the bag much more evenly.
Here's what to do:
Dissassemble the valve. This is an excellent time to dip everything in 99% isopropyl alchohol. A quick rinse and a good drying with a lint-free towel will keep the valves from getting gummed up from being reused. You may choose to do this every other time.
Unfold your bag. You're going to put the ring inside of the bag, all the way at the bottom in the middle, just above the seam.
The flat face of the ring should be facing the plastic.
Then you're going to wrap the grommet, ouside the bag, around the ring, fitting it into the groove. This should be easy, and if the ring moves and inch or two, it doesn't matter. Just make sure the band isn't going over the seam.
Once you've done that, the ring should be inside the bag, banded to the outer wall by the grommet which is outside the bag, with the plastic forming a "drum head" over the flat side of the ring.
Now, you're going to use a sharp pair of scissors, or razor blade, to cut around the edge of the "drum head." Cut it as neatly as possible, until you've cut a circle of plastic away.
Now, snap it back into place. It will snap back easilly because only a very small amount of plastic is under the grommet.
Next use a small rubber band (this is a hair band) to close up the open end as neatly as possible.
This is what it looks like inflated.
Instead of using the big giant opening the bag comes with, you've added a neat little bulkhead to the side of the bag.
These balloons get less gummed up from repeated use. They are easier to dissasemble because of the small amount of plastic under the grommet. They are easier to assemble for a number of reasons.
I hope someone else find this information useful.
I was frustrated with the bag replacement process. I am familiar with two basic tenchiques:
One, in which you bring the bag through the inside of the ring and over the outside. Then you place the black rubber grommet over that and force it back into place. This process had a couple of problems. The bag tended to get gummed up with vapor quickly because of the excess in the middle. Also, having so much bag hanging over the inner ring makes it difficult to lock the ring back into place. Often times, the black grommet would bulge out of the bag slightly. Getting the bag even around the ring required a bit of an artisan's touch.
Another, in which you place the ring inside the bags opening and place the band over that. Then you trim up the excess just above the ring's edge with sharp scissors. Again, you snap it into place. This is a major improvement in several ways. The bag no longer goes through the inner ring, so the middle doesn't get as gummed up. There is no bag going over the top of the ring, so the ring pops into place more easily. But this technique still requires a gentle touch to get the band around the ring. And getting the bag even is difficult. And, these bags wear out quickly because the vapor gums up on the bunched up bag near the valve.
With both of these techniques, thicker bags made the valves harder to assemble and dissasemble, but thinner bags tended to get stickier more quickly. This technique will work with any type of oven bags. The thicker style of bags work well. The thinner Reynolds bags also work well. The bag won't be bunched up near the valve, so it will glaze the inside of the bag much more evenly.
Here's what to do:
Dissassemble the valve. This is an excellent time to dip everything in 99% isopropyl alchohol. A quick rinse and a good drying with a lint-free towel will keep the valves from getting gummed up from being reused. You may choose to do this every other time.
Unfold your bag. You're going to put the ring inside of the bag, all the way at the bottom in the middle, just above the seam.
The flat face of the ring should be facing the plastic.
Then you're going to wrap the grommet, ouside the bag, around the ring, fitting it into the groove. This should be easy, and if the ring moves and inch or two, it doesn't matter. Just make sure the band isn't going over the seam.
Once you've done that, the ring should be inside the bag, banded to the outer wall by the grommet which is outside the bag, with the plastic forming a "drum head" over the flat side of the ring.
Now, you're going to use a sharp pair of scissors, or razor blade, to cut around the edge of the "drum head." Cut it as neatly as possible, until you've cut a circle of plastic away.
Now, snap it back into place. It will snap back easilly because only a very small amount of plastic is under the grommet.
Next use a small rubber band (this is a hair band) to close up the open end as neatly as possible.
This is what it looks like inflated.
Instead of using the big giant opening the bag comes with, you've added a neat little bulkhead to the side of the bag.
These balloons get less gummed up from repeated use. They are easier to dissasemble because of the small amount of plastic under the grommet. They are easier to assemble for a number of reasons.
I hope someone else find this information useful.