Leaking glass

You don't need luck,,, you'll do fine.... I use a battery operated dremel with a wire wheel to get rid of old cement... I never ever use cement again... I've used HT silicone in the gasket groove,,, plenty tacky and once dry it holds fine.. Next time you go to change a gasket,,, super easy to remove old silicone.. Cement is like grinding glass, trying to get it off.. Cordless drill and a wire wheel works well too... Get a few wire wheels for the dremel as they seem to take a beating but give you fine control when removing the old cement in places that you don't want to hit the paint.. Once the gaskets are in place close everything up and let the silicone dry.. If your putting in your own pipe damper,,,measure well..If
the holes are off it will most likely bind... I'd measure and drill each hole separately. Measure the pipe circumference mark one side then split the difference... Just make sure you duplicate the other hole measurement from the bottom of the pipe up..

 

Lol...I will do it or will mess up and re do it....

 

Stove gaskets are pretty easy like has been said. The key damper, you drill one hole then put the damper rod through that hole and push a slight outward dimple on the other side of the pipe so you know where to drill. To get exact and level measure from the top of the pipe down through to the rod.