Just received my first set of cometic head gaskets. Quite a departure form the fel-pro gaskets I have been using for years now.

Any tips on the best usage or any pitfalls to avoid? I assume everything is the same as far as installation. I have been told they don't need to be re-torqued

Just torque them down and forget they are there. They wont fail.

that is what is what I hoped to hear. Just hard to wrap my mind around the loose layers at the bore's edge

Haven't used them on my boat motors but used to use that brand on all my race motors in my jet skis. Had more in those than in the small blocks in the scarab. Just as here money wins every time. They definatly were different than oem but never a problem on my 2 strokes.

To look at them , you would wonder how they seal but I've used them in a number of engines with both steel and aluminum heads and never a problem

They were the answer with my Procharged motor. No problems since.

Can they be re-used after the initial use and torque application?

A legendary engine builder, Lee at Lab engine strongly recommends them.
I like Felpro, but Cometic really is the cutting edge in performance gasket technology.
Cometic provides so many more different bore sizes and thicknesses than anybody.
Whatever the cost, they are worth every cent ! BBB

Reusable? Or is it one use and they are out?

Anybody?

Cometic says yes as long as you measure them and they come up to .015 thicker than the compressed thickness. I dont know if I would, too much work if one leaks.

The key is to not let any debris get between the layers. That might be hard after using once. If I was going to reuse, I probally would apply copper coating to the gasket. A friend of mine does that every time. I just use them bare and open the package right before I install it to keep it clean.