Pipe joint compound

Nov 23, 2003 21 Replies

Even more fun is to try to get such a (rusted) joint apart...

JW> Brian Laws JW>

JW> Yeah, it used to be real fun making those poured lead joints on horizontal JW> CI pipes. We used something a bit like a piece of a V-belt to temporarily JW> block around the opening of the joint. It had a clamp holding it together JW> at the top leaving an opening into which you poured the lead. I never saw JW> one seal perfectly, we were always hopping around to avoid dribbles and JW> splashing molten lead.

JW> When the lead cooled we used offset "caulking irons" to whack the lead JW> down into the joint to insure a good seal.

JW> The guys who've never used anything except PVC pipes with glued joints JW> sure don't know what they missed.

JW> Jeff JW> --

JW> Jeff Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

JW> "If you can smile when things are going wrong, you've thought of someone JW> to blame it on."

JW>

Oakum is coarse, it is nothing like lampwick, which is like super fine thread.

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