How do you know you when you have used enough oakum to seal a lead caulked drain joint for a 4 inch pipe? Do you tamper it down with a tool? Anything else I should know about using oakum?
2006-11-25 17:47:58 · 6 answers · asked by Jack C 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
THE OAKUM GETS PACKED INTO THE COAXIAL GAP BETWEEN THE HUB AND THE END OF THE PIPE YOU ARE JOINING TOGETHER. THERE IS A TOOL THAT IS SHAPED TO DO THIS. THE ONE END IS SHAPED TO FIT INTO THE GAP AND GO AGAINST THE OAKUM. THE OTHER END IS MADE WITH A PLACE TO HIT WITH A HAMMER. IT VERY MUCH RESEMBLES A METAL(NOT WOOD) CHISEL WITH TWO BENDS IN THE SHAFT ALLOWING YOU TO COMPRESS THE OAKUM INTO THE GAP. WHEN YOU HAVE THE GAP FULL TO ABOUT 1/2 INCH FROM THE TOP OF THE HUB YOU FILL THE GAP WITH MOLTEN LEAD AND AS I RECOLLECT WE USED TO FINISH BY HAMMERING THE LEAD IN A LITTLE BIT TO FINISH. THE LAST TIME I DID THIS WAS ABOUT 1941. NOW DO THIS WHOLE OPERATION IN A 6 FT DEEP DITCH WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF MUD AND ON A HORIZONTAL RUN. THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
2006-11-25 19:01:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oakum is natural fibres mixed with tar compounds, and used for caulking hulls and planked structures that must not leak, like water containers, small lock gates etc. So yes, it is used for boat seams. Mostly the fibres are hemp or jute, but historically old rope was stripped to individual fibres in prison workhouses. Any natural fibre can be used, but the two mentioned are basically what you will get today if you buy some. Hemp is considered the better.
2016-03-12 23:17:31 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never made one of these joints, but I did disassemble one to tie in new ABS plumbing to the old plumbing. From what I saw as I took that joint apart, you want to pack the oakum (hemp fibers) into the joint until it forms an almost immovable mass that centers the male end of the pipe in the flange, you want to leave about 1/4-1/2 of an inch of the flange devoid of oakum so that you have room for the layer of lead to seal the joint and lock the pipe into place. There likely is a tool that has been made at one point to pack oakum into joints, but I wouldn't know the name of it or where you could find one. I think that the most important part of packing the oakum is getting the pipes centered. I hope that this helps you on your task, as it is difficult to find any Plumbers who still work with plumbum (lead).
2006-11-25 18:08:54 · answer #3 · answered by nathanael_beal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oakum Packing
2016-11-10 01:38:47 · answer #4 · answered by gay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
start with a few strands of oakum pack it in there pretty tight they make a tool for packing it but you can use a long screw driver or flatten a piece of pipe once you get the first few pieces in make sure your fitting is in place and where you want it continue to pack it using your tool and a hammer pack it in there stop this process when there is about a one inch gap from the oakum to the end of the fitting melt your lead and pour your joint if it's a vertical joint just pour it in if it's a horizontal jjoint you will need a oint runner soak it in oil before you use it once it's poured you need to pack it with special lead tools
2006-11-26 05:29:19 · answer #5 · answered by drain-king 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each strand is approx. 1/2"od, 18-27" long each
Contains no tar
Caulks tight, packs well
Expands when wet
2006-11-25 18:07:54 · answer #6 · answered by kam_1261 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋