The summary of ‘I Make a Lead & Oakum Joint’

This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.

00:00:0000:10:32

The video provides a comprehensive tutorial on the traditional plumbing technique of making lead and oakum joints. It begins with an introduction to the process and required tools, including a Turbo Torch and various types of irons for packing and yarning. The creator draws from personal experience as an apprentice, emphasizing the labor-intensive nature of the method. Key points include the importance of using gloves to keep hands clean, techniques for tightening and packing oakum—a crucial oily rope that seals joints—and the proper use of different irons for horizontal and vertical pipe fittings. The speaker also highlights the necessity of ensuring tightness and correct fitting to prevent leaks, and the value of traditional skills in modern plumbing practices. The video concludes with an encouragement for plumbers to understand and share historical techniques for greater proficiency and potential financial gains.

00:00:00

In this part of the video, the creator introduces the process of making a lead and oakum joint, an old-school plumbing technique. He mentions it’s a skill he hasn’t used in a while but can still be quite handy. The video explains the tools needed, including a Turbo Torch to heat the lead and various types of irons for packing and yarning. The creator shares a personal anecdote about his experience as an apprentice, highlighting the extensive toolbox his mentor had. He then explains how oakum, an oily rope, seals the joint by swelling when wet, and describes other necessary tools like different sized ladles and running ropes. The segment emphasizes the detailed and labor-intensive nature of performing lead and oakum joints.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the speaker demonstrates techniques for tightening a running rope and emphasizes the importance of gloves for keeping hands clean during the process. A running rope is essential for horizontal joints to hold the lead in place, but not for vertical joints where the lead naturally fills to the top. The speaker then introduces various yarning and offset irons, explaining their specific uses for packing and finishing joints. The steps involve using different tools to pack Okum into pipe fittings correctly before pouring lead. Finally, the speaker prepares to heat up the lead and pour it into a joint, demonstrating proper fitting alignment and packing techniques with a Santee and Y joint.

00:06:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the process of working with twisted oakum, emphasizing its tightness and correct fitting. They demonstrate using an iron as a level and twisting the oakum to ensure proper placement. The speaker explains that with thick oakum, usually only one wrap is needed, and it’s important to overlap to avoid holes. Checking and packing the depth is crucial, and the final packing iron should be marked at one inch for accuracy. For horizontal pipes, a running rope can be used to prevent lead leakage, and the iron serves to pack lead down tightly around the joint. The speaker advises against letting debris into the joint and prefers a single, smooth lead pour to ensure a cohesive piece. They then pack the lead carefully, starting from the outside and pushing it inward, using offset irons for tight packing under fittings.

00:09:00

In this part of the video, the presenter demonstrates how to properly use an offset iron and an inside iron to pack lead tightly into a joint, emphasizing the importance of traditional plumbing techniques. The presenter mentions receiving a message from a plumber who can only use modern fittings like press or push-to-connect and stresses the value of understanding traditional methods, even if they are not commonly used. The video aims to educate plumbers about the history and techniques of their trade, encouraging them to share this knowledge with others for increased proficiency and potential financial benefits.

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