Iron pipe lead joints

[kendall yates]

What is the lead from cast iron pipe joints? Is it usually pure? Thank for the help.

[Gerry N.]

"Plumber's Lead" is as close to pure as you're likely to find. It may be a little dirty from the oakum under it in the joint, but that'll burn right off.

Gerry N.

[kendall yates]

Is the oakum like horse hair that they used for packing the join to keep it from running out?

[Mk42gunner]

I worked for a plumber in high school; and we tore out a few cast iron drains. From what I remember the oakum/packing/whatever was put in the joint prior to the molten lead, to keep it from running down the pipe.

Robert

[briang]

From what I understand the oakum is what actually seals the joint. The lead just holds the oakum in place and when the oakum gets wet it swells and makes the seal.

[JIMinPHX]

Poured pipe joints are usually done with dead soft, but you never know what some local plumber may have had laying around on a particular day 20 or 30 years ago. It can vary.

[Pepe Ray]

Check with the sellers/distributors of commercial pipe. In the '70's one of them was promoting a substitute called "Leadite". NOT good for boolets. A hammer and chisel should help determine the character of your inquiry.
Pepe Ray

[Hardcast416taylor]

For over 35 yrs. I made water/waste material flow downhill not up. We used a set of "chinking"tools specially shaped for packing the oakum into the joint before doing the lead. I must be the exception to some of the comments about the type of lead sometimes used because I only used new pure lead. Maybe that was 1 of the reasons I kept busy, honest pricing and top notch products and I kept my pants pulled up. :-D Robert