Historical Caulking Material 2

[SrVaro]

I have a partial set of drawings for a concrete structure dated 1904. Within the main structure is a cast-in-place concrete pipe (84" inner diameter), the pipe thickness is relatively consistent at top, however the bottom half has a varying thickness such that the outside face is essentially vertical. This pipe was placed first, then larger structure was formed and placed. The concrete slab (floor) of the larger structure was placed directly against the vertical side of the pipe. The two sections of concrete are not connected, ie doweled together. At the top of the construction joint all that is noted on the drawings is "to be caulked in cool weather".

I can not find any historical information of what material(s) would be used for caulking in the 1900s. Does anyone have any historical information dating back to the 1900s that could provide some insight?

Thank you.

 

[dik]

They used to use a fibre material called 'oakum'; could it be that? It was made from recycled jute rope, if I recall... sometimes tarred and many mechanical drainage cast iron pipes the 'fit into a socket' on the pipe below or 'downstream' had oakum caulking. If done in the cold, heat would expand things and maybe make the seal more durable... just a guess.


Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[HTURKAK]

I suspect cotton fibre or rope soaked in coal tar , bitumen or pine tar.. It could be 'oakum' as Mr Dik mentioned.(hemp fiber soaked in pine tar)...

 

[Ron]

Agree with above...probably Oakum. Could also have been a lead-based material, thus the limitation on cold weather...it would have to be heated.

 

[dik]

The plumbing in our old house had oakum (jute) and lead tapped into place between the 'joint' in the old cast iron pipes... I remember as a kid helping my dad replace them...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[dik]

just Dik... real name is Richard... but known as Dik most of my life...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[JoelTXCive]

I still see Oakum on some of our WWTP plant plans when they have pipes penetrating a building wall.... we are a little slow to update things.

 

[JStephen]

This is from Eshbach's Handbook of Engineering Fundamentals, copyright 1936 and 1952, 11th printing of 1966.

 

[dik]

I think that jute was used because it was a softer fibre (hemp could have been used, I dunno) and they actually had an 'offset' chisel like tool, that was hammered that would pack 'solid' lead into the joint. I don't know if the lead was supplied as a bar or wire or whatever but it was used at the turn of the last century.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[DBronson]

SrVaro:

Kidder-Parker Architects' and Builders' Handbook has a ~10 page section on waterproofing ca. 1900. I have the 18th edition, 1935. It discusses both asphaltic and cementitious materials and techniques.

By the bye, to Dik and others the lead sealant used in older plumbing sytems was meant to be installed in the liquid form hence the need for the oakum to prevent the molten lead from running down into the pipe. The cranked chisel you mentioned was for setting the oakum. A special tool was clamped to the pipe to pour a joint in horizontal piping. This system is, I believe, still required in the city of Chicago.

Regards,
DB

 

[dik]

Thanks didn't know that... seen it used for horizontal pipes, too... Didn't know that's what the tool was used for... seemed too robust for packing 'rope'.
Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[HTURKAK]

I don't know if the lead was supplied as a bar or wire[/b] or whatever but it was used at the turn of the last century.]

The lead is melted at site and poured into socket etc with a pot similar to coffeepot.
I remember the procedure,
If the socket joint is for vertical piping ; the oakum or yarn is placed with a cranked chisel and molten lead is poured .

If the socket joint is for horizontal piping (city water network... ) again first yarn is placed then a hemp rope is wrapped at the entrance of socket and clay mud is applied all around . then the rope is pulled out.. The molten lead is poured into the annular space . When lead gets cool, the mud is taken and the lead surface is hammered to get a neat chamfering.

I do not remember (..A special tool was clamped to the pipe to pour a joint in horizontal piping.) which Mr DBronson discussed.

I found the socket detail from the web;

PS ;Who remembers when you need two different keys for one car ?

 

[dik]

Thanks... didn't know the components... I didn't realise the lead was poured in place and thought it was tamped in...explains why it appeared to have been tamped in...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[JedClampett]

Until relatively recently, lead and oakum was all that was allowed in Chicago. Now they allow other types of joints, but it's still in there.
I've seen poured tar or asphalt in old drawings, but I couldn't find any to share.

 

[epoxybot]

There's video

Vertical: Link

Horizontal: Link

I spent a couple days re-chinking my dad's 1920's log cabin, Wisconsin lake house back in 1980.

 

[dik]

Neat... horiz joints are a bit of a problem it would seem.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik