When plumbers were craftsmen

[bourbon]

whatever the alloy, It will still kill something coming out of a gun

 

[cardiffrob]

I only kill paper, in a controlled environment. Golf is far more dangerous.

 

[cardiffrob]

Curious. Do Plumbers still get taught to use lead? Is there anything in the curriculum for working lead or is it now not used. If not, what is the job title for someone who makes the lead flashings and troughs round roofs and chimneys? [Strangely, this website thinks that 'rooves' is a mistake as a plural of roof]

 

[Cobbler]

Back in about 1980 & working for BT, or GPO in those days, I was sent on a lead plumbing course for repairing old lead cable joints. I was told at the time that this was the last course they were running, although I understand that there were some after. On some of the main cables, the sleeve covering the joints could be 2'6 long & about 9" in diameter, you try wiping a joint on that! Thankfully I never had to do one that size in anger, as it were, although I did plumb some of the smaller ones. I moved onto other work soon after, so didn't get involved after.

Some of the older men I worked with had done it all there working lives & were excellent plumbers & could make up a lead sleeve, dress the ends down onto the cable & plumb it without batting an eyelid, all long gone, replaced by fibre optics.

 

[Mattuk]

Found this, almost a shame to be ripping it out

All formed by hand with a big bar of solder, the cap at the top is hard to do as well

View attachment 154508

Makes the modern stuff I do look easy

View attachment 154509

Copper pipes fitted vertically ?
Clips fitted in a neat horizontal line ?

Are you sure your a plumber
I have seen work done by "plumbers" where I am sure my cat could have done a better job ( And that cat has been buried for a least 9 months now ).

 

[gaz1]

I do it but domt think its been taught much nowadays

I can do it by hand and wood handle this was done by a rubber claw hammer

 

[500e]

Have made roof light flashing's & gutter collector, for a friend & a fair amount of body work requiring lead work + radiator repairs.
CLEAN is the thing to remember with any lead \ solder, good flux & then clean again when finished on the body's we scrubbed with soapy water to remove traces of the Fryalux we used.
A very satisfying job when you look if it is a good joint