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made from pine sap. Tar-like petroleum by-products can also be used for modern oakum. "White oakum" is made from untarred material, and was chiefly used as packing between brick and masonry in pre-war home and building construction, as its breathability allows moisture to continue to wick and
146:, where the young or the old and infirm were put to work picking oakum if they were unsuited for heavier labour. Sailors undergoing naval punishment were also frequently sentenced to pick oakum, with each man made to pick 1 pound (450 g) of oakum a day.
225:
into the joint to create a permanent "lead and oakum" seal. The oakum swells and seals the joint, the tar in the oakum prevents rot, and the lead keeps the joint physically tight. Oakum present in older cast iron bell/spigot joints may also contain
189:, the men's counterpart to Tothill Fields, prisoners had to pick 2 lb (910 g) per day unless sentenced to hard labour, in which case they had to pick between 3 and 6 lb (1.4 and 2.7 kg) of oakum per day.
141:
Oakum was at one time recycled from old tarry ropes and cordage, which were painstakingly unravelled and reduced to fibre, termed "picking". The task of picking and preparation was a common occupation in prisons and
363:
271:
mentions the extraction of oakum by orphaned children in the workhouse. The oakum extracted is for use on navy ships, and the instructor says that the children are serving the country.
1602:
283:, also mentions in chapter 37 a "Baker's Boy/Famine Breeder" who eats soap and oakum, but prefers oakum, which makes his breath foul and teeth stuck up with tar.
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406:
73:
It is also referenced frequently as a medical supply for medieval surgeons, often used alongside bandages for sealing wounds.
440:
1562:
181:
and 2 pounds (680 and 910 g) per day respectively. The oakum was sold for £4 10s (equivalent to £559 in 2023) per
70:. In shipbuilding it was forced into the seams using a hammer and a caulking iron, then sealed into place with hot pitch.
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200:. In plumbing and marine applications, the fibers are impregnated with tar or a tar-like substance, traditionally
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The work was tedious, slow and taxing on the worker's thumbs and fingers. In 1862, girls under 16 at
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drains. After setting the pipes together, workers pack oakum into the joints, then pour molten
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One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
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planking of iron and steel ships. Oakum was also used in plumbing for sealing joints in
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492:. Volume 3 of The Great Metropolis. London: Griffin, Bohn, and Company. p.
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fibers used to seal gaps. Its traditional application was in shipbuilding for
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415:. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 935.
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International
Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)
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In modern times, the fibrous material used in oakum comes from virgin
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had to pick 1 pound (450 g) a day, and boys under 16 had to pick
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pounds (680 g). Over the age of 16, girls and boys had to pick
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alludes to picking oakum as a punishment among the Sea Folk.
327:(1903), mentions picking oakum in the workhouses of London.
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or packing the joints of timbers in wooden vessels and the
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Today, modern methods, such as rubber seals (for example,
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The
Criminal Prisons of London, and Scenes of Prison Life
51:
204:(also called "Stockholm tar"), an amber-coloured
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292:We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors,
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432:The Oxford Companion to Ships & the Sea
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298: And clattered with the pails.
294: And cleaned the shining rails:
290: With blunt and bleeding nails;
230:, requiring special methods for removal.
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435:. Oxford University Press. p. 807.
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296:And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank,
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1563:Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
518:"The Lost Art of Making Lead Joints"
458:The Major Surgery of Guy de Chauliac
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364:The Major Surgery of Guy de Chauliac
138:, "comb")—literally "off-combings".
486:Mayhew, Henry; Binny, John (1862).
13:
351:, describes caulking his ship the
14:
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883:Push-to-pull compression fittings
506:Mayhew & Binny (1862) p. 312.
516:Yates, David (1 February 2005).
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288:We tore the tarry rope to shreds
209:transfer through the material.
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348:Sailing Alone Around the World
185:(112 lb, 51 kg). At
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81:The word oakum derives from
23:Oakum and tools for caulking
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1337:Instant hot water dispenser
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39:Prisoners picking oakum at
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1154:Pressure vacuum breaker
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412:Encyclopædia Britannica
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429:Kemp, Peter (1979).
276:The Innocents Abroad
241:), are more common.
50:is a preparation of
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1553:Hydrostatic testing
1194:Rooftop water tower
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520:. Contractormag.com
279:, a travel book by
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708:Thermal expansion
442:978-0-586-08308-6
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355:, with oakum.
336:Winter's Heart
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325:
320:
312:
311:
306:
299:
284:
282:
278:
277:
272:
270:
269:
264:
260:
258:
257:
256:Benito Cereno
252:
242:
240:
236:
231:
229:
224:
220:
210:
207:
203:
199:
195:
190:
188:
184:
183:hundredweight
152:
147:
145:
139:
137:
135:
130:
126:
124:
118:
114:
110:
108:
102:
100:
95:
91:
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84:
74:
71:
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
42:
37:
29:
21:
1726:Shipbuilding
1568:Pipe marking
1541:and services
1537:Professions,
1485:Strap wrench
1425:Basin wrench
1404:Water heater
1399:Water filter
1312:Flush toilet
1287:Dehumidifier
1229:Trench drain
1209:Street elbow
1199:Safety valve
1184:Relief valve
1124:Needle valve
1109:Grinder pump
1079:Flow limiter
1064:Float switch
999:Chopper pump
979:Booster pump
928:Tube bending
873:Pipe support
857:
738:Water hammer
718:Thermosiphon
648:Neutral axis
522:. Retrieved
511:
502:
488:
457:
451:
431:
410:
362:
357:
352:
346:
341:
334:
329:
322:
317:
308:
287:
274:
273:
268:Oliver Twist
266:
261:
254:
248:
232:
216:
191:
148:
140:
131:
120:
104:
96:
85:
80:
72:
47:
46:
16:Tarred fiber
1513:Flow sensor
1501:and control
1499:Measurement
1490:Tap and die
1465:Pipe wrench
1450:Driving cap
1342:Laundry tub
1219:Tap (valve)
1204:Sewage pump
1189:Riser clamp
1134:Pinch valve
1104:Grease trap
1099:Globe valve
1089:Flushometer
1074:Floor drain
1069:Float valve
989:Check valve
974:Bleed screw
748:Water table
688:Storm sewer
574:Fundamental
319:Jack London
305:Oscar Wilde
253:'s novella
129:Old English
94:Old English
1710:Categories
1573:Pipefitter
1460:Pipecutter
1440:Core drill
1327:Humidifier
1292:Dishwasher
1254:Zone valve
1249:Water tank
1094:Gate valve
969:Ball valve
942:Components
762:Technology
733:Wastewater
693:Stormwater
371:References
281:Mark Twain
144:workhouses
119:prefix) +
117:perfective
113:separative
1592:Industry
1578:Pipelayer
1435:Borescope
1430:Blowtorch
1369:Sump pump
903:Soldering
868:Pipe dope
831:Hydronics
703:Tap water
668:Sewer gas
633:Heat trap
628:Greywater
598:Corrosion
265:'s novel
127:(akin to
43:in London
1658:See also
1644:Scalding
1332:Icemaker
1119:Manifold
678:Sewerage
658:Pressure
613:Fuel gas
588:Backflow
576:concepts
567:Plumbing
302:—
228:asbestos
213:Plumbing
202:pine tar
68:chinking
56:caulking
1731:Surgery
1583:Plumber
1539:trades,
1480:Plunger
1389:Washlet
1277:Bathtub
1179:Reducer
1009:Cistern
913:Swaging
893:Sealant
769:Brazing
400::
239:o-rings
235:gaskets
176:⁄
162:⁄
103:, from
92:, from
77:History
1670:Piping
1379:Urinal
1347:Shower
853:O-ring
826:Gasket
683:Siphon
673:Sewage
524:6 July
464:
439:
394:
313:, 1897
123:-cumba
99:ācumba
52:tarred
1282:Bidet
1244:Valve
888:Putty
858:Oakum
849:(NPS)
843:(NPT)
822:(GHT)
776:(BSP)
407:Oakum
353:Spray
333:, in
206:pitch
88:okome
48:Oakum
1721:Jute
1359:Sink
1164:Pump
753:Well
643:Leak
526:2011
462:ISBN
437:ISBN
223:lead
198:jute
194:hemp
134:camb
115:and
60:deck
31:Hemp
494:477
409:".
361:in
345:in
249:In
237:or
196:or
1712::
476:^
460:.
421:^
379:^
307:,
107:ā-
559:e
552:t
545:v
528:.
496:.
470:.
445:.
178:2
174:1
171:+
169:1
164:2
160:1
157:+
155:1
111:(
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